Which place is cheaper, Quito or Pamplona?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Pamplona or Quito?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Pamplona or Quito? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Pamplona or Quito?
Pamplona
Pamplona is a city in northern Spain located on the snow-capped foothills of the Pyrenees Range. With the backdrop of mountains, the city is surrounded by a setting ideal for skiing, mountaineering, hiking, wildlife and breathtaking scenery. Yet Pamplona itself is a place full of lively culture and stunning architecture. With a long history, the place is embedded in tradition and perhaps most famous for its annual "running of the bulls" celebrated in July, also known as the San Fermin festival.
Quito
Nestled between two mountain ranges lies the world's highest capital city, Quito, Ecuador. For history lovers, Quito is a very desirable destination as it's home to the Quito Historic Center – one of the largest and best-preserved historic centers in the Americas.
Even though Quito is full of people – in fact, it's the second most populous city in the country – very few of its inhabitants speak English. Luckily, however, the citizens of Quito tend to speak a slower and more clear Spanish than surrounding areas. This is the perfect place to practice what you read in your Intro to Spanish book.
Before visiting Quito, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, give yourself a few days to grow accustomed to the elevation. Staying 9,350 feet above sea level takes some getting used to. Second, don't be fooled into thinking that just because you're visiting a town on the equator that you'll need all your summer clothes. Because of the city's elevation, the area keeps a relatively cool climate year round.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain, The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.
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Pamplona Prices
Spain PricesQuito Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPamplona $187Quito $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Pamplona is $187, while the average daily cost in Quito is $66. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Pamplona and Quito in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPamplona $78Quito $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPamplona $156Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Pamplona and Quito
Looking for a hotel in Pamplona or Quito? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Pamplona Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pamplona $28Quito $6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pamplona
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pamplona:
- Private Transfer from Logroño city to Pamplona: $285
- Private Transfer from Pamplona city to San Sebastian: $285
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Quito
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Quito:
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Taxi from Bus Terminal to Hotel$10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quito
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quito:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Airport to Quito - One Way: $20
- Private Departure Transfer from Quito to the Airport - One Way: $20
- Private Transfer from or to Quito Airport (one way): $21
- Quito hotels to Mariscal Sucre Quito Airport (UIO) - Departure Private Transfer: $21
- Quito Airport ↔ Quito Hotels Private Transfer Service: $27
- Quito PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotels: $28
- Quito PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotels: $28
- Transfer from or to UIO Airport to any Hotel in Quito: $30
- Transfer Out from Quito to the Airport: $30
- Custom Transfers Across Ecuador (quote required): $30
- Private Transfer IN or OUT Hotel-Aiport Quito or Aiport-Hotel: $35
- Transfers To and From the Airport in Quito Ecuador: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Pamplona or Quito?
Prices for flights to both Quito and Pamplona change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayPamplona $83Quito $34
Typical Food Prices in Pamplona
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pamplona are as follows:
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Lunch for 2$12
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Ice Cream$5.22
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Coffee$1.51
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.
- Quito Eats Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
- Cooking Class in Quito with Chef, Market Tour and Transportation: $88
- Cooking Class with a chef and local market including hotel pickup: $89
- Premium Cooking Class Quito Tour: $122
- Cooking Class at the Andes & Roses: PRIVATE Day trip from Quito: $178
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pamplona $39Quito $16
Tours and Activities in Pamplona
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pamplona are as follows:
- Pamplona Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self Guided Tour: $5.13
- TOP Logroño : Private guided tour with your mobile: $5.90
- TOP Pamplona : Private Guided Tour with your mobile: $5.90
- Hemingway's Pamplona Smartphone Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Pamplona Cathedral Guided Tour History Curiosities and Art: $11
- El Sadar Stadium Tour: $17
- San Fermin Tour Discover the Festivals of Pamplona: $29
- San Fermín Tour: $30
- Cobblestones Tour Immersive Medieval Tour English: $30
- Cobblestones Tour Immersive Walking Tour in English: $30
- MEDIEVAL Immersive Knight-Led Walking Experience: $30
- Pamplona walking small group tour: $34
Typical Entertainment Prices in Quito
Here are a few typical costs in Quito for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to Guyasimine Museum for Two$8.00
Tours and Activities in Quito
Here are a few actual costs in Quito for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Quito Old Town Free Walking tour Cacao taste included Small group: $1.00
- Quito Old Town Free Walking tour Small group Cacao Taste included: $1.00
- Skip the Line-Entry to Heaven's Gateway The Basilica Towers!: $7.99
- Quito Old Town Tour: History, Market Visit & Ice Cream Tasting: $29
- Walking Tour Quito: $30
- Quito Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $34
- Half day tour - Old Town of Quito - Ecuador: $35
- Quito Oldtown: A Cultural-Gastro Walking Tour and Shopping: $40
- Experiential Walking tour in Quito's Old Town: $40
- Gastronomic and Cultural Walking Tour of Quito with Tastings: $40
- Hidden Quito Private Tour: Culture, Food & Local Secrets: $40
- Quito Historic Center Night Tour: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPamplona $36Quito $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Pamplona
Also in Pamplona, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Half Day Rioja Wine Tour: $259
- Wine tour: winery and traditional lunch from La Rioja: $295
- Rioja wine tour: two wineries from La Rioja or Pamplona: $309
Typical Alcohol Prices in Quito
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Quito from other travelers:
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Beers for Two$9.00
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pamplona and Quito, we can see that Pamplona is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Pamplona is in Europe and Quito is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Quito would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Quito and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Pamplona would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pamplona than you might in Quito.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pamplona Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pamplona or Quito?
Quito has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Pamplona. When comparing the sizes of Pamplona and Quito, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.