Which place is cheaper, Quito or Pokhara?
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 Pokhara or Quito?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Pokhara and Quito can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Pokhara or Quito?
Pokhara
Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal and is strategically located near the popular Annapurna Circuit. The Annapurna Circuit, or the "Apple Pie Trail", is a popular trek through the Annapurna Valley that makes a circular route through stunning mountainous landscapes. Several other trekking options can be found in this region, too. Many people use Pohkara as a place to prepare or recover from their recently completed treks because it is less intimidating than the larger city of Kathmandu.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.
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Pokhara Prices
Nepal PricesQuito Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPokhara $22Quito $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Pokhara is $22, 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 Pokhara and Quito in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPokhara $3.44Quito $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPokhara $6.88Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Pokhara and Quito
Looking for a hotel in Pokhara 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: Pokhara Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pokhara $6.71Quito $6.99
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pokhara
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Pokhara:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.66
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pokhara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pokhara:
- Pokhara Airport Shuttles & Private Transfer: $15
- Pokhara Airport Transfer to hotels – Easy, Safe & Hassle-Free: $20
- Pokhara to Kathmandu One Way Transfer by Private AC Car: $80
- Pokhara to Kathmandu: Premium Private Car Transfer: $130
- Annapurna Foothills Day Hike With Transfers: $45
- Private Transfer from Pokhara to Kathmandu: $120
- Transfer to Lower Mustang (Jomsom): $205
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:
- Arrival Transfer from Quito Airport UIO to Quito by Sedan or SUV: $105
- Custom Transfers Across Ecuador (quote required): $30
- From Mindo Cloud Forest Day Trip with Transfer: $129
- From Quilotoa Lake Private Tour with Transfer & Lunch: $166
- Mariscal Sucre Quito Airport (UIO) to Quito hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $41
- Private Arrival Transfer from Airport to Quito - One Way: $20
- Private Departure Transfer from Quito to the Airport - One Way: $20
- Private Premium Transfer Quito Airport To Quito City/hotel: $63
- Private Transfer Quito: $40
- Private Transfer Quito to Mindo – SUV or Van (1–6): $88
- Private Transfer from Quito to Baños de Agua Santa (one way): $80
- Private Transfer from or to Quito Airport (one way): $21
Is it cheaper to fly into Pokhara or Quito?
Prices for flights to both Quito and Pokhara 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 dayPokhara $12Quito $34
Typical Food Prices in Pokhara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pokhara:
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Dinner for Two$3.95
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Dessert (for 2)$2.64
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Pastries$1.32
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Dinner$5.60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pokhara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Pokhara.
- Nepali cultural dinner night in Pokhara: $21
- Nepalese Momos or Dal Bhat Cooking Class (Cook with Delight): $25
- 2 hours Momo cooking class in Pokhara: $60
- 1 Day Momo making cooking class: $75
- Tour with Dinner to Trout Fish Farm - Bhujung River: $98
- Organic Farm Tour and Cooking Class at Durku: $115
- Full-Day Pokhara Private Couples Romantic Getaway with Dinner: $300
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.
- Ecuadorian Gastronomy Tasting and Cooking Class in Quito: $25
- Guilty Pleasures Walking Food Tours in Quito: $45
- Quito Eats Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
- From Cayambe Traditional Cooking Class with Transfers: $60
- Food Tour in quaint old town with tastings and lunch: $71
- 3-hour Andean Cooking Class in Quito with a Local Host: $75
- Street Food Tour with Private Transport: $79
- Homemade Local Food Tour in Guayaquil: $80
- Hidden Gems Food Tour with Cacao Tasting and Culture: $87
- Cooking Class in Quito with Chef, Market Tour and Transportation: $88
- Cooking Class with Chef, Market Tour & Transportation: $88
- Cooking Class with a chef and local market including hotel pickup: $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pokhara $6.39Quito $16
Tours and Activities in Pokhara
Here are a few actual costs in Pokhara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Pokhara to Kathmandu Tourist Bus Ticket Luxury Sofa: $8.40
- Pokhara to Chitwan Tourist Bus Sofa seater: $9.00
- Quick Devi’s Water Fall Tour: $9.26
- Bandipur to Chitwan Tourist Bus Ticket Luxury Sofa: $9.50
- Pokhara Places of Interest Tour by Sharing Bus: $10
- Sarangkot Sunrise & Private Full-Day Highlights Tour: $10
- Chitwan: to Kathmandu/Pokhara Tourist Bus luxurious Sofa: $12
- Kathmandu: to Chitwan By Luxurious Sofa Tourist Bus or Back: $12
- Group Joining Sarangkot Sunrise Himalayas Tour: $12
- Budget Unguided Tour By Sharing Bus: $12
- Bandipur to Kathmandu Tourist Bus Ticket Luxury Sofa: $13
- Tourist Bus: Chitwan to Pokhara or Pokhara to Chitwan: $14
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 tip based walking tour small groups Cacao Taste: $5.00
- Quito Old Town Walking tour small groups Chocolate taste included: $5.00
- Quito Old Town tip based walking tour small groups Cacao Taste: $5.00
- Quito Audio Guided Walking Tour 2h10 and 19 audio reviews: $6.73
- 2.5-Hour City Bus Tour: $15
- Night Tour in Quito with free time at Old Town: $15
- Discover the heart of the Historic Center - Walking tour: $25
- Instagram walking tour in Quito's Historic Center: $26
- Quito's Cultural Tour & Indigenous Perspectives of Old Town: $27
- Quito Old Town Tour: History, Market Visit & Ice Cream Tasting: $29
- La Mariscal and La Floresta Walking Tour: $30
- Gastronomic and Cultural Walking Tour of Quito with Tastings: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPokhara $5.77Quito $17
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 Pokhara and Quito, we can see that Quito is more expensive. And not only is Pokhara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Pokhara is in Asia 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 Pokhara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pokhara 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 Quito would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quito than you might in Pokhara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pokhara Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pokhara or Quito?
Quito has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Pokhara. When comparing the sizes of Pokhara 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.