A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Quito vs. Baltimore for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Quito or Baltimore?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Quito or Baltimore? 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: Quito or Baltimore?

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.

Baltimore

Baltimore is a large, industrial city and popular tourist destination in the state of Maryland. It is about an hour outside of Washington, D.C. and is a hub of tourism and entertainment for the area. It has a vibrant nightlife, comfortable climate, and is a great place to visit when you're in the area. The city proper has a population of about 600,000 and the metropolitan area has 2.7 million. Its economy is centered around science, technology, engineering and math and it has many undergraduate and graduate schools including the world renowned Johns Hopkins University.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.


Which place is cheaper, Baltimore or Quito?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Quito is $52, while the average daily cost in Baltimore is $184. 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 Quito and Baltimore in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Quito $22
    Baltimore $93
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Quito $44
    Baltimore $186
Compare Hotels in Quito and Baltimore

Looking for a hotel in Quito or Baltimore? 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.

Hotels in Quito


Hotels in Baltimore


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: Quito Hotel Prices and Baltimore Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Quito $6.99
    Baltimore $21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Quito

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Quito:


  • Taxi from Bus Terminal to Hotel
    $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quito

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quito:

  • Airport Transfer- Hotel in Quito 1 Way: $55
  • Express Transfer: Mariscal Sucre Airport to Quito: $34
  • From Mindo Cloud Forest Day Trip with Transfer: $119
  • From Quilotoa Lake Private Tour with Transfer & Lunch: $145
  • Guayaquil to Guayaquil Airport GYE Departure Private Transfer: $29
  • Private Departure Transfer from Quito to the Airport - One Way: $21
  • Private Transfer IN from to the International Airport Mariscal Sucre to Quito: $48
  • Private Transfer IN or OUT Hotel-Aiport Quito or Aiport-Hotel : $25
  • Private Transfer In from International Airport Mariscal Sucre to Quito : $60
  • Private Transfer Quito Airport To Quito City/hotel : $57
  • Private Transfer from Quito Airport : $25
  • Private Transfer from Quito to Baños or Baños to Quito (one way): $90

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Baltimore

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Baltimore:

  • Airport Transfer BWI Airport to Baltimore Downtown Area Only: $160
  • Airport Transfer Baltimore/Washington International Airport BWI to Washington,DC: $240
  • Airport transfer to or from Silver Spring, MD & Reagan Airport(DCA): $200
  • Arrival Private Transfer Baltimore Airport BWI to Baltimore by Business Vehicle: $111
  • BWI Airport: Transfer to Baltimore or Washington DC: $150
  • Baltimore City to Washington City - Private Car Transfer: $63
  • Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI) to Washington - Arrival Private Transfer: $93
  • Private Transfer to BWI or Washington DC/Airports: $160
  • Departure Private Transfer Baltimore to Baltimore Airport BWI - Business Vehicle: $111
  • Oakland to San Francisco Airport (SFO)-Departure Private Transfer: $44
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Baltimore Washington Airport BWI: $60
  • Private transfer To or Form Bethesda and Dulles International Airport: $209

Is it cheaper to fly into Quito or Baltimore?

Prices for flights to both Baltimore and Quito 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Quito $20
    Baltimore $46

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.

  • Old Town Highlights & Food Tour: $35
  • 3 Hours Local Food Tour in Quito: $39
  • Guilty Pleasures Walking Food Tours in Quito: $45
  • Cooking class In-home space: $75
  • Private Famous Food Tour of Historic Old Town in Quito: $95
  • Ecuadorian Cooking Class and Local Market Tour: $114
  • Ecuadorian Cooking Classes Rooftop (English): $120
  • Premium Cooking Class Quito Tour: $130
  • Quito Private & All Inclusive Cooking Class with Certified Chef: $235

Typical Food Prices in Baltimore

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Baltimore:


  • Seafood Dinner (for 2) in Fells Point
    $76

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Baltimore

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Baltimore.

  • Federal Hill Food Tour: $71
  • Little Italy and Jonestown Food Tour: $73
  • Fells Point Food Tour in Baltimore: $74
  • Inner Harbor Buffet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner: $76
  • Christmas Eve Gourmet Brunch or Dinner Cruise: $84
  • Christmas Day Gourmet Brunch or Dinner Cruise: $84
  • Baltimore Signature Dinner Cruise: $101
  • Baltimore Buffet Dinner/Dance Cruise of the Inner Harbor: $119
  • Baltimore Father's Day Buffet Dinner Cruise : $126
  • Baltimore New Year's Eve Buffet Dinner Cruise: $251

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Quito $16
    Baltimore $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Quito

Here are a few typical costs in Quito for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • 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:

  • Skip the Line: La Compañia Church Admission Ticket: $5.50
  • Skip the Line: Capilla del Hombre and Guayasamin's Museum Ticket: $10
  • Middle of the World shuttle Tour: $14
  • 2.5-Hour City Bus Tour: $15
  • Night Tour in Quito with free time at La Ronda Street: $15
  • Quito City Tour Double Decker Bus: $15
  • Middle of the World Tour with Tickets: $19
  • Quito at Night & Urban Legends Tour : $20
  • 1914 Original Trolley City Tour: $20
  • Pululuahua Reserve & Museo del Sol Tour - "Small Group": $20
  • Intiñan Museum Small-Group Tour: $25
  • Guided City Tour with Tastings and Box Lunch: $25

Tours and Activities in Baltimore

Here are a few actual costs in Baltimore for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Self-guided Waterfall Hiking Tour through Great Falls National Park: $5.00
  • Downtown Baltimore In-App Audio Tour: $9.00
  • Historic & Cultural Baltimore Self-Driving Audio Guided Tour: $14
  • Antietam National Battlefield Self-Guided Driving Tour: $15
  • Historical Baltimore Self-Driving Sightseeing Audio Tour: $17
  • Baltimore Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
  • Baltimore Ghosts By US Ghost Adventures: $24
  • The Original Fells Point Ghost Walk by Baltimore Ghost Tours: $24
  • Baltimore's Cruise ship Tour-shuttle service: $25
  • Inner Harbor Sightseeing Cruise: $28
  • Baltimore Harbor Tour: $28
  • The Original Fells Point Ghost Walk by Baltimore Ghost Tours: $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Quito $17
    Baltimore $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Quito

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Quito from other travelers:


  • Beers for Two
    $9.00

Sample the Local Flavors in Baltimore

Also in Baltimore, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Original Fells Point Haunted Pub Tour by Baltimore Ghost Tours: $33
  • Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
  • From Patapsco Region Wine Tour with Lunch: $175


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Quito and Baltimore, we can see that Baltimore is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Quito is in South America and Baltimore is in North 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 Baltimore would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Baltimore 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 Quito Expensive? and Is Baltimore Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Quito or Baltimore?

Quito has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Baltimore. When comparing the sizes of Quito and Baltimore, 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.