Which place is cheaper, Chicago or Quito?
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 Quito or Chicago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Quito or Chicago? 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 Chicago?
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.
Chicago
Located in the Midwest, Chicago is the third largest city in the United States. It has a population of almost 3 million and a metropolitan area that covers more than 10,000 square kilometers. It is also a hub for music, comedy and theater. It's skyline is beautiful with modern skyscrapers and Lake Michigan as a backdrop. It is easy to stay entertained in Chicago for weeks. There are world class museums, upscale or eclectic shopping opportunities, and impressive architecture.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador, The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles.
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Quito Prices
Ecuador PricesChicago Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQuito $66Chicago $323
The average daily cost (per person) in Quito is $66, while the average daily cost in Chicago is $323. 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 Chicago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQuito $22Chicago $198
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQuito $44Chicago $396
Compare Hotels in Quito and Chicago
Looking for a hotel in Quito or Chicago? 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: Quito Hotel Prices and Chicago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Quito $6.99Chicago $37
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 Private Transfer Quito Airport UIO to Quito by Minivan: $137
- 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 Departure Transfer from Quito to the Airport - One Way: $20
- Private Transfer In from International Airport Mariscal Sucre to Quito: $65
- Private Transfer Quito: $40
- Private Transfer Quito to Mindo – SUV or Van (1–6): $88
- Private Transfer from or to Quito Airport (one way): $21
- Quito Airport ↔ Quito Hotels Private Transfer Service: $27
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chicago
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Chicago:
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Parking$19
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Taxi Ride$10
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Taxi from Airport$45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chicago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chicago:
- Airport Transfer: O'Hare Airport ORD to Chicago by Luxury SUV: $212
- Airport transfer between Chicago O'Hare and Milwaukee: $38
- Arrival Private Transfer: O'Hare Airport ORD to Chicago in Business Car: $159
- Arrival Private Transfer: O'Hare Airport ORD to Chicago in Luxury Car: $245
- Chicago Airport (MDW) to Chicago - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $144
- Chicago Airport Transfer to O'Hare & Midway - Luxury Sedan: $133
- Chicago Airport Transfer: Chicago to O'Hare Airport ORD in Business Car: $159
- Chicago Airport Transfer: Chicago to O'Hare Airport ORD in Luxury SUV: $212
- Chicago Airport Transfer: Chicago to O'Hare Airport in Luxury SUV: $150
- Chicago City to Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) - Departure Private Transfer: $74
- Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) to Chicago -Arrival Private Transfer: $72
- Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) to Chicago City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $149
Is it cheaper to fly into Quito or Chicago?
Prices for flights to both Chicago 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
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Food Meals for one dayQuito $34Chicago $85
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: $15
- 3 Hours Local Food Tour in Quito: $38
- Quito Eats Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
- Quito Kitchens Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
- From Cayambe Traditional Cooking Class with Transfers: $60
- The Delicious Side of Quito Food Tour: $70
- 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
Typical Food Prices in Chicago
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Chicago:
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Dinner for 1$24
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Dinner for 3$118
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chicago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chicago.
- PRIVATE Online Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Class with Nancy: $59
- Tamales and Tacos with Margarita Cooking Class at Su Casa: $59
- Pizza Walking or Bus Tour: $59
- Deep Dish Cooking Class at Pizzeria Uno in Chicago: $59
- City Cruises Lake Michigan Lunch or Dinner Cruise: $63
- Chicago West Loop Sweet Treats Food Tour: Donuts, Cookies, & More: $70
- Downtown Pizza Guided Walking Tour with Tastings: $73
- City Cruises Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner River Cruise: $74
- Pasta Making Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Chicago: $75
- Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Chicago: $75
- Pasta Making Cooking Class at a Local Distillery: $75
- Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Local Distillery: $75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Quito $16Chicago $47
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 Walking tour small groups Chocolate taste included: $5.00
- Quito Old Town tip based walking tour small groups Cacao Taste: $5.00
- Old Town Basilica of National Vow Towers/ Exclusive Night tour!: $5.00
- Quito Audio Guided Walking Tour 2h10 and 19 audio reviews: $6.75
- Night Tour in Quito with free time at Old Town: $15
- 2.5-Hour City Bus Tour: $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
- Old Town Walking Tour with Basilica Church Visit: $30
- Gastronomic and Cultural Walking Tour of Quito with Tastings: $30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Chicago
Here are a few typical costs in Chicago for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Sears Tower (family of 4)$102
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Aquarium for 4$118
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Water Taxi (family of 4)$22
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IMAX Movie for Two$35
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Shakespeare Play (2)$116
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Art Institute (2)$36
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U-Boat Tour (2)$8.00
Tours and Activities in Chicago
Here are a few actual costs in Chicago for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Discover A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $1.12
- Bucktown and Wicker Park’s 606 Trail: A Walking Tour: $5.00
- Chicago Downtown Sports History Adventure: $5.00
- Hyde Park Walking Tour History Race and Urban Change: $5.00
- Podcast Tour Engineering Skyward Chicagos Vertical Pioneers: $5.48
- Chicago 80's Movie Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $6.00
- Self-Guided Podcast Tour The Loops Monumental Canvas: $6.85
- Chicago’s Ragtime & Jazz Eras: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Chicago Audio Guided Walking Tour 3h and 25 Audio Commentaries: $7.00
- Chicago Art Heist: Millennium Park Puzzle Adventure: $7.20
- Chicago Chocolate Tour: $8.00
- Chicago’s Millennium Park Self Guided Audio GPS Walking Tour: $9.75
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Free Things to Do in Chicago, Chicago Bucket List: The Best Places to See, and The Best Museums in Chicago.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQuito $17Chicago $25
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Chicago
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Chicago:
- Astounding Chicago Bar Crawl: Chi-Town Showdown: $15
- Burning Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Chicago Local Brewery Expedition with Homemade Guacamole: $63
- Craft Brewery Tour by Barrel Bus: $100
- Chicago to Milwaukee Day Trip with Brewery Tour & City Highlights: $125
- Chicago to Milwaukee: 1-Day City Highlights w/Miller Brewery: $125
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Quito and Chicago, we can see that Chicago 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 Chicago 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 Chicago would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chicago 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 Chicago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Quito or Chicago?
Chicago has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Quito. When comparing the sizes of Quito and Chicago, 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.