A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Recife vs. Cuenca for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

South America / Comparisons /
Jump to  down-arrow

Should you visit Recife or Cuenca?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Recife and Cuenca can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Recife

One of the largest cities on Brazil's northeast coast, Recife is also the capital of the state of Pernambuco. The city gets its name from the Portuguese word for "reef," as it was built around a landscape of natural reef beaches. Many people visit to enjoy these beaches, experience the culture, and explore the history of this important Brazilian city.

Cuenca

Cuenca is a vibrant colonial city in southern Ecuador, the third largest in the country, and the capital of Azuay Province. Cuenca is considered as Ecuador's most important and beautiful colonial city after Quito. Dating from the 16th century, Cuenca's historic center, a Unesco World Heritage Site with its trademark skyline of massive rotundas and soaring steeples, is a magical sight in which you will feel like you are moving back in time. Cuenca is the center of many craft traditions, including ceramics, metalwork and the internationally famous panama hat. The nearby villages also offer many other handicrafts. Tourists enjoy wandering the ancient streets discovering picturesque alleys and hidden corners, where nuns march along cobblestone streets and kids in Catholic-school uniforms skip past historic churches. Fascinating historic monuments and fabulous views are found at every turn. Cuenca also has outstanding art museums and festivals. For a rewarding cultural experience, visit during Easter to attend the Festival of Religious Music.

Which city is cheaper, Cuenca or Recife?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Recife is $136, while the average daily cost in Cuenca is $34. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Recife and Cuenca in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Recife $72
    Cuenca $9.97
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Recife $144
    Cuenca $20

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Recife $6.95
    Cuenca $8.60

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Recife

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Recife:

  • Arrival Private Transfer: Recife Airport REC to Porto de Galinhas by Minivan: $166
  • Arrival Private Transfer: Recife Airport REC to Porto de Galinhas by Sedan Car: $55
  • Arrival Transfer from Airport of Recife to João Pessoa: $109
  • Arrival Transfer from Airport of Recife to Maceió: $256
  • Arrival Transfer from Airport of Recife to Maragogi Hotels: $100
  • Arrival Transfer from Airport of Recife to Praia da Pipa: $192
  • Arrival Transfer from Airport of Recife to São Miguel dos Milagres: $160
  • Arrival Transfer from Recife Airport to Boa Viagem Pina or Piedade: $20
  • Arrival Transfer from Recife Airport to Cabo de Santo Agostinho: $30
  • Arrival Transfer from Recife Airport to Olinda: $40
  • Arrival Transfer from Recife Airport to Porto de Galinhas - Muro Alto or Serrambi: $40
  • Arrival Transfer from Recife Airport to Praia dos Carneiros: $80

Typical Local Transportation prices in Cuenca

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $2.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cuenca

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cuenca:

  • Cuenca Arrival Transfer: $15
  • Cuenca Departure Transfer: $15
  • Cuenca Airport Shuttle Transfer: $19
  • Cuenca to Guayaquil Transfer in Fantasy Bus: $25
  • Cuenca to Alausi Transfer in Fantasy Bus: $25
  • Transfer In Cuenca Airport - Hotel: $25
  • Arrival Private Transfer: Cuenca Airport CUE to Cuenca City by Minivan: $74
  • Departure Private Transfer: Cuenca City to Cuenca Airport CUE by Minivan: $74
  • Private Transfer from Cuenca to Guayaquil.: $83
  • Private Transfer from Cuenca City Center to Madrid City Center: $147

Is it cheaper to fly into Recife or Cuenca?

Prices for flights to both Cuenca and Recife 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
    Recife $58
    Cuenca $12

Typical Food prices in Cuenca

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


  • Lunch
    $10
  • Snacks
    $5.00
  • Empanada
    $1.50
  • Hot Dog
    $1.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cuenca

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

  • Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca: $55
  • Cuenca City Tour & Cooking Class (PRIVATE Tour): $95
  • Private Cooking Class: $125

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Recife $9.23
    Cuenca $13

Tours and Activities in Recife

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Recife are as follows:

  • From Recife Old Town and Olinda City Tour: $17
  • Recife and Olinda City Tour: $26
  • City Tour Olinda And Recife Antigo: $26
  • Cultutal Tour in Recife with Ricardo Brennand Institute: $26
  • Recife Tour By Night: $27
  • Day Trip to Igarassu and Itamaracá Island Tour from Recife: $29
  • Recife Culture Tour Including Ricardo Brennand Institute: $37
  • Igarassu And Itamaraca Island Tour: $38
  • Recife Boat Tour: $38
  • Carneiros Beach Day Tour: $40
  • Maragogi Beach Tour from Recife: $43
  • Tour of 4 Beaches in Cabo de Santo Agostinho from Recife: $51

Tours and Activities in Cuenca

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

  • Guided tour to Cuenca City: $9.95
  • Cuenca City Tour: $20
  • Cuenca City Tour: $20
  • Cuenca City tour: $25
  • Half-Day Tour of Cuenca Including Panama Hat Factory: $30
  • Walking Cuenca City Tour with Pumapungo Complex Half Day: $30
  • Biking and Walking City Tour Cuenca: $30
  • Half-Day Biking and Walking Tour of Cuenca, Ecuador: $30
  • Cajas National Park Half Day Tour: $40
  • Private Half-Day City Tour Including Turi Viewpoint: $41
  • Biking Cuenca City Tour: $45
  • Full Day Tour to National Park of Cajas: $45

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Recife -
    Cuenca $11

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Recife and Cuenca, we can see that Recife is more expensive. And not only is Cuenca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cuenca would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cuenca 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 Recife would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Recife than you might in Cuenca.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
Sign Up

More City Comparisons
Recife vs. Fortaleza
Recife vs. Puerto Iguazu
Recife vs. Mar del Plata
Recife vs. La Plata
Recife vs. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Recife vs. Asuncion
Recife vs. Salto
Recife vs. Punta del Este
Recife vs. Piriapolis
Recife vs. Montevideo
Recife vs. Colonia del Sacramento
Recife vs. Sao Paulo
Recife vs. Salvador
Recife vs. Rio de Janeiro
Recife vs. Ilha Grande
Recife vs. Foz do Iguacu
Recife vs. Florianopolis
Recife vs. Curitiba
Recife vs. Brasilia
Recife vs. Buzios
Recife vs. Quito
Recife vs. Montanita
Recife vs. Guayaquil
Recife vs. Galapagos Islands
Recife vs. Banos
Recife vs. Manaus
Recife vs. Tena
Recife vs. Santa Marta
Share This Page
Pin This Page
Recife vs. Cuenca Travel Comparison

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.