Which place is cheaper, Quito or Reykjavik?
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 Reykjavik or Quito?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Reykjavik or Quito, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Reykjavik or Quito?
Reykjavik
Reykjavik is the capital and largest city in the country of Iceland. The city is where the vast majority of the country's population resides and the urban area has about 200,000 residents. The city is sprawling, with a large area covered in suburbs. The the city center is quite compact, with many interesting and colorful houses. There are a lot of things that attract tourists to this city, including an interesting culture and history as well as plenty of shopping and dining opportunities.
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 Budget Tours to Iceland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Iceland, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.
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Reykjavik Prices
Iceland PricesQuito Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayReykjavik $298Quito $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Reykjavik is $298, 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 Reykjavik and Quito in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personReykjavik $155Quito $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomReykjavik $310Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Reykjavik and Quito
Looking for a hotel in Reykjavik 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: Reykjavik Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Reykjavik $51Quito $6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Reykjavik
Also for Reykjavik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 1 hour ATV Mountain Peak adventure with transfer from Reykjavik: $129
- Airport Transfer (One way) between Keflavik and Reykjavik: $200
- Airport Transfer: Keflavik Airport (KEF) to Reykjavik Hotels: $52
- Airport Transfer: Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik Center in Iceland: $39
- Alesund : Private Transfer to/from Ålesund Airport and City: $116
- Bláfjöll to Keflavik Airport (KEF) - Departure Private Transfer: $82
- Blue Lagoon Admission with Mask, Drink, Transfers from Reykjavik: $236
- Blue Lagoon Entry Ticket with Optional Private or Shared Transfer: $218
- Blue Lagoon Private Transfer :From KEF or Reykjavik: $152
- Blue Lagoon Transfer from Reykjavik or Keflavik Airport: $200
- Blue Lagoon with Private Roundtrip Transfer: $613
- Blue Lagoon: Private Transfer to/from Reykjavik: $79
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:
- Unique Quito Transfer Mariscal Sucre Airport to Hotel: $43
- Transfer from or to UIO Airport to any Hotel in Quito: $30
- Transfer from or to Airport Mariscal Sucre (one way): $75
- Transfer Quito → Papallacta (one way / round trip): $85
- Transfer Private Airport–Hotel in Quito: $39
- Transfer Out from Quito to the Airport: $30
- Transfer In & Out from Quito: $130
- Transfer Airport → Quito (one way / round trip): $50
- Private Transfer from/to Airport: $35
- Private Transfer from the Airport to the city: $32
- Private City Tour & Intiñam Museum Visit w/ Transfer: $89
- Panoramic City Tour & Airport Departure Transfer: $114
Is it cheaper to fly into Reykjavik or Quito?
Prices for flights to both Quito and Reykjavik 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 dayReykjavik $58Quito $34
Typical Food Prices in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner (Fish Market)$198
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Harbor Cruise with 3-Course Dinner: $137
- Harbor Cruise with Three Course Dinner from Reykjavik: $139
- Food Tour by locals: $140
- Authentic Reykjavik Food Tour with Flea Market Delights: $146
- Icelandic Food Tour: $147
- Weekend Reykjavik Food Tour with a stop at the Reykjavik Flea Market: $147
- The Reykjavik Harbor Food Tour: $147
- 3-Hour Shared Christmas Food Tour with Guide in Reykjavik: $149
- Food Tour with 6+ Tastings of Icelandic Classics: $154
- The Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour: $171
- Christmas Food Tour with Tastings and Drinks: $171
- Reykjavík All In One Food Tour - Eat, Drink & Explore with Locals: $204
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.
- 3 Hours Local Food Tour in Quito: $38
- 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
- Street Food Tour with Private Transport: $79
- 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
- Tour Quito with Cooking Class with Professional Chef: $95
- Ecuadorian Cooking Class with a chef and Local Market: $100
- Old Town Highlights & Food Tour: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Reykjavik $80Quito $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Reykjavik
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Reykjavik's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Art Museum$12
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Wine and Spa$32
Tours and Activities in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- A Self-Guided Thingvellir National Park Walking Tour: $8.99
- Reykjavik History and Sightseeing Walking Tour: $16
- Caves of Laugarvatn Standard Tour: $16
- Reykjavík: National Museum of Iceland Entry Ticket: $21
- Reykjavik Art Museum Entry Ticket: $21
- Volcano Express Entry Ticket at Harpa: $24
- Mosfellsbæ: Authentic Icelandic Wool Yarn Factory Tour: $26
- Icelandic Phallological Museum Entry Ticket: $29
- Private audio guide of the island for self-exploration tour: $29
- Saga Museum - Entrance ticket: $32
- Saga Museum Entry Ticket: $33
- Whales of Iceland Museum Entrance Ticket: $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:
- “Adventure in Baths: Waterfalls, End of the World Swing and More”: $190
- 2 day 1 night tour to Cotopaxi Volcano and Quilotoa Lagoon all included: $280
- 3-Day Adventure: Quito, Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Baños, Jungle: $897
- 3-Day Andes Adventure Visiting Cotopaxi, Quilotoa and Baños: $239
- 3-Day Antisana & Amazon comunities, Caves, Baños Guided Tour: $734
- 6-Day Ecuador Heritage Tour: Art, Culture and Otavalo: $1,847
- Adventure in Chimborazo: Hiking and Ascent from Quito: $160
- All-Inclusive Private Mindo Cloud Forest Tour from Quito: $220
- Amazon Adventure: 4 Days of Nature & Culture from Quito: $1,770
- Andean Adventure : Riding and Cotopaxi Refuge: $140
- Antisana Birding Tours to see CONDORS - by Richard Hernandez: $185
- Antisana Condor Tour from Quito: $220
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayReykjavik $31Quito $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Reykjavik
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Reykjavik are as follows:
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Beer$9.77
Sample the Local Flavors in Reykjavik
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Reykjavik:
- Eimverk Distillery Guided Tour with Tasting: $48
- Flóki Whisky Distillery Tour & Tasting in Reykjavík: $48
- Reykjavík Pub Crawl Tour with Drinks and Games: $115
- Icelandic Bar Crawl Experience: $160
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 Quito
Also in Quito, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Ecuador Spirit Craft Brewery Tasting and Latitude 0 Private Tour: $155
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Reykjavik and Quito, we can see that Reykjavik is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Reykjavik or Quito?
Quito has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Reykjavik. When comparing the sizes of Reykjavik 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.