Which place is cheaper, Guayaquil or Riga?
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 Riga or Guayaquil?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Riga or Guayaquil? 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: Riga or Guayaquil?
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
Guayaquil
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport. From a tourist perspective, the city acts primarily as a transportation gateway to the country and the Galapagos Islands. While the city can be skipped altogether, should you have a free day to spend here, there are a few noteworthy things to do, as well as some terrific dining and nightlife options. Guayaquil’s main tourist attraction is Las Penas, a hill with old, colorfully painted buildings at the north end of the Malecon, where you can walk the 400 steps to the lighthouse at the top for good views of the city. The neighborhood is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and art galleries and is relatively safe. Other important sights include the Malecon 2000, a massive urban development project that has brought new life to the riverside in the city center and the Parque Seminario, filled with fountains, trees and iguanas, located at 10 de Agosto Ave and Chile Ave.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
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Riga Prices
Latvia PricesGuayaquil Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRiga $143Guayaquil $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is $143, while the average daily cost in Guayaquil is $116. 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 Riga and Guayaquil in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRiga $61Guayaquil $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRiga $122Guayaquil $64
Compare Hotels in Riga and Guayaquil
Looking for a hotel in Riga or Guayaquil? 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: Riga Hotel Prices and Guayaquil Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Riga $11Guayaquil $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Transfer from Riga center to Airport: $53
- Transfer from Riga Airport to Riga Old city: $53
- 4x4 Off-Road Adventure with Hotel Transfers: $258
- Riga Gun Experience: Roundtrip Transfer and 4 Firearms: $163
- Riga City to Riga Airport - Private Transfer: $57
- Riga City to Riga Airport (RIX) - Private Transfer.: $75
- Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $43
- Riga Airport to Riga City - Private Transfer: $57
- Riga Airport to Hotel Transfer: $45
- Riga Airport (RIX) to Riga City - Private Transfer.: $75
- Private transfer from Riga Airport RIX to Riga city by Car or Van: $68
- Private transfer Riga - Hill of Crosses - Riga: $138
Is it cheaper to fly into Riga or Guayaquil?
Prices for flights to both Guayaquil and Riga 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 dayRiga $67Guayaquil $50
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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Fast Food Lunch$6.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Central Market Traditional Food Tour in a Small Group: $41
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $53
- Khinkali and Pelmeni Cooking Master Class: $70
- Exclusive Igloo for Lunches, Dinners and Events: $72
- Latvian Art Museum, Dinner, and Black Balsam Tasting: $210
- Pizza Making Master Class in Riga: $251
- Traditional Latvian Dinner with Private Folk Show: $252
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Riga $16Guayaquil $21
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- 2 Hours Walking Tour in Legends and Secret of Riga's Old Town : $96
- 2.5-Hour Riga Cruiser Bike Tour: $88
- 24h Riga Sightseeing Red Bus Grand Tour: $36
- 3-Hour Private Paintball Game Experience in Zīles: $95
- 5,5 Hour Small Group Tour to Hill of Crosses from Riga: $90
- Admission Ticket to Live Silver Museum: $13
- Aeroplane Flight Experience: $80
- Aeroplane Flight Experience: $81
- An audio tour of Old from St Peter's Church to the Monument of Freedom: $6.99
- Audio Tour of Riga Old Town: $12
- Bachelorette Party Adventure's Organization: $46
- Beer Bike Experience : $46
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRiga $23Guayaquil $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $21
- Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $29
- Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting in Riga: $35
- Riga Pub Crawl: $41
- Latvian Brewery Visit & 5 Beer tasting: $47
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $50
- Game Night & Pub Crawl: $52
- Riga Happy Hour Pub Crawl: $59
- Riga Brewery Tour: $59
- Prosecco Bike & Pub Crawl: $65
- Riga Brewery Tour: $77
- Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $94
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Riga and Guayaquil, we can see that Riga is more expensive. And not only is Guayaquil much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Riga is in Europe and Guayaquil 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 Guayaquil would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guayaquil 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 Riga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Riga than you might in Guayaquil.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Riga Expensive? and Is Guayaquil Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Riga or Guayaquil?
Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Riga. When comparing the sizes of Riga and Guayaquil, 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.
When is the best time to visit Riga or Guayaquil?
Riga has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Guayaquil experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Riga or Guayaquil in the Summer?
Both Guayaquil and Riga during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Riga for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Guayaquil year-round.
In the summer, Riga is cooler than Guayaquil. Typically, the summer temperatures in Riga in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Guayaquil averages at about 23°C (73°F).
Guayaquil gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Riga usually gets less rain in July than Guayaquil. Riga gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRiga 17°C (63°F)Guayaquil 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Riga or Guayaquil in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Riga and Guayaquil. Many visitors come to Riga in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Guayaquil attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Riga is generally much colder than Guayaquil. Daily temperatures in Riga average around 7°C (45°F), and Guayaquil fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
In October, Riga usually receives less rain than Guayaquil. Riga gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRiga 7°C (45°F)Guayaquil 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Riga or Guayaquil in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Riga as well as Guayaquil. Most visitors come to Riga for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Guayaquil throughout the year.
Riga can be very cold during winter. Riga is much colder than Guayaquil in the winter. The daily temperature in Riga averages around -5°C (23°F) in January, and Guayaquil fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
It's quite rainy in Guayaquil. Riga usually gets less rain in January than Guayaquil. Riga gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRiga -5°C (23°F)Guayaquil 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Riga or Guayaquil in the Spring?
Both Guayaquil and Riga are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Riga because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to Guayaquil because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Riga is much colder than Guayaquil. Typically, the spring temperatures in Riga in April average around 5°C (42°F), and Guayaquil averages at about 28°C (82°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Guayaquil. In April, Riga usually receives less rain than Guayaquil. Riga gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilRiga 5°C (42°F)Guayaquil 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Guayaquil and Riga
| Riga | Guayaquil | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (24°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
| Mar | -0°C (31°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (42°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (45°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (28°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
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.