Which place is cheaper, Cuenca or Split?
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 Split or Cuenca?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Split and Cuenca. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Split or Cuenca?
Split
Split is a historic city in Central Dalmatia with many opportunities to glimpse its fascinating past in its historic city center. Centuries ago the city grew up around a Diocletian palace that was used as refuge by the locals.
Today, as you wander around the historic center, you can see the remains of the Roman walls, temples, and squares. Despite it's appeal to tourists, Split is much more than just a tourist destination. It is larger than you might initially realize and it spreads well beyond the historic center. There is a population of about 300,000 in the larger area and it is an economic center for the region.
Split has a beautiful climate with mild winters, countless sunny days, and a generally pleasant temperature. As such, there are many opportunities to enjoy yourself outdoors, whether by participating in sports or walking around the city's quaint streets. Winters in Split are also quite mild, but there may be one snowy day, on average, every year. This rare snowfall can cause a significant disruption in the flow of traffic.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Walking Tours in Croatia, The Best Luxury Tours to Croatia, The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador.
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Split Prices
Croatia PricesCuenca Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySplit $220Cuenca $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Split is $220, while the average daily cost in Cuenca is $53. 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 Split and Cuenca in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSplit $95Cuenca $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSplit $190Cuenca $26
Compare Hotels in Split and Cuenca
Looking for a hotel in Split or Cuenca? 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: Split Hotel Prices and Cuenca Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Split $26Cuenca $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Split
Also for Split, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- **Private Door to Door Airport Split Transfer up to 15 People**: $69
- Airport Transfer from Split: $45
- Airport Transfer to Split: $45
- Airport transfers, Locco transfers, Port transfers: $90
- CO2-Offset Arrival Transfer Split Airport to Split City: $60
- CO2-Offset Departure Transfer Split City to Split Airport SPU: $60
- Cetina River Rafting Tour with Transfer from Split: $76
- Cruise Port of Split to Split Hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
- Cruise Port of Split to Split hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $80
- From Split or Trogir: Cetina River Rafting with Transfer: $93
- From Split or Trogir: Cetina River Rafting with Transfer: $91
- From Split to Baska Voda Private Transfer: $154
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cuenca:
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Taxi Ride$2.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cuenca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cuenca:
- Shared transfer from Airport to Hotel: $50
- Cuenca to/from Guayaquil Private Transfer: $80
- Cuenca Airport Transfer: $13
Is it cheaper to fly into Split or Cuenca?
Prices for flights to both Cuenca and Split 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 daySplit $104Cuenca $26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Split
For Split, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Omiš: Sunset Boat Trip to Pučišća Brač island with Dinner: $51
- Split’s Ultimate Walking Food Tour with Full Meal & Drinks: $67
- Small Group Food Tour with Private Option: $104
- Split Old Town Authentic Food Tour with 9 Dishes & Local Wines: $124
- Split Food Tour: Discover Split One Bite At A Time: $137
- Split Food Tour: Discover Split One Bite at a Time: $140
- Dinner In Dalmatia: A Family Affair Outside Split: $142
- Split Cooking Class: $200
- From farm to table : Cooking class on island Brac: $297
Typical Food Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cuenca:
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Lunch$10
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Snacks$5.00
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Empanada$1.50
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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.
- Street food Tour in Cuenca,Ecuador: $33
- Cuenca Table Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $43
- Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca: $55
- Cuenca Table Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- 4h Cooking Class in Cuenca with 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $75
- 4h Cooking Class in 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $86
- Cuenca City Tour & Cooking Class (PRIVATE Tour from Cuenca): $112
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Split $13Cuenca $16
Tours and Activities in Split
For Split, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Split self guided walking tour through history: $5.71
- Split's Old Town and Marjan Hill: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
- Discover Split Guided Walking Tour: $12
- Entry Ticket to Selfie Experience Museum: $13
- Klis Fortress Sunset Tour & Game of Thrones Views: $13
- Museum of Illusions Entrance Ticket: $14
- Hajduk Poljud Stadium Tour with Trophy Room Entry: $14
- Walking Tour of UNESCO Diocletian Palace & Old Town: $14
- Klis Fortress & Olive Museum Tour with GOT Sites: $14
- Split History Walking Tour with Local Guide and Tips: $15
- Amazing Audio tour : Adriatic Blues and Roman Clues Split: $15
- Diocletian's Palace Virtual Reality Experience: $15
Tours and Activities in Cuenca
Here are a few actual costs in Cuenca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Amazing Cajas National Park Tour from Cuenca: $47
- Azuay Cuenca Ecuador Tour: $1,300
- Biking Cuenca City Tour: $50
- Birdwatching Tour in Cajas National Park from Cuenca: $105
- Birdwatching Tour in Cajas National Park from Cuenca: $105
- Birdwatching Tour in Giron and Yunguilla Jocotoco Reserve from Cuenca: $150
- Birdwatching Tour, Via Gualaceo to the Eastern slope from Cuenca: $120
- Cacao Origins Gastronomic Tour Experience in Cuenca: $125
- Cajas National Park FULL-DAY Tour from Cuenca: $55
- Cajas National Park Half Day Tour from Cuenca: $40
- Cajas National Park Small-Group tour from Cuenca: $48
- Cajas National Park and Cuenca City private Tour: $115
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySplit $20Cuenca $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Split
Also in Split, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Split Pub Crawl: Nightlife, Shots & Club Entry: $14
- Split Nightlife Pub Crawl with Shots and Club Entry: $17
- From Krka Waterfalls, Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $44
- From Krka Waterfalls, Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $53
- From Krka Waterfalls day tour & wine tasting: $55
- Split/Trogir: Krka National Park Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $55
- Olive Oil and Wine Tasting with Snacks: $57
- Educational wine tasting in Split: $63
- Split&Sip: Educational wine tasting: $64
- Split/Trogir: Mostar and Medjugorje Tour with Wine Tasting: $99
- Split Mediterranean Food & Wine tasting with Meal & Local Guide: $106
- Vineyard Wine Tasting Experience with a Sea view from Split: $137
Sample the Local Flavors in Cuenca
Also in Cuenca, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Cuenca Pub Crawl: Pub Crawl with Drinks and Free Club Entry: $20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Split and Cuenca, we can see that Split is more expensive. And not only is Cuenca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Split is in Europe and Cuenca 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 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 Split would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Split than you might in Cuenca.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Split Expensive? and Is Cuenca Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Split or Cuenca?
Cuenca has a larger population, and is about 57% larger than the population of Split. When comparing the sizes of Split and Cuenca, 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 Split or Cuenca?
Split has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cuenca experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Split or Cuenca in the Summer?
Both Cuenca and Split during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Split because of the beaches, snorkeling, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cuenca year-round.
Split is a little warmer than Cuenca in the summer. The daily temperature in Split averages around 26°C (80°F) in July, and Cuenca fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
Split usually gets more rain in July than Cuenca. Split gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySplit 26°C (80°F)Cuenca 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Split or Cuenca in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Split and Cuenca. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Split this time of year. Cuenca attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Split is a little warmer than Cuenca. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Split in October average around 18°C (64°F), and Cuenca averages at about 12°C (54°F).
In October, Split usually receives more rain than Cuenca. Split gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSplit 18°C (64°F)Cuenca 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Split or Cuenca in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Split as well as Cuenca. Many travelers come to Split for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cuenca throughout the year.
Cuenca can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Split is generally much warmer than Cuenca. Daily temperatures in Split average around 8°C (47°F), and Cuenca fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
Split usually gets more rain in January than Cuenca. Split gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySplit 8°C (47°F)Cuenca 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Split or Cuenca in the Spring?
Both Cuenca and Split are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Split in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city. Plenty of visitors come to Cuenca because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Split is a little warmer than Cuenca in the spring. The daily temperature in Split averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Cuenca fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
In April, Split usually receives more rain than Cuenca. Split gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSplit 15°C (59°F)Cuenca 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Cuenca and Split
| Split | Cuenca | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 8°C (47°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (48°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (59°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 20°C (67°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (74°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (80°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (56°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (49°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 15 mm (0.6 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.