Which place is cheaper, Cuenca or Sydney?
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 Sydney or Cuenca?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sydney or Cuenca, 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: Sydney or Cuenca?
Sydney
Sydney, known as the harbour city, is the most famous and frequently visited city in Australia. It is at the economical and cultural heart of the country, and is one of the most beautiful and livable cities in the world. It's situated on the water with stunning views of the famous harbour throughout the city. It's most famous landmarks include the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is also very close wonderful beaches, parks, and nature.
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 Contiki Tours to Australia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia, The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador.
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Sydney Prices
Australia PricesCuenca Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySydney $207Cuenca $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Sydney is $207, 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 Sydney and Cuenca in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSydney $103Cuenca $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSydney $206Cuenca $26
Compare Hotels in Sydney and Cuenca
Looking for a hotel in Sydney 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: Sydney Hotel Prices and Cuenca Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sydney $15Cuenca $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sydney
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Sydney:
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Taxi Ride$13
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Taxi to Airport$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sydney
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sydney:
- 11:30AM Sydney Airport-Hotel transfer with Bondi Tour: $125
- 9:30AM Sydney Airport-Hotel transfer with City Half Day Tour: $112
- Airport Transfer from Sydney Airport to Hotels: $295
- Airport Transfer: Sydney Airport SYD to Sydney by Business Car: $113
- Airport Transfer: Sydney Airport SYD to Sydney by Luxury Van: $126
- Arrival Transfer from Sydney Airport SYD to Sydney city by Sedan: $90
- Arrival Transfer: Sydney Airport SYD to Sydney in Business Car: $113
- Chauffeur Airport Transfers Sydney - Up to 15 Passengers: $99
- Chauffeur Service Sydney For Luxury Airport Transfers: $112
- Departure Transfer: Sydney to Sydney Airport SYD in Business Car: $113
- Featherdale Wildlife Park with Exclusive Private Transfers: $234
- From Sydney Hotels - Hotel Transfer to Airport: $355
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:
- Cuenca Airport Transfer: $13
- Cuenca to/from Guayaquil Private Transfer: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Sydney or Cuenca?
Prices for flights to both Cuenca and Sydney 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 daySydney $77Cuenca $26
Typical Food Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Sydney:
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Tea$2.62
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Lunch Special$9.81
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Food/Drink Coogie Beach$9.81
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Meat Pies$3.27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sydney
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sydney.
- Vivid Festival of Light Harbor Cruise with Dinner: $36
- City Highlights Walking Food Tour with Harbor Cruise: $45
- Roti Making Class with 5-Course Dinner: $50
- Harbour Dinner Cruise with Buffet: $50
- Sydney Harbour Discovery Dinner Cruise Scenic Sights and Buffet: $50
- Foraging Food Tour Sydney Native Aussie Food: $53
- Sydney's Little Italy Food Tour: $54
- Harbor Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $59
- Twilight Dinner Cruise on Coral Trekker: $59
- Sydney Harbour Tall Ship Twilight Dinner Cruise: $60
- Taste of Sydney Fish Market Food Tour: $64
- Kids Cooking Classes: $64
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
- Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca: $55
- Experience Ecuador: Join an Andean Cooking Class in Cuenca: $85
- Private Cooking Class: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sydney $31Cuenca $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Sydney
Here are a few typical costs in Sydney for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Theatre Show$29
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Sydney Tower Visit (for 2)$30
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Blue Mountain Tour/Featherdale Park (for 2)$125
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Powerhouse Museum$9.85
Tours and Activities in Sydney
Here are a few actual costs in Sydney for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Sydney's Hidden Gems Self Guided City Tour: $1.79
- Sydney Cockatoo Island Escape: Convict Adventure Game: $7.20
- Sydney Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $7.20
- Sydney Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $8.40
- Sydney Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Haunted Sydney Self-Guided Audio Ghost Tour: $10
- Experience Sydney Audio Tour Adventure: $15
- Discover Self-Guided Audio Tour: $16
- Aboriginal Art Exhibition Ticket, Art Gallery of NSW: $17
- Razor Gangs True Crime Tour: $17
- Tickets & Tours at Art Gallery of New South Wales: $17
- Tours & Exhibitions at Art Gallery of New South Wales: $17
Tours and Activities in Cuenca
Here are a few actual costs in Cuenca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cuenca-Ec- Highlights City Tour : $16
- Half-Day Biking and Walking Tour in Cuenca: $30
- Cuenca Half-Day City Tour Including Panama Hat Factory: $35
- Tour of the best of Cuenca walking through its Historic Center: $35
- Half-Day City Tour including Panama Hat Factory: $35
- Cajas National Park Half Day Tour from Cuenca: $39
- El Chorro waterfalls and Busa lake tour from Cuenca: $44
- Cuenca Your Way Exclusive Private City Tour: $45
- City Sightseeing Tour: $45
- Amazing Cajas National Park Tour from Cuenca: $47
- Wonderful Cajas National Park tour from Cuenca: $48
- Cajas National Park Small-Group tour from Cuenca: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySydney $15Cuenca $14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Sydney:
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Wine$10
Sample the Local Flavors in Sydney
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sydney:
- Wollongong Bar Crawl Go Out with a Gong: $15
- Big Night Out Pub Crawl with Local Party Hosts: $32
- Private Wine Tasting at The Rocks: $46
- Sydney Cellar Door - Old Vine Expressions Wine Tasting: $47
- Marrickville Brewery Tour: $78
- From: Sydney - Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Guided Day Tour: $89
- Sydney Beer and Brewery Tour: $103
- Brewery, Winery, and Distillery Tasting Tour: $112
- From Full-Day Hunter Valley Wine Tour & Lunch: $145
- From Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Day Tour: $145
- From Hunter Valley Multi-Brewery Tour with Lunch: $149
- Small Group Hunter Valley Wine Tour + Lunch, Gin & Choc ex Sydney: $151
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sydney and Cuenca, we can see that Sydney is more expensive. And not only is Cuenca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sydney is in Pacific 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 Sydney would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sydney 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 Sydney Expensive? and Is Cuenca Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sydney or Cuenca?
Sydney has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Cuenca. When comparing the sizes of Sydney 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 Sydney or Cuenca?
Sydney 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 Sydney or Cuenca in the Summer?
Both Cuenca and Sydney are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Sydney for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Cuenca because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Sydney is generally around the same temperature as Cuencain July. Daily temperatures in Sydney average around 23°C (73°F), and Cuenca fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
It's quite rainy in Sydney. In January, Sydney usually receives more rain than Cuencain July. Sydney gets 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulySydney 23°C (73°F)Cuenca 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Sydney or Cuenca in the Autumn?
Both Cuenca and Sydney during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Sydney in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cuenca year-round.
Sydney is much warmer than Cuenca in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sydney averages around 19°C (65°F) in April, and Cuenca fluctuates around 12°C (54°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Sydney. Sydney usually gets more rain in April than Cuencain October. Sydney gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberSydney 19°C (65°F)Cuenca 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Sydney or Cuenca in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Sydney and Cuenca. Most visitors come to Sydney for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Cuenca attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
The weather in Cuenca can be very cold. In the winter, Sydney is much warmer than Cuenca. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sydney in July average around 12°C (53°F), and Cuenca averages at about 4°C (39°F)in January.
In July, Sydney usually receives more rain than Cuencain January. Sydney gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuarySydney 12°C (53°F)Cuenca 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Sydney or Cuenca in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Sydney as well as Cuenca. The spring months attract visitors to Sydney because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cuenca throughout the year.
In October, Sydney is generally much warmer than Cuencain April. Daily temperatures in Sydney average around 18°C (64°F), and Cuenca fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
Sydney usually gets more rain in October than Cuencain April. Sydney gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilSydney 18°C (64°F)Cuenca 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Cuenca and Sydney
| Sydney | Cuenca | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 21°C (70°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 19°C (65°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Jul | 12°C (53°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (55°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 60 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 | 20°C (67°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 22°C (71°F) | 81 mm (3.2 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.