A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Turku vs. Quito for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Turku or Quito?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Turku 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: Turku or Quito?

Turku

Turku, a city on the southwest coast of Finland, straddles the Aura River. Dating from the 13th century, it's known for Turku Castle, a medieval fortress with a history museum, perched at the river mouth. Restaurants line the cobbled riverside streets. On the eastern bank lies the Old Great Square, a former trade hub, surrounded by grand buildings. The nearby Turku Cathedral houses a royal tomb and a museum. The historic castle and cathedral point to the city's rich cultural history when it was the Finnish capital, and contemporary Turku is full of experimental art and vibrant festivals, thanks in part to its spirited university population (the country's second largest), who make Turku's nightlife young and fun. As the first city many visitors encounter arriving by ferry from Sweden and Aland, it's a splendid introduction to the Finnish mainland.

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 Luxury Tours to Finland, The Best Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.


Which place is cheaper, Quito or Turku?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Turku is $185, 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 Turku and Quito in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Turku $88
    Quito $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Turku $176
    Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Turku and Quito

Looking for a hotel in Turku 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.

Hotels in Turku


Hotels in Quito


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: Turku Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Turku $51
    Quito $6.99

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Turku

Also for Turku, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Turku Private Transfer from Turku (TKU) Airport to City centre: $94
  • Turku Private Transfer from Turku city centre to Turku airport: $94

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Quito

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


  • Taxi from Bus Terminal to Hotel
    $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quito

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quito:

  • From Quilotoa Lake Private Tour with Transfer & Lunch: $166
  • From Mindo Cloud Forest Day Trip with Transfer: $129
  • Panoramic City Tour & Airport Departure Transfer: $114
  • Middle of the World Tour with Airport Transfer: $114
  • Airport Transfer and City Highlights Tour: $114
  • Arrival Transfer from Quito Airport UIO to Quito by Sedan or SUV: $105
  • Private City Tour & Intiñam Museum Visit w/ Transfer: $89
  • Transfer Quito → Papallacta (one way / round trip): $85
  • Private Transfer from Quito to Baños de Agua Santa (one way): $80
  • Transfer from or to Airport Mariscal Sucre (one way): $75
  • Private Transfer from Quito Airport to Hotels in Quito: $70
  • Transfer Airport → Quito (one way / round trip): $50

Is it cheaper to fly into Turku or Quito?

Prices for flights to both Quito and Turku 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
    Turku $65
    Quito $34

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
  • The Delicious Side of Quito Food Tour: $70
  • 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 with Chef, Market Tour & Transportation: $88
  • Cooking Class in Quito with Chef, Market Tour and Transportation: $88
  • Cooking Class with a chef and local market including hotel pickup: $89
  • Private Famous Food Tour of Historic Old Town in Quito: $95
  • Ecuadorian Cooking Class with a chef and Local Market: $100

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Turku $26
    Quito $16

Tours and Activities in Turku

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Turku.

  • Järvelä Sauna Experience in the Turku Archipelago: $19
  • Experience Turku with a local guide: $278

Typical Entertainment Prices in Quito

Here are a few typical costs in Quito for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • 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:

  • 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
  • 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 Volcano Condor Birdwatching Private Experience: $90
  • Antisana Volcano Private Day Tour from Quito: $266
  • Antisana volcano private tour; birding and hike in the Andes: $130
  • Authentic Cloud Forest Experience: $299

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Turku $14
    Quito $17

Typical Alcohol Prices in Quito

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Quito from other travelers:


  • Beers for Two
    $9.00


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Turku and Quito, we can see that Turku is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Turku 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 Turku would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Turku 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 Turku Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Turku or Quito?

Quito has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Turku. When comparing the sizes of Turku 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.