Which place is cheaper, Cuenca or Uppsala?
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 Uppsala or Cuenca?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Uppsala 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: Uppsala or Cuenca?
Uppsala
Uppsala is a college town in Sweden, located about 40 minutes north of Stockholm. Home to two universities, Uppsala is the 4th largest city in Sweden and features a huge diversity in culture. The Fyris River divides the city into the historic and modern sides of the city, each one with their own unique culture and sights to see. The area features fairly cool weather year-round, with temperatures in the 30's Fahrenheit from November-April and May-October seeing temperatures in the 40's and 50's Fahrenheit. The best time to visit it from May-July when temperatures are at their highest and there's plenty of sunshine.
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 Luxury Tours to Sweden, The Best Budget Tours to Sweden, The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador.
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Uppsala Prices
Sweden PricesCuenca Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUppsala $172Cuenca $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Uppsala is $172, 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 Uppsala and Cuenca in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUppsala $97Cuenca $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUppsala $194Cuenca $26
Compare Hotels in Uppsala and Cuenca
Looking for a hotel in Uppsala 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: Uppsala Hotel Prices and Cuenca Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Uppsala $21Cuenca $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Uppsala
Also for Uppsala, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Uppsala City to Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) - Departure Private Transfer: $72
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 to/from Guayaquil Private Transfer: $80
- Shared transfer from Airport to Hotel: $50
- Cuenca Airport Transfer: $13
Is it cheaper to fly into Uppsala or Cuenca?
Prices for flights to both Cuenca and Uppsala 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 dayUppsala $60Cuenca $26
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
- 4h Cooking Class in Cuenca with 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $75
- 4h Cooking Class in 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $86
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Uppsala $20Cuenca $16
Tours and Activities in Uppsala
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Uppsala.
- Uppsala Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.69
- Podcast Tour Uppsala The Architecture of Authority: $6.82
- The Best of A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Secrets of Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $23
- Stockholm: Uppsala Half-Day Swedish Oxford & Cathedral Tour: $29
- Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $48
- Adventure parc: $52
- Uppsala : Kayaking or Canoeing Experience: $76
- Vasatid at Uppsala Castle 1h - a guided tour in Uppsala: $93
- Medieval horror, undead and dark folklore walk Uppsala city - open tour: $97
- Uppsala Must See 2h city walk - 2h tour of all big attractions!: $103
- Guided tour 90min at Old Uppsala mounds and old Uppsala church: $104
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 Cajas Park and Tamarindo Tropical Forest area from Cuenca: $140
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUppsala $19Cuenca $14
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 Uppsala and Cuenca, we can see that Uppsala is more expensive. And not only is Cuenca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Uppsala 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 Uppsala would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Uppsala 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 Uppsala Expensive? and Is Cuenca Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Uppsala or Cuenca?
Cuenca has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Uppsala. When comparing the sizes of Uppsala 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 Uppsala or Cuenca?
Uppsala 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 Uppsala or Cuenca in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Uppsala as well as Cuenca. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cuenca throughout the year.
In the summer, Uppsala is cooler than Cuenca. Typically, the summer temperatures in Uppsala in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Cuenca averages at about 22°C (72°F).
Uppsala usually gets more rain in July than Cuenca. Uppsala gets 72 mm (2.8 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 JulyUppsala 18°C (64°F)Cuenca 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Uppsala or Cuenca in the Autumn?
Both Cuenca and Uppsala are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Cuenca because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Uppsala is generally much colder than Cuenca. Daily temperatures in Uppsala average around 8°C (46°F), and Cuenca fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
In October, Uppsala usually receives more rain than Cuenca. Uppsala gets 50 mm (2 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 OctoberUppsala 8°C (46°F)Cuenca 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Uppsala or Cuenca in the Winter?
Both Cuenca and Uppsala during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cuenca year-round.
The weather in Cuenca can be very cold. Uppsala can be very cold during winter. Uppsala is much colder than Cuenca in the winter. The daily temperature in Uppsala averages around -3°C (27°F) in January, and Cuenca fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
Uppsala usually gets more rain in January than Cuenca. Uppsala gets 39 mm (1.5 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 JanuaryUppsala -3°C (27°F)Cuenca 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Uppsala or Cuenca in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Uppsala and Cuenca. Cuenca attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Uppsala is much colder than Cuenca. Typically, the spring temperatures in Uppsala in April average around 5°C (41°F), and Cuenca averages at about 10°C (50°F).
In April, Uppsala usually receives less rain than Cuenca. Uppsala gets 30 mm (1.2 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 AprilUppsala 5°C (41°F)Cuenca 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Cuenca and Uppsala
| Uppsala | Cuenca | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | -3°C (27°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 0°C (33°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (41°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 11°C (52°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (61°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 8°C (46°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 3°C (37°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | -1°C (31°F) | 46 mm (1.8 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.