TripPick Ecuador Ecuador

Quito Travel Cost Guide 2026

From budget $25/day to luxury $140/day — full daily expense breakdown

Quito can be done on a wide range of budgets. Hostels, local restaurants, and public transport keep daily costs around $25 / ¥3,750. A 3-star hotel with sit-down meals averages $55 / ¥8,250. Luxury travelers in 4-5 star hotels with fine dining should expect $140 / ¥21,000+ per day. Below: detailed breakdown by category, total budgets for 3/5/7-day trips, and local saving tips.

Daily Budget at a Glance

Per person, per day for Quito in three travel styles.

Budget
$25
¥3,750 · per day
  • Accommodation$10
  • Food$8
  • Transport$3
  • Activities$4
Hostels, dorm rooms, local eateries, public transit
Most Popular
Mid-Range
$55
¥8,250 · per day
  • Accommodation$22
  • Food$15
  • Transport$8
  • Activities$10
3-star hotels, sit-down restaurants, mix of transit and taxis
Luxury
$140
¥21,000 · per day
  • Accommodation$70
  • Food$30
  • Transport$12
  • Activities$28
4-5 star hotels, fine dining, private transport and tours

Quito is among cheapest South American capitals. Stay in Old Town for atmosphere or La Floresta for safer hipster. Cotopaxi day tour $80. Mitad del Mundo $40 day tour. Pre-book Galapagos cruise 6+ months ahead.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Per person, per day in USD (Japanese yen equivalent in parentheses).

Category Budget Mid-Range Luxury
Accommodation $10 $22 $70
Food $8 $15 $30
Transport $3 $8 $12
Activities & Attractions $4 $10 $28
Daily Total $25 $55 $140

Total Trip Cost by Duration

Including round-trip flight estimate · per person · estimated flights: $500-1,200 from US (UIO direct from JFK/MIA on Latam/Avianca); $1,500-2,500 from Asia (UIO via LAX or Madrid)

3-Day Trip 3 nights
Budget
$100
Mid-Range
$230
Luxury
$580
5-Day Trip 5 nights
Budget
$160
Mid-Range
$360
Luxury
$940
7-Day Trip 7 nights
Budget
$220
Mid-Range
$490
Luxury
$1,290

* Flight prices vary widely by origin and booking timing. Numbers above are average return economy fares.

How Does It Compare?

Mid-range daily cost compared to other popular destinations.

City
Daily (mid-range)
vs Quito
Lima
$65
Quito is ~62% cheaper
Cusco
$60
Quito is ~58% cheaper
Bogotá
$60
Quito is ~58% cheaper
La Paz
$30
Quito is ~17% cheaper
Mexico City
$80
Quito is ~69% cheaper
Cartagena
$85
Quito is ~71% cheaper

* Exchange rates as of April 2026. Mid-range daily cost per traveler.

Payment & Money

How to pay and what to know about money in Quito.

Currency

USD (Ecuador uses USD officially since 2000).

Card Acceptance

Universal at hotels + tourist restaurants. Cash for street food + small shops.

Tipping

10% at sit-down restaurants.

ATM

Banco Pichincha + Banco Pacífico free with most foreign cards.

Recommended Tours & Activities

Booking tours in advance is typically 15-30% cheaper than walk-up rates.

Quito Hotel Search

Find rooms in your style — budget $10 to luxury $70+ per night.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a day in Quito cost?
It depends heavily on travel style. Budget travelers using hostels, local restaurants, and public transport spend around $25 / ¥3,750 per day. Mid-range travelers in 3-star hotels with sit-down meals run $55 / ¥8,250. Luxury travelers in 4-5 star hotels with fine dining should expect $140 / ¥21,000+ per day. Accommodation (budget $10 / mid $22 / luxury $70) is the largest single cost.

What's the budget for a one-week trip to Quito?
Including round-trip flights, 7 days runs: budget $220, mid-range $490, luxury $1,290. Average return flights: $500-1,200 from US (UIO direct from JFK/MIA on Latam/Avianca); $1,500-2,500 from Asia (UIO via LAX or Madrid) (varies by origin and booking timing). Excluding flights, the on-the-ground total (lodging + food + transport + activities) for 7 days: budget $175, mid-range $385.

What's the biggest expense in Quito?
For mid-range travel, accommodation is the biggest cost at $22 / ¥3,300/day. Order: accommodation $22, food $15, transport $8, activities $10.

Where should I exchange money for Quito?
USD official currency since 2000. ATMs everywhere. $1 + $5 + $10 + $20 bills universal.

Do I need to tip in Quito?
Tipping practices vary widely by country. Check the cultural tips section for Quito specifics. Generally: 10-15% in restaurants where it's expected, round up taxi fares, small tip per bag for hotel porters.

How can I save money on transport in Quito?
Use public transit (subway/bus) to keep transport at $3 / ¥450/day. Day passes and IC cards offer discounts vs single tickets. Use ride apps (Uber, local equivalents) instead of street taxis to avoid overcharging.

Where can I eat cheaply in Quito?
Local markets, family-run restaurants, and convenience stores can keep food costs at $8 / ¥1,200/day. Tourist-zone restaurants often run 2-3x what you'd pay 10 minutes away. Look for places where locals eat.

Is Quito expensive overall?
It's one of the most affordable major cities in the world. Budget travelers can do it on $25 / ¥3,750 per day. The big variables are accommodation ($10–$70), food ($8–$30), and transport ($3–$8) — your style choices matter more than the destination.

Why you can trust cost guide

Jimmy Kong TripPick founder · Travel content creator

Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.

8+ years analyzing travel data 30+ countries visited Live exchange rate verified
📅 Published: 🔄 Last updated: