Budget · Quito · Ecuador
Quito on a budget
What a trip to Quito really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Quito is affordable for most international visitors. Budget roughly $30–$50 per person per day on a tight budget, $80–$150 mid-range and $250–$500 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in March, May and October–November.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $30–$50 a day
- Mid-range
- $80–$150 a day
- Luxury
- $250–$500 a day
- Local currency
- USD
- Free sights
- 4
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $30–$50 | $90–$150 | $150–$250 | $210–$350 |
| Mid-range | $80–$150 | $240–$450 | $400–$750 | $560–$1,050 |
| Luxury | $250–$500 | $750–$1,500 | $1,250–$2,500 | $1,750–$3,500 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Quito, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Metro or Trolebús ride | about $0.45 |
| Almuerzo set lunch | about $3–$5 |
| Taxi across the north | about $3–$6 |
| Fresh fruit juice | about $1.50–$3 |
| Canelazo on La Ronda | about $2–$4 |
| Mid-range dinner | about $15–$30 per person |
| Bus to Otavalo, one way | about $3–$4 |
Money-saving tips
- Ecuador uses the US dollar; bring small notes, because $20 bills can be hard to break and $50 and $100 notes are often refused.
- Eat a set almuerzo at lunchtime; it costs a fraction of an à la carte dinner.
- Public buses to Otavalo, Mindo and Papallacta are cheap and frequent if you do not need a guide.
- Several Old Town churches and museums charge only a few dollars, and plazas, viewpoints and parks are free.
- Ask restaurants whether service and VAT are already included before tipping extra.
Free things to do
- Plaza Grande and Carondelet Palace — Officially the Plaza de la Independencia, Quito's main square is the political centre of Ecuador, with the white colonnaded Carondelet Palace, seat of the presidency, on one side and the Metropolitan Cathedral on another.
- Calle La Ronda — A narrow colonial lane of whitewashed houses with wooden balconies and flower pots, La Ronda holds traditional craft workshops, small cafés and bars serving canelazo.
- Parque Itchimbía — A hilltop park east of the Old Town with eucalyptus woods, walking paths and an iron-and-glass 'Crystal Palace' used as a cultural centre.
- Guápulo Sanctuary and viewpoint — The 17th-century Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guápulo, with its dome and colonial paintings, sits at the bottom of a steep valley below Avenida González Suárez.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for first-timers, culture and couples
Centro Histórico
Colonial plazas, churches and monasteries on steep cobbled streets
$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and culture
San Marcos
A quiet, residential corner of the Old Town with painted houses and small cafés
$ · Best for budget, nightlife and solo travellers
La Mariscal
Hostels, travel agencies, bars and Plaza Foch in the north-central city
Eating well for less
- Empanadas de viento — Cafés on Calle La Ronda and in the Old Town, especially in the evening.
- Humitas — Cafés and bakeries; the sweeter cousin, quimbolitos, are steamed in achira leaves.
- Ecuadorian chocolate — Chocolate shops in the Old Town and La Floresta, many offering tastings.
Getting around for less
Quito is long and narrow, stretching north to south along the valley. The Metro line, opened at the end of 2023, runs along this axis and links the Old Town with La Carolina and the north; taxis and ride-hailing apps fill the gaps, especially at night.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Quito cost?
About $400–$750 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $150–$250 on a tight budget.
+Is Quito expensive?
It is affordable for international visitors. Ecuador uses the US dollar; bring small notes, because $20 bills can be hard to break and $50 and $100 notes are often refused.
+How much money do I need per day in Quito?
Roughly $30–$50 on a budget and $80–$150 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Quito?
Usually in March, May and October–November.