How much Ecuador cost?
Ecuador na one of South America best-value destination, and because e dey use US dollar, no currency wahala to convert. Prices easy to read and ATM dey give you familiar notes. Your daily spend dey depend mostly on how you travel between cities, hostels and Galapagos.
Daily budgets
- Backpacker: 25-40 USD per day. Hostel dorms, almuerzos (set lunch), and public buses.
- Mid-range: 50-90 USD per day. Private room or boutique hostel, restaurant dinner, and small guided tours.
- Comfort: 120 USD and up. Hotels, private drivers, domestic flights, and Galapagos add-ons.
Mainland Ecuador cheap; di Galapagos Islands no cheap at all. Budget 150-300 USD per day for dia once you add di 200 USD park fee and 20 USD transit card.
Sample prices
- Almuerzo (soup, main, juice): 3-4 USD
- Restaurant dinner for Quito: 8-15 USD
- Local craft beer (Pilsener 0.5L): 2-3 USD
- Hostel dorm bed: 8-14 USD
- City bus or Quito Metro ride: 0.35-0.40 USD
- Long-distance bus (Quito to Banos, ~3.5h): 4-5 USD
- Domestic flight (Quito to Galapagos): 200-400 USD return
- Teleferico cable car for Quito: ~9 USD
- Cotopaxi or Quilotoa day tour: 40-70 USD
Money and cards
Ecuador dey run mostly on cash. Carry small bills, because to break 20 fit hard for market and village stops. ATMs (Banco Pichincha, Banco Guayaquil, Produbanco) dey usually charge 1.50-5 USD per withdrawal, so comot big amount less often. Card dey work for city hotels, supermarkets and chain restaurants, but e rarely work for market, bus or small town. Tipping dey small: 10% service charge dem dey often add for restaurant.
Saving tips
- Chop almuerzo for afternoon, na di best food value for di country.
- Take public bus between cities instead of tourist shuttle.
- Shop for mercados like Quito Mercado Central for cheap chop and fruit.
- Travel di mainland highlands before you spend big for di Galapagos.
- Buy your Galapagos transit card for airport instead of through costly packages.
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