Ecuador on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes: mainland Ecuador is very good on a budget, with a realistic minimum of about $40 per person per day (bed $15, food $12, sights $8, transport $5). The Galápagos need a separate, much larger budget.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | $15 | $45 | $120 |
| Food & drink | $12 | $25 | $50 |
| Sights & tickets | $8 | $25 | $60 |
| Local transport | $5 | $15 | $40 |
| Per person, per day | $40 | $110 | $270 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Ecuador day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk Quito's Centro Histórico, a UNESCO site, from Plaza Grande to the San Francisco square
- Stroll La Ronda, the restored lane of craft shops and cafés
- Cotopaxi National Park entry (free) and the walk around Laguna Limpiopungo
- El Cajas National Park lake loop, registered at the Laguna Toreadora visitor centre
- Museo Pumapungo in Cuenca, with Inca ruins in its gardens
- Homero Ortega 'Panama' hat factory tour in Cuenca
Cheap eats
- Almuerzo set lunch with soup, main and juice, a few dollars
- Locro de papa, potato soup with cheese and avocado, about $4–6
- Hornado (slow-roasted pork) at a market stall, cheaper than in restaurants
- Set dinner on Calle Larga in Cuenca, about $8–15
- Melcocha taffy pulled in Baños shop doorways, $1 or so
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels and family guesthouses in La Floresta and around the historic centre in Quito, and in Baños, Otavalo and Cuenca, at about $25–45 for a double with breakfast; dorm beds are often around $10–15. Simple hostels at Quilotoa and Chugchilán include dinner and breakfast for about $25–40.
Getting around cheaply
Long-distance buses cost about $1–1.50 per hour of travel. In Quito, the metro and city buses are cheapest; Uber is cheap for short trips. From Quito airport, shared shuttles and public buses are cheaper than the $25–30 taxi.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Walk Quito's old town and Plaza Grande (free), La Compañía (about $6)
- Lunch: Almuerzo set lunch, about $3–5
- Afternoon: Basílica del Voto Nacional towers (about $4) and La Ronda
- Evening: Taxi to El Panecillo ($3–5) and dinner of locro de papa, about $5
- Total: about $40 including a shared hostel double
More ways to save
- Base yourself in Latacunga or Baños to explore the highlands cheaply by bus.
- Cycle the Ruta de las Cascadas and return by pickup truck ($2–3) instead of a tour.
- Bargain politely in Otavalo market, starting at about two thirds of the asking price.
- Carry small notes; many places cannot change $20 bills.
- Look for hostels with kitchens and shop at municipal markets.
- If you visit the Galápagos, stay on inhabited islands and take day trips instead of a cruise.
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Common questions
Can you backpack Ecuador cheaply?
Yes: about $40 a day per person with hostels, almuerzos and buses.
What is the cheapest way to travel between cities?
Long-distance buses, about $1–1.50 per hour of travel.
Can you do the Galápagos on a budget?
More cheaply than a cruise by staying on Santa Cruz or San Cristóbal and taking day trips, but the $200 park fee and flights still apply.