What does Ecuador cost?
Ecuador is significantly cheaper than Colombia, Chile, or Argentina and comparable to Peru and Bolivia. Since the US dollar is the national currency, there are no exchange rate surprises. Prices on the mainland are 50–70% below German levels. Galápagos is a category of its own — costs are significantly higher there.
Typical Prices (Guidelines 2025/2026)
| Item | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Almuerzo (daily menu, mainland) | 2.50–4.00 |
| Dinner in a restaurant | 8–18 |
| Coffee in a café | 1.50–3.00 |
| Beer (0.6l in a restaurant) | 2.00–4.00 |
| Beer (0.6l in a supermarket) | 1.00–1.80 |
| Hostel (dormitory) | 8–15 |
| Hotel (mid-range, double room) | 30–70 |
| Galápagos Hotel (double room) | 80–200 |
| Galápagos Cruise (per day) | 250–600 |
| Bus Quito–Baños (3.5h) | 4–5 |
| Bus Quito–Guayaquil (8h) | 10–12 |
| Flight to the Galápagos (return) | 350–500 (foreigner rate) |
| Galápagos National Park Fee | 100 (foreigner) |
| Amazon Lodge (3 days/2 nights) | 200–500 |
| Cotopaxi Tour (day tour) | 50–80 |
