Quito surprised us. Set high in the Andes, Ecuador’s capital feels like a mix of historic churches, mountain views, big city energy, and family-friendly green space. We based ourselves near La Carolina Park, which ended up being one of the best decisions of our trip. Our kids had multiple playgrounds to choose from, the metro was nearby, and on weekends the whole area felt lively and full of local families enjoying the city.
We also found Quito easier than expected to navigate with kids. Uber was cheap and simple, the metro was clean and efficient, and the areas where we spent our time felt comfortable for our family. Between the park, the historic center, good coffee shops, and the chance to stand on the equator, Quito gave us a really fun and manageable week.
In total, our family travel costs in Quito, Ecuador came to a surprisingly reasonable amount for a family of four. Here’s exactly what we spent during one week in Quito, with all costs listed in U.S. dollars.
Our Total family travel costs in Quito Ecuador for One Week
In total, we spent $684.68 during our 7 nights in Quito, averaging $97.81 per day for our family of four. All amounts are listed in U.S. dollars.
Like our other travel budget breakdowns, we’ve excluded flights since those can vary widely depending on where you’re flying from and how you book.
Overall, we found Quito to be fairly affordable compared to many major cities. Accommodation was reasonable, groceries were easy to find, and getting around Quito was simple thanks to cheap Uber rides and a clean, efficient metro system.
Here’s how our Quito travel budget broke down during our week exploring Quito, Ecuador with kids.
Accommodation
We spent $332.63 on accommodation for 7 nights, which came out to about $47.52 per night.
We stayed in an apartment-style Airbnb near La Carolina Park, and for our family, it was a really good setup. It had a kitchen, laundry, and two bedrooms, which are the kinds of things we almost always look for when traveling with kids. Having that extra space made the week feel much easier and more comfortable.
The location was one of the biggest advantages. We were close to the metro, could easily get around Quito by Uber, and had one of the best kid-friendly areas in the city right outside. La Carolina Park gave our kids plenty of room to run, multiple playgrounds to explore, and an easy outdoor reset when we didn’t want to pack the day with sightseeing.
On weekends, especially Sundays, the whole area felt lively in the best way. It was busy, local, and full of families out enjoying the city. For us, staying near the park made Quito with kids feel much more manageable, and it’s an area we’d happily choose again.
Eating Out
We spent $79.83 eating out during our week in Quito. Since we had a kitchen in our Airbnb, we cooked most of our breakfasts and lunches and only went out for a few meals and coffee stops.
One fun stop was Cafe Lab, where they can actually print your photo on the foam of your latte. It’s a bit of a novelty, but the kids thought it was hilarious and the food was good too.
We also visited Cafe Mosaico, which has beautiful views overlooking Quito. It’s known as more of a nighttime spot, but we went earlier in the day and had the place mostly to ourselves while enjoying coffee and a meal.
Other quick food stops included grabbing hot dogs for the kids while we were out exploring and a meal at La Josefina Mikunawasi, which ended up being a nice, simple restaurant break during our time in Quito, Ecuador.
Overall, we found eating out in Quito to be pretty affordable compared to many cities, especially if you mix in grocery shopping and cooking some meals yourself like we did.
Groceries
We spent $152.73 on groceries during our week in Quito. Since our Airbnb had a kitchen, we cooked most of our breakfasts and lunches, which helped keep our Quito travel budget pretty reasonable.
Most of our groceries came from MegaMaxi and SuperMaxi, two large grocery stores in Quito, Ecuador that had just about everything we needed. They were easy to navigate, even as travelers, and had a mix of local products and familiar foods.
We mostly stocked up on simple things for quick meals and snacks for the kids. Having groceries on hand made mornings much easier before heading out to explore Quito for the day.
One thing to keep in mind when visiting Ecuador is that the tap water isn’t considered safe to drink, so we also picked up bottled water while grocery shopping.
Overall, grocery shopping in Quito felt similar to many cities around the world and was a helpful way to balance out the cost of eating out while traveling with kids.
Transportation
We spent $61.99 on transportation during our week in Quito.
Our main way of getting around Quito was Uber, which was cheap, easy, and reliable. Most of our rides were short trips around the city, including our ride from Quito Airport to our Airbnb and a few rides to different attractions. For a family traveling with kids, Uber was by far the simplest way to get around.
We also used the Quito Metro one day when we went down to the historic center. The metro was clean, efficient, and honestly one of the better systems we’ve used while traveling. It runs north to south through the city and made getting into the center quick and easy.
Between Uber, walking, and the metro, getting around Quito, Ecuador felt straightforward and stress-free, which always makes traveling with kids a lot easier.
Tourist Attractions
We spent $24.50 on tourist attractions during our week in Quito.
One of the highlights of our trip was visiting the Intiñan Equator Museum, where you can actually stand on the equator line and try a few science-style experiments. The museum is interactive and fun with kids. We watched demonstrations, tried balancing an egg on a nail, and learned a bit about how the equator affects things like water flow and balance. For a family activity in Quito, it was absolutely worth the visit.
We also visited the Basílica del Voto Nacional, one of the most famous churches in Quito, Ecuador. Instead of just viewing it from the outside, we climbed up the towers, which gave us incredible views over the historic center. The climb gets narrow near the top with steep staircases and ladders, but our kids handled it well and the views were worth it.
Overall, we found many things to do in Quito to be quite affordable. Even the paid attractions were reasonably priced, which helped keep our overall Quito travel budget manageable for a family.
Miscellaneous
We spent $33.63 on miscellaneous expenses during our week in Quito.
These are the little things that don’t always fit neatly into a category but still show up in a Quito travel budget. For us, that included buying an Airalo eSIM to stay connected during our time in Ecuador, which has become our go-to option for mobile data while traveling internationally.
There were also a couple of small everyday purchases, including a quick haircut and a few minor items along the way.
These types of expenses are pretty typical when traveling, especially as a family. They’re easy to overlook when planning a trip to Quito, but it’s always helpful to leave a little room in your budget for them.
What We Learned About Visiting Quito With Kids
One thing we noticed quickly while exploring Quito was the visible police presence throughout the city. Around La Carolina Park and in the historic center, there were officers regularly walking around and monitoring the area. At first it’s something you definitely notice, but in the places we visited it actually helped the city feel organized and safe for families.
For us, staying near La Carolina Park made a big difference when traveling in Quito with kids. The park is massive, with multiple playgrounds, open green space, sports fields, and plenty of room for kids to run around. On Sundays especially, the whole area fills with families, street vendors, and people enjoying the weekend. It ended up being one of our favorite parts of the city.
Transportation was also easier than we expected. Uber in Quito was cheap, reliable, and the easiest option for getting around as a family of four. When we wanted to head into the historic center, the Quito Metro was another great option. It’s clean, efficient, and one of the better metro systems we’ve used while traveling.
Overall, Quito Ecuador travel felt very manageable with kids, especially if you stay in a central neighborhood with good transportation options and access to parks or outdoor space.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we found Quito to be a very reasonable destination for families. Spending $684.68 for a week in Quito, Ecuador, including accommodation, food, transportation, and activities, felt like solid value for a capital city.
A big part of keeping our family travel costs in quito ecuador low was mixing groceries with the occasional meal out and choosing an Airbnb with a kitchen and laundry. That flexibility makes a huge difference when traveling with kids.
Transportation was another place where costs stayed low. Between cheap Uber rides and the efficient Quito Metro, getting around the city was simple without needing to rent a car.
If you’re planning to visit Quito with kids, it’s definitely a destination where your travel budget can stretch pretty far while still experiencing some of the best things to do in Quito, from historic churches to standing on the equator itself.
For families looking for a mix of culture, outdoor space, and affordability, Quito Ecuador travel ended up being a really enjoyable and manageable stop on our journey.
