Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Abu Dhabi and Cusco can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Cusco?
Abu Dhabi
It doesn't get more "lifestyles of the rich and famous" than a vacation to Abu Dhabi. The federal capital and center of government for the United Arab Emirates is arguably the most modern city in the world.
Abu Dhabi has a population of 1.5 million and provides a home to several oil companies and embassies, but this place is definitely a playground for the world's fanciest tourists. This city has several large projects underway including Yas Island's Formula 1 track and Ferrari theme park.
Note: homosexuality is still outlawed in the UAE with harsh punishments including deportation, fines, jail time or even a death sentence.
Cusco
Cusco is most famous as the historic capital of the Inca Empire. It is in the southern Sierras and is one of the most popular travel destinations within Peru. The city is located at 3,400 meters above sea level so it is best to acclimate yourself slowly to avoid altitude sickness.
Cusco is the starting point for many travelers making their way to the famed Machu Picchu or other Inca sites in the surrounding area.
The city is very beautiful and has impressive architecture throughout. The history is obvious as you walk around town and there are impressive ruins nearby, with the most impressive being Sacsayhuaman. The city also has a significant indigenous population that is obvious from their traditional clothing and style.
Cusco has a subtropical highland climate with a pleasant daytime temperature year around. There are two distinct seasons with the dry season being between May and August and the wet season between December and March. During the dry season there is plenty of sun with occasional nighttime freezes. Frost is less common in the wet season.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Arab Emirates, The Best 3-Day Tours in United Arab Emirates, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Abu Dhabi Prices
UAE PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $197Cusco $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $197, while the average daily cost in Cusco is $63. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Abu Dhabi and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Cusco $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Cusco $48
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Cusco? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Abu Dhabi Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Cusco $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Abu Dhabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Abu Dhabi are as follows:
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Car Rental$31
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Taxi to Airport$14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Abu Dhabi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Abu Dhabi:
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfer (Within Abu Dhabi Only): $19
- Abu Dhabi Airport Private Departure Transfer: $30
- Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi Ticket with Transfers Option: $33
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi - Arrival Private Transfer: $33
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Abu Dhabi Hotel or Address): $35
- Abu Dhabi Airport Departure Transfer (Abu Dhabi Hotels to Abu Dhabi Airport): $35
- Abu Dhabi Airport Private Arrival Transfer to Any Hotel in UAE: $37
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Port to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $38
- Private Transfer from Abu Dhabi Cruise Port to Abu Dhabi Hotels: $38
- Abu Dhabi to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) - Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Arrival Transfer Abu Dhabi Airport AUH to Abu Dhabi by Car or SUV: $40
- Abu Dhabi Airport Transfers: $40
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cusco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cusco:
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Taxi Ride$1.13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- One-Way Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $7.00
- One-way transfer from hotel to airport: $7.90
- CUZ Airport to Cusco City or Hotel Private Transfer: $9.00
- Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $9.67
- Airport Transfer to Hotel: $10
- Peru Cusco Airport (CUZ) Private Transfer to Cusco City: $10
- One-Way Airport Transfer to Hotel: $12
- Private Transfer from Airport to Hotel in the City of Cusco: $12
- Cusco Airport Arrival or Departure Transfer : $14
- Private Transfer: Cusco Hotel to Airport: $15
- Cusco Private Transfer to Poroy Railway Station: $15
- Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Abu Dhabi change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAbu Dhabi $78Cusco $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Dubai Marina Unique Dinner Cruise with Belly Dance: $37
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari Tour with Shows & Buffet Dinner: $60
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner & Live Shows: $60
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $60
- Evening Desert Safari Camel Ride Dinner Live Shows in Abu Dhabi: $69
- Abu Dhabi Desert Escape: Dunes Safari, Falcon, Camel & BBQ Dinner: $69
- Abu Dhabi 4x4 Desert Safari BBQ Dinner , Camel Ride , Belly Dance: $75
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari & Dinner Under the Stars: $79
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $84
- Abu Dhabi Desert safari with BBQ Dinner,Sandboarding & Camel ride: $90
- 4x4 Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner: $100
- Overnight Safari Abu Dhabi ,Belly Dance ,Camel Ride ,Henna Painting ,BBQ Dinner: $130
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.26
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Mango$0.56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Dinner at Café del Museo Larco restaurant: $28
- Tunupa Restaurant Folk Show with Dinner: $29
- Folkloric Andean Show & 3-Course Dinner at Tunupa: $37
- Cusco street food tour: $39
- Cusco Cooking Class - Bilingual 6:00 7:30 pm: $40
- Cusco Cooking Class - Bilingual 12:00 -1:30 pm: $40
- 3-Hour Peruvian Cooking Class: $49
- Pachapapa Restaurant Lunch or Dinner: $50
- Andean Folk Show with Dinner at Tunupa Plaza de Armas: $50
- Pete's Peruvian Cooking Class: $52
- Lunch or dinner at the Pachapapa restaurant: $53
- Cusco Cooking Classes and San Pedro Market Tour: $55
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Cusco $30
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Fast-Track Admission Ticket to Qasr Al Hosn: $8.37
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum General Admission Ticket: $12
- Qasar Al Hosn Abu Dhabi Entry Tickets: $13
- Louvre Join an Express Guided Tour: $14
- Skip the Line Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi Ticket: $14
- Qasr Al Watan Entry Ticket in Abu Dhabi: $15
- Qasr al Hosn Entrance Ticket: $16
- Qasr Al Watan Abu Dhabi Entry Ticket: $16
- Tickets to Qasr Al Watan & Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi: $16
- Qasr Al Watan Presidential Palace Abu Dhabi Ticket: $16
- Louvre Abu Dhabi Admission tickets: $17
- Qasr Al Watan Admission Ticket: $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Cusco are as follows:
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Salsa Class$2.82
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- Historic/music Cusco FreeWalkingTour "free drink" Group Tour: $2.00
- Historical Cusco Inkas Walking City Tour: $2.00
- Free Walking tour in Cusco : $5.00
- City Tour Photographic Experience: $7.00
- Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary Admission Ticket: $10
- Around Walking Tour Cusco Historic Center: $10
- City Tour - Cusco: $10
- Free Walking Tour Cusco with an Experienced Local Guides: $10
- Historic Walking Tour & Scenic Views with local drink: $10
- CITY TOUR CUSCO - HALF DAY TOUR: $10
- Historic Walking Tour with Pisco Sour and Music Show: $10
- From City tour 4 ruins + Qoricancha: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Cusco $9.93
Sample the Local Flavors in Cusco
Also in Cusco, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Cusco Pub Crawl: Cusco Bar Hopping Experience : $19
- Cusco Pub Crawl: Bar Tour, Drinks And Club with no waiting lines: $19
- Pub Crawl with Skip-the-Line Access and Drinks: $20
- Pisco and wine tour in the Majes Valley: $50
- Pub Crawl with 3 Bars and Nightclub Entry: $66
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Cusco, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Cusco is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Cusco would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cusco and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Abu Dhabi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Abu Dhabi than you might in Cusco.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Abu Dhabi Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Cusco?
Abu Dhabi has a larger population, and is about 93% larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Cusco, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.