Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Akureyri?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Akureyri or Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Akureyri or Cusco, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Akureyri or Cusco?
Akureyri
Akureyri is the largest town in the northern region of Iceland, and is often considered the unofficial capital of the north. The town is a popular fishing port and is often used as a basecamp for visiting the more rural surrounding area. Akureyri is known for their great art scene, beautiful architecture, and stunning natural scenery.
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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Iceland, The Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
-
Akureyri Prices
Iceland PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAkureyri $190Cusco $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Akureyri is $190, while the average daily cost in Cusco is $64. 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 Akureyri and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAkureyri $103Cusco $24
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAkureyri $206Cusco $48
Compare Hotels in Akureyri and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Akureyri 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: Akureyri Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Akureyri $23Cusco $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Akureyri
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Akureyri:
- Transfer from Accommodation to Akureyri Airport: $29
- Akureyri Airport (AEY): Transfer to/from Akureyri City: $32
- From Godafoss Waterfall Guided Trip with Transfers: $129
- Whale Watching Tour with Transfer from Port: $141
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cusco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cusco:
-
Taxi Ride$1.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- Airport Transfer (Private Service): $25
- Assistance & Transfers Included | Hassle-free service in Cusco: $30
- Cusco Airport Arrival or Departure Transfer: $19
- Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $9.50
- Cusco Airport Private Transfer: $12
- Cusco Airport Private Transfer to Your Hotel with Meet and Greet: $21
- Cusco Airport Round-Trip Private Transfer: $30
- Cusco Bus Station Arrival or Departure Transfer: $19
- Cusco Private Airport Transfer Arrival Departure or Round Trip: $15
- Cusco Private Transfer to Poroy Railway Station: $15
- Cusco to Puno Scenic Transfer with Sightseeing Stops & Lunch: $72
- Alpaca and Llama Farm Tour with Transfer & Weaving Demo: $34
Is it cheaper to fly into Akureyri or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Akureyri 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
-
Food Meals for one dayAkureyri $71Cusco $24
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
-
Sandwich$2.31
-
Mango$0.58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Cooking Class in Sacred Valley 8 Recipes and Drinks: $29
- Multi-Course Dinner with Live Folk Show Performance: $32
- Cusco Billingual Cooking Class at 6pm: $40
- Cooking Class: Lomo Saltado, PapaHuancaina, Pisco Sour, Picarones: $50
- Traditional Peruvian Cooking Class and Market Tour in Cusco: $57
- Short Immersion Cooking Class: $60
- Cusco Cooking Class Experience: $61
- Local Market and Peruvian Cooking Class with Pisco Sour in Cusco: $65
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $65
- Cooking Class in Ollantaytambo: $68
- Cusco Street Food Tour and Pisco Tasting Experience: $69
- Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco: $69
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Akureyri $18Cusco $31
Tours and Activities in Akureyri
Here are a few actual costs in Akureyri for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Icelandic Aviation Museum Admission Ticket: $15
- Húsavík Whale Museum Ticket: $22
- War and Peace Museum - Tour: $23
- Godafoss Waterfall Short Day Tour from Akureyri: $69
- From Akureyri Port: Godafoss Waterfall Tour for Cruise Ships (V): $74
- Snowshoeing Experience and Storytelling in Fjallabyggð: $74
- Húsavík: Whale Watching Tour with Heated Indoor Seating: $78
- Akureyri Port: Godafoss Waterfall Classic Tour & Viewpoint: $81
- Forest Lagoon Admission Ticket with Towel and One Drink included: $82
- Whale Watching and Puffin Tour from Hauganes: $90
- Zipline Tour: $95
- Traditional Oak Ship Whale Watching Tour From Husavik: $99
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Cusco are as follows:
-
Salsa Class$2.89
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- Cusco City Walking tour: Historia, Tradition, Culture: $5.00
- Half Day Walking Tour of Cusco: $5.00
- Cusco Walking tour and Koricancha Temple of the inkas tour: $10
- Cultural & Historic Walking Tour with Local Drinks: $10
- Cusco Walking Tour with an Experienced Local Guides: $10
- City Tour - Cusco: $10
- Half-Day Cusco City Tour – Explore History, Culture & Inca Ruins: $12
- City Tour Cusco: $12
- Cusco Machu Picchu Self Guided Audio Tour (Without a Ticket): $12
- City Tour - Lugares destacado en Cusco + Experiencia Fotográfica: $12
- Half Day City Tour in Cusco: $12
- Walking Tour in Cusco: $14
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayAkureyri $15Cusco $10
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: $22
- Cusco Pub Crawl: Bar Tour, Drinks And Club with no waiting lines: $23
- Exclusive Pub Crawl with more than 10 Benefits: $25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Akureyri and Cusco, we can see that Akureyri is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Akureyri is in Europe 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 Akureyri would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Akureyri 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 Akureyri Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Akureyri or Cusco?
Cusco has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Akureyri. When comparing the sizes of Akureyri 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.