Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Alexandria?
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 Alexandria 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 Alexandria and Cusco can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Alexandria or Cusco?
Alexandria
There are few cities in the world with a history as rich, deep, tragic and fascinating than Alexandria, Egypt. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Egypt's second largest city has seen the most extreme ups and extreme downs. The city watched the beautiful and iconic Alexandria Lighthouse crumble to the ground after several natural disasters. The Alexandria Library housed their most sacred and historical documents only to be burned to the ground. These structures may be physically gone, but the history remains. Alexandria is a city with an ancient allure that draws in visitors from all over the world. Alexandria is a survivor city ready for a comeback.
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 Luxury Tours to Egypt, The Best Budget Tours to Egypt, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
-
Alexandria Prices
Egypt PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlexandria $20Cusco $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Alexandria is $20, while the average daily cost in Cusco is $61. 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 Alexandria and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlexandria $7.50Cusco $23
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlexandria $15Cusco $46
Compare Hotels in Alexandria and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Alexandria 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: Alexandria Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Alexandria $2.33Cusco $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Alexandria
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Alexandria:
-
Taxi to Train Station$0.08
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alexandria
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alexandria:
- Private Day Trip To Egyptian Museum, Citadel & Old Cairo By Private Transfers: $6.40
- Alexandria Airport Departure Transfer: $25
- Private Transfer Alexandria Hotel to Borg El Arab Airport: $30
- Alexandria to Alexandria Airport (HBE)-Departure Private Transfer: $35
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Alexandria Airport (HBE): $42
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Alexandria City Hotels: $42
- Private Transfer from Alexandria City hotels to Alexandria Port : $42
- Private Pickup Transfer From A Hotel In Alexandria To Borg Al Arab Airport: $50
- Alexandria Hotel to Sphinx Airport Private Transfer: $66
- Alexandria Airport (HBE)to Alexandria-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $70
- Private Transfer Alexandria Hotel to Cairo Airport : $70
- Private One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Cairo and Giza Hotels: $75
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cusco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cusco:
-
Taxi Ride$1.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- “Comfortable Travel! Fast Transfer to Cusco Airport”.: $33
- “Shared Trip: Magical Transfer in Cusco.”: $30
- “Transfer to the Humantay Lagoon: A Walk to Paradise”.: $217
- Airport Cusco Transfers: $69
- Arrival Transfer & Cusco City Tour (Private Service): $80
- Cusco - Transfer to Poroy station: $19
- Cusco : Transfer to Pisac: $60
- Cusco : Transfer to Sacsayhuaman with waiting time: $55
- Cusco : Transfer to the bus terminal: $23
- Cusco : Transfer to the market of Pisac: $67
- Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $9.67
- Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Alexandria or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Alexandria 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 dayAlexandria $10Cusco $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alexandria
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alexandria.
- Private Half Day Food Tour in Alexandria Egypt : $20
- Private Full-Day Food Tour of Alexandria with Hotel Pick Up: $33
- Alexandria Food Tour Top Rated: $40
- Private Food Tour To The Famous Restaurant In Alexandria : $45
- From Giza: Sound&light show, Giza pyramids and Dinner on the Nile: $94
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
-
Sandwich$2.17
-
Mango$0.54
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Small-Group Virtual Peruvian Cooking Experience: $25
- Small-Group Virtual Ceviche Cooking Experience: $25
- Dinner at Café del Museo Larco restaurant: $28
- Folkloric Andean Show & 3-Course Dinner at Tunupa: $37
- Cusco street food tour: $39
- Cusco Cooking Class - Bilingual 12:00 -1:30 pm: $40
- Lunch or Dinner at the Pachapapa Restaurant: $41
- 3-Hour Peruvian Cooking Class: $49
- Cusco Tunupa Restaurant Folk Show with Dinner : $49
- 3-hour Peruvian cooking class: $49
- Fully hands-on High End Peruvian Cooking Class & San Pedro Market Guided Visit: $55
- Cusco Cooking Classes and San Pedro Market Tour: $55
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Alexandria $3.28Cusco $29
Tours and Activities in Alexandria
Here are a few actual costs in Alexandria for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Alexandria day tour.The catacomb, pompy's pillar,the citedal: $5.00
- Alexandria Free Walking Tour Discover the Hidden Gems: $5.00
- Group Tour to the landmarks of Alexandria from Alexandria city : $20
- Alexandria Horse Carriage Tour : $21
- Private Alexandria Highlights Guided Day Tour: $24
- Catacombs of kom el shoqafa Guided Walking Tour: $30
- From Cairo: Alexandria Like a Local True Authentic Tour: $30
- Alexandria Day Tour Visit the Tob attractions of Alexandria City: $32
- Guided City Walking Tour: $35
- Graeco Roman Museum Guided Walking Tour by a Storyteller: $35
- Rosetta Day Tour from Alexandria Islamic architecture: $37
- Alexandria Library Exclusive Guided Walking Tour: $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Cusco are as follows:
-
Salsa Class$2.71
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary Admission Ticket: $10
- City Tour - Cusco: $10
- extreme adventure in cusco warachicuy adventure park: $11
- Cusco Historical Walking Tour official: $11
- Cusco City Half-Day Tour: $12
- Sightseeing Tour of the City on an Open-Top Bus: $12
- Open-Top Bus City Tour: $12
- Cultural & Historic Walking Tour with Local Drinks: $12
- Half Day|| City Tour in Cusco: $13
- CUSCO CITY TOUR 2025 Half Day Tour in Cuzco: $13
- Half-Day City Tour with Sacsayhuaman and Q'enco: $14
- City Tour Cusco Qoricancha Sacsayhuaman y Tambomachay: $14
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlexandria $1.26Cusco $9.56
Sample the Local Flavors in Cusco
Also in Cusco, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl with Skip-the-Line Access and Drinks: $19
- Pisco and wine tour in the Majes Valley: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alexandria and Cusco, we can see that Cusco is more expensive. And not only is Alexandria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Alexandria is in Africa 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 Alexandria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alexandria 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 Cusco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cusco than you might in Alexandria.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Alexandria Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Alexandria or Cusco?
Alexandria has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Alexandria 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.