Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu or Alexandria?
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 Alexandria or Machu Picchu?
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 Machu Picchu can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Alexandria or Machu Picchu?
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 The Alexandria Library housed their most sacred and historical documents only to be burned to the ground.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.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a site of ancient Inca ruins located about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Cuzco, Peru, in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba of the Andes Mountains. It is perched above the Urubamba River valley in a narrow saddle between two sharp peaks, Machu Picchu ("Old Peak") and Huayna Picchu ("New Peak"), at an elevation of 7,710 feet (2,350 metres). One of the few major pre-Columbian ruins found nearly intact, Machu Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Thus, Machu Picchu is not only an impressive remnant of the Inca civilization, it is also one of the world's most important archaeological sites. A stop at Machu Picchu is an essential part of any traveler's itinerary in Peru, as it is one of the seven wonders of the world.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Egypt, The Best Budget Tours to Egypt, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Alexandria Prices
Egypt PricesMachu Picchu Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlexandria $29Machu Picchu $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Alexandria is $29, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is $122. 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 Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlexandria $11Machu Picchu $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlexandria $22Machu Picchu $88
Compare Hotels in Alexandria and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in Alexandria or Machu Picchu? 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 Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Alexandria $3.92Machu Picchu $32
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Alexandria
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Alexandria:
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Taxi to Train Station$0.08
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alexandria
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alexandria:
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Cruise Port to Cairo City Hotels: $230
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Cairo Int Airport (CAI): $230
- Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo or vice versa: $160
- Private Transfer from Alexandria to El Cairo: $102
- From Private One-Way Transfer to Cairo: $94
- Private Pickup Transfer From A Hotel In Alexandria To Borg Al Arab Airport: $50
- Pickup Transfers From Alexandria Borg Al Arab Airport To Alexandria Hotel: $50
- transfer from Alexandria to Cairo airport, Cairo & Giza hotels: $45
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Alexandria City Hotels: $43
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Airport (HBE) to Alexandria Port: $43
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Airport to Alexandria Hotels: $40
- Alexandria to Alexandria Airport (HBE)-Departure Private Transfer: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Alexandria or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu 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
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Food Meals for one dayAlexandria $15Machu Picchu $35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alexandria
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alexandria.
- Private Full-Day Food Tour of Alexandria with Hotel Pick Up: $33
- Alexandria Food Tour Top Rated: $40
- Food Tour in Alexandria for Lunch or Dinner in The Best Restaurants: $45
- Private Food Tour To The Famous Restaurant In Alexandria : $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Alexandria $5.47Machu Picchu $78
Tours and Activities in Alexandria
Here are a few actual costs in Alexandria for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private Cairo Tour of Pyramids, GEM and Khan Al-Khalili: $290
- 10-Hour Historical Pyramids Tour from Alexandria Port: $130
- 2 Days-Alexandria & Pyramids Tour + Museum (Start Cairo Or Alex): $125
- 8Days Egypt Tour package UltraLuxury Cairo,Alexandria&cruise: $4,190
- ALL inclusive Tour to Giza Pyramids Sakkara from Alexandria Port: $175
- Alamein and Alexandria Private Day Tour with Lunch: $200
- Alexandria : Rosetta Day Tour from Alexandria: $130
- Alexandria : Tour to WadiElNatroun Monastery from Alexandria: $150
- Alexandria By Night By Horse Carriage ride And Free Walking Tour: $71
- Alexandria City Tour from Cairo Full Day: $121
- Alexandria Day Tour: $105
- Alexandria Day Tour Visit the Tob attractions of Alexandria City: $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Machu Picchu
For Machu Picchu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Gardens of Mandor$2.87
Tours and Activities in Machu Picchu
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Machu Picchu.
- Private & Flexible 3-Hour Guided Tour of Machu Picchu: $60
- Private Tour Guide Service: $98
- Machu Picchu Morning Combo: Entrance Ticket, Bus and Guide: $196
- Machu Picchu Small-Group Combo: Entrance Ticket, Bus & Guide: $196
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlexandria $1.48Machu Picchu $7.28
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alexandria and Machu Picchu, we can see that Machu Picchu 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 Machu Picchu 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 Machu Picchu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Machu Picchu 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 Machu Picchu Expensive?.
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.