Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Amman?
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 Amman or Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Amman and Cusco. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Amman or Cusco?
Amman
Amman is the largest city in of the Hashemite Kingdom of the country of Jordan. It is also the capital city of Jordan and has a population of over four million people. Many people use Amman as a base for venturing out into the rest of Jordan and other surrounding countries. There are many things to see and do in Amman.
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 Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Amman Prices
Jordan PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAmman $135Cusco $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Amman is $135, while the average daily cost in Cusco is $66. 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 Amman and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAmman $49Cusco $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAmman $98Cusco $50
Compare Hotels in Amman and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Amman 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: Amman Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Amman $24Cusco $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amman
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amman:
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Bus Ride (for Two)$0.71
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RIde to Airport$28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amman
Also for Amman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport pickup or drop off transfer from or to Amman city: $19
- Private Transfer from Amman Airport to Amman Hotel: $19
- Amman Transfer To Multiple Destinations: $20
- Private Airport Transfer from Amman: $22
- Amman Airport Transfer Pickup/Drop-Off: $22
- Amman Airport private Transfers From/To multi destinations: $24
- Amman Queen Alia Airport (AMM) to Amman hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $26
- Elite Transfers : Queen Alia Airport to Any Destination in Jordan: $27
- Transfer from Queen Alia Airport to Amman Hotels or visa versa: $29
- Amman Airport Private Transfer To Amman: $30
- Comfortable & Reliable Amman Airport Round-Trip Private Transfer: $35
- Amman Private Transfer to King Hussein Border: $35
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$1.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- Transfers in Cusco secure and punctual service: $15
- Transfer to Ollantaytambo to/from Urubamba: $41
- Transfer from Cusco Airport to the Sacred Valley: $30
- Transfer from Cusco Airport to Sacred Valley hotels: $34
- Transfer from Cusco Airport to Ollantaytambo Station: $41
- Transfer From Cusco Airport: $15
- Transfer From Airport to Cusco Center Hotels: $23
- Transfer Cusco to Poroy: $20
- Transfer Cusco Airport to Hotel in Cusco Round Trip: $22
- Transfer Cusco - Ollantaytambo train station: $95
- Tourist Transfer from Cusco to Hydroelectric: $60
- Tour in the Sacred Valley of the Incas with Transfer to Ollantaytambo: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Amman or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Amman 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 dayAmman $58Cusco $25
Typical Food Prices in Amman
For Amman, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Pastries$4.23
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Tea$5.64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amman
For Amman, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- private cooking with local chef: $40
- Private Lunch or Dinner at a Local Traditional Restaurant in Amman: $80
- Amman Food Tours: 3-Hours Guided Walking Food Tour in Amman: $107
- Private Lunch or Dinner at Alee Restaurant in Amman: $120
- Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with Arak Experience: $140
- Private Food Tour in Amman by Day (inc Citadel & Roman Theatre): $199
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.37
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Mango$0.59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Cusco Tunupa Restaurant Folk Show with Dinner: $32
- Cooking Class: Lomo Saltado, Papa Huancaina, Pisco Sour in Cusco: $48
- Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $54
- High-End Peruvian Cooking Class, Pisco Sour & San Pedro Market: $57
- Short Immersion Cooking Class: $60
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $63
- Cooking Class in Ollantaytambo: $68
- Cooking Class Peruvian Culinary Experience with Local Chefs: $70
- Dinner Show at SUYU a Peruvian Gastronomic and Experience: $77
- Cusco Tour at Night: Planetarium, Dinner & Pisco Sour: $79
- Cusco Food Tour: Andean Cuisine & City Tour: $79
- Curious Monkey Cusco- Market and Streets, Walking Food Tour: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Amman $32Cusco $32
Tours and Activities in Amman
For Amman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Amman Private City Tour: $18
- Amman Old and New Private City Tour: $18
- Seven Sleepers Cave and King Abdullah Mosque Private Tour: $18
- Amman Private City Tour with Local Mansaf Lunch: $18
- Amman Private City Tour with Local Lunch: $18
- Amman Private Guided City Tour: $18
- Madaba Mount Nebo Baptism and Dead Sea Private Guided Tour: $30
- Madaba Mount Nebo Baptism and Ma'in Private Guided Tour: $30
- Amman and Seven Sleepers Cave Private Tour: $31
- Full Day Madaba Mount Nebo Baptism and Dead Sea Private Tour: $35
- Day Tour Madaba, Mount Nebo and Baptism site From Amman: $35
- Amman Jerash and Ajloun Private Tour: $36
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$2.96
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- 1 Day Ausangate 7 Lakes Hiking Tour & Hot Springs: $48
- 1 Day Palcoyo 7-Color Mountain Hiking Tour: $45
- 1 Day Rainbow Mountain Walking Tour: $35
- 1 Day Sacred Valley VIP Tour from Cusco: $100
- 1 Day Tour to Palccoyo (Alternative Rainbow Mtn) from Cusco, Peru: $154
- 1-Day Humantay Lake Tour From Cusco: $60
- 1-Day Tour Rainbow Mountain from Cusco: $190
- 2 Day Machu Picchu Tour by Car: $150
- 2 Day Tour to Machupicchu by Minivan: $145
- 2 days 1 night - Machupicchu by bus tour: $220
- 2-Day Group Tour: Cusco City Tour & Sacred Valley of the Incas: $46
- 2-Day Machu Picchu Tour by Minivan from Budget Adventure: $203
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAmman $14Cusco $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Amman
Also in Amman, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Full Day Tour of Ajloun Castle with Cable Car and Wine Tasting: $127
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: Bar Tour, Drinks And Club with no waiting lines: $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amman and Cusco, we can see that Amman is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amman 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 Amman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amman 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 Amman Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Amman or Cusco?
Amman has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Amman 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.