A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Amsterdam vs. Machu Picchu for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Amsterdam or Machu Picchu?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Amsterdam or Machu Picchu, 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: Amsterdam or Machu Picchu?

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the capital and most popular tourist destination in the Netherlands. While it is most famous for its canals that cross and weave around the city, it also has a rich history, interesting culture, and liberal vibe that appeal to all types of travelers. The historical architecture, scenic bridges, and energetic cycling culture help this metropolitan area maintain its small town vibe, despite being the largest city in the country as well as the financial center.

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 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu or Amsterdam?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Amsterdam Prices
    Netherlands Prices
    Machu Picchu Prices
    Peru Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Amsterdam €211
    Machu Picchu €109

The average daily cost (per person) in Amsterdam is €211, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is €109. 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 Amsterdam and Machu Picchu in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Amsterdam €102
    Machu Picchu €40
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Amsterdam €204
    Machu Picchu €80
Compare Hotels in Amsterdam and Machu Picchu

Looking for a hotel in Amsterdam 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.

Hotels in Amsterdam


Hotels in Machu Picchu


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: Amsterdam Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Amsterdam €20
    Machu Picchu €28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amsterdam

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amsterdam:


  • Ride on Tram
    €3.20
  • Renting a Bike
    €15
  • One Hour Canal Cruise
    €10
  • Single Day Transit Pass
    €2.60
  • Transit Pass to Amsterdam Airport
    €3.40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amsterdam

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amsterdam:

  • From Private Transfer to Efteling Theme Park: $465
  • Rotterdam: Private transfer to/from Schiphol Airport: $337
  • 1-23 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Airport Amsterdam to Den Haag: $286
  • Private taxi transfer from Amsterdam to Giethoorn: $267
  • Private transfer: Amsterdam>Rotterdam, 2h stop at De Haar Castle: $264
  • Private Car Round-trip Transfer Amsterdam to Keukenhof Tulips: $257
  • Round-Trip Transfer: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam City by Luxury Car: $257
  • Private transfer Amsterdam to Rotterdam with 2h Stop in Gouda: $256
  • Amsterdam to Rotterdam Private Sightseeing Transfer via Delft: $255
  • Private transfer from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, 2h Stop in Leiden: $251
  • Amsterdam Airport (AMS): Transfer to Amsterdam Cruise Port: $251
  • Amsterdam & Schiphol Airport to Eindhoven Private Transfer: $236

Is it cheaper to fly into Amsterdam or Machu Picchu?

Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu and Amsterdam 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 day
    Amsterdam €80
    Machu Picchu €31
Typical Food Prices in Amsterdam

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Amsterdam:


  • Afternoon Tea
    €6.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amsterdam

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amsterdam.

  • Romantic Dinner or Lunch in the Dark Amsterdam: $48
  • Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket & VIP Dinner at Hard Rock Café: $58
  • Top 10 Tastes of Guided Walking Food Tour: $70
  • Amsterdam Walking Food Tour with 6 Tastings and Drink: $73
  • Amsterdam : Guided Cultural Food Tour: $80
  • Amsterdam Food Tour with Full Meal & Drinks by Do Eat Better: $86
  • Amsterdam Food Tour: Authentic Dutch Tastings, Canals & Culture: $99
  • 10 Tastes of Amsterdam Food Tour: Small Group, Full Meal & Drinks: $107
  • Private Dutch Pancake Cooking Class in an Amsterdam Canal Home: $109
  • Private Amsterdam Red Light District and Food Tour: $117
  • Eating Jordaan Food Tour with Dutch Tastings: $125
  • Italian Pasta Cooking Class in Amsterdam with Italian Chef: $125

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Amsterdam €36
    Machu Picchu €70
Typical Entertainment Prices in Amsterdam

Here are a few typical costs in Amsterdam for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Two tickets to the Houseboat Museum
    €6.00
  • Entry for two to the Anne Frank House
    €17

Tours and Activities in Amsterdam

Here are a few actual costs in Amsterdam for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 1 hour Amsterdam City Tour in Pedicab: $114
  • 2 Hours Private Walking Tour of the Highlights of Amsterdam: $174
  • 2 hour food tasting Tour in Amsterdam Group Tour: $103
  • 2.5 hours Amsterdam Pedicab Tour: $206
  • 420 Official Smoking Boat Tour in Amsterdam: $29
  • 4Hrs with a Local in Full Private & Personalized Tour.: $274
  • 75 minute Blue Boat Company City Canal Cruise and Maritime Museum: $46
  • 90-min Amsterdam Light Festival Tour: $160
  • ANGLE - Experience Amsterdam With a Local Photographer: $299
  • ARTIS Royal Zoo Ticket with Amsterdam Canal Cruise: $55
  • Almere Outdoor Escape Game: Self-Guided City Adventure: $23
  • Amsterdam (Open Boat) Cruise in Old City Center with Live Guide: $23

Typical Entertainment Prices in Machu Picchu

For Machu Picchu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Gardens of Mandor
    €2.57

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Amsterdam €24
    Machu Picchu €6.53

Sample the Local Flavors in Amsterdam

Also in Amsterdam, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Halloween Leidseplein Bar Crawl & Nightclub Entry: $29
  • Red Light District Halloween Pub Crawl & Nightclub: $29
  • Red Light District Pub Crawl in Amsterdam with 4 Shots: $34
  • Dutch Wine Tasting Experience: $140


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amsterdam and Machu Picchu, we can see that Amsterdam is more expensive. And not only is Machu Picchu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amsterdam is in Europe 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 Machu Picchu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Machu Picchu 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 Amsterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amsterdam than you might in Machu Picchu.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Amsterdam Expensive? and Is Machu Picchu Expensive?.