Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Ankara?
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 Ankara 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 Ankara 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: Ankara or Cusco?
Ankara
Located at the heart of Turkey near Central Anatolia, Ankara is the capital city and second largest city in the country after Istanbul. Formerly known for its long-haired goats and textiles, the city has since developed into a metropolitan mix of modern cultures with historic landmarks.
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 Budget Tours to Turkey, The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
-
Ankara Prices
Turkey PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAnkara $119Cusco $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Ankara is $119, 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 Ankara and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAnkara $48Cusco $23
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAnkara $96Cusco $46
Compare Hotels in Ankara and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Ankara 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: Ankara Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ankara $32Cusco $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ankara
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Ankara:
-
Metro Ride$0.03
-
Short Taxi Ride$0.13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ankara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ankara:
- Private Transfer Ankara Esenboga Airport ESB to Keçiören Ankara: $40
- Ankara Esenboga Airport to City Hotels Transfer: $43
- Private Airport Transfer From/To Ankara Airport to Cankaya Hotels: $52
- Ankara Airport & Hotel Transfers : $52
- Ankara Private Transfer from central Ankara hotels to Ankara Airport (ESB): $52
- Private Transfer from Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) to Central Ankara: $52
- Ankara Esenboğa Airport From/To City Center Private Transfer: $55
- Private Transfers Between Ankara Esenboga Airport - Ankara City Centre: $75
- Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers to Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels: $110
- Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels to Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers: $110
- Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Kizilcahamam Town: $185
- Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Beypazari Town: $185
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 Ankara or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Ankara 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 dayAnkara $48Cusco $23
Typical Food Prices in Ankara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ankara:
-
A Quick Lunch$0.30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ankara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ankara.
- Turkish Cuisine Cooking Class at Local Home with Family: $90
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.Ankara $29Cusco $29
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ankara
Here are a few typical costs in Ankara for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Underground City$0.21
Tours and Activities in Ankara
Here are a few actual costs in Ankara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Ankara Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $33
- Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $33
- Private Guided Walking Tour: $34
- Ankara : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ) : $35
- Private Tour with a Local: $40
- Istanbul: Half-Day Tour with Topkapi Palace: $145
- Istanbul: Golden Horn & Bosphorus Day Cruise: $165
- Half Day Private Tour in Ankara: $215
- Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $232
- Private Ankara Sightseeing Tour: $235
- Private Ankara City Tours by an Archaeologist Tour Guide : $280
- 5 Days Hittite Monuments Tour with Specialist Guide: $2,024
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 dayAnkara $13Cusco $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 Ankara and Cusco, we can see that Ankara is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ankara 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 Ankara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ankara 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 Ankara Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ankara or Cusco?
Ankara has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Ankara 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.