Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Banos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Banos 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 Banos 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: Banos or Cusco?
Banos
Banos (de Agua Santa) is a small city in the Andean highlands of Ecuador under volcano Tungurahua. Its name, which is Spanish for "Baths (of sacred water)," comes from the famous hydrothermal springs in the area. It's equally popular with foreigners as with Ecuadorians, and is known as the adventure capital of Ecuador. The streets are lined with hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, and tour agencies. Although it is very touristy, lots of people love it, more for the activities and surroundings than for the city itself. It is an important hub for outdoor sports and jungle tours.
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 Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBanos $46Cusco $51
The average daily cost (per person) in Banos is $46, while the average daily cost in Cusco is $51. 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 Banos and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBanos $16Cusco $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBanos $32Cusco $46
Compare Hotels in Banos and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Banos 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: Banos Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Banos $10Cusco $10
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$1.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- Airport Cusco Transfers: $69
- Arrival Transfer & Cusco City Tour (Private Service): $80
- Cusco – Puno Direct Transfers: $24
- Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $9.67
- Cusco Airport Arrival or Departure Transfer : $13
- Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $15
- Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $9.67
- Cusco Airport Pickup and Private Transfer: $15
- Cusco Airport Private Departure Transfer: $14
- Cusco Airport Private Transfer with large Van: $45
- Cusco Airport Transfers: $8.00
- Cusco Airport: Private 1-Way Transfer: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Banos or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Banos 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 dayBanos $15Cusco $13
Typical Food Prices in Banos
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Banos:
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Dinner$13
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Ice cream$1.50
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Coffee$2.50
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.17
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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
- 3-Hour Peruvian Cooking Class: $49
- Cusco Tunupa Restaurant Folk Show with Dinner : $49
- Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $50
- Market Tour & Traditional Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco: $53
- Fully hands-on High End Peruvian Cooking Class & San Pedro Market Guided Visit: $55
- Cooking Class and market tour with a local chef: $56
- Vegetarian Cooking Class, Local Market Tour in Cusco: $59
- Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market in Cusco: $59
- Cusco Cooking Classes and San Pedro Market Tour: $59
- Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market Tour: $63
- Peruvian Cooking Class & Market Tour: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Banos $19Cusco $29
Typical Entertainment Prices in Banos
Here are a few typical costs in Banos for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Two Rented Bikes for the Day$10
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Cost to see Waterfall$2.00
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Day at the Spa$45
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2 Bike Rentals (1 Day)$10
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Entrance to Waterfall$2.00
Tours and Activities in Banos
Here are a few actual costs in Banos for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Adventure Circuit 4 activities in 1. All within an impressive cascade: $25
- Canopy Ziplining in Puntzan Adventure Park: $26
- Private Canyoning Experience in Baños de Agua Santa Ecuador: $26
- 2 Hours Small-Group Horseback Riding Experience in Banos: $30
- Canyoning Adventure Tour in the Ravine: $30
- Private 3-Hour Canyoning Experience in Chamana: $30
- Full Day Jungle Tour: $32
- Full Day Guided Tour in the Ecuadorian Amazon: $35
- Pailón del Diablo | Waterfall Route | Tour for 3 hours: $35
- Puyo Jungle Tour in 1 Day: $35
- Adventure and Fun River Rafting in Baños Ecuador: $35
- Small-Group Canyoning Experience in Baños de Agua Santa: $39
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$2.71
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- Free Walking Tour of Cusco: $2.00
- Cusco : Half Day City Tour: $9.00
- Guided Walking Tour with fluent English: $10
- Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary Admission Ticket: $10
- Combined city tour cusco: $10
- Cusco City Tour including Sacsayhuaman Koricancha and Tambomachay: $10
- Cusco City Tour: $10
- CUSCO CITY TOUR 2024 Half Day Tour in Cuzco: $10
- Cusco City Half-Day Tour: $12
- Mirabus Cusco city tour | Panoramic view |: $12
- Mirabus Cusco city tour | Panoramic view |: $12
- City tours Cusco: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBanos $9.74Cusco $9.56
Typical Alcohol Prices in Banos
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Banos from other travelers:
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Beer$4.00
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 Cusco : $18
- Cusco Pub Crawl: Cusco Bar Hopping Experience : $18
- Exclusive Pub Crawl with 10+ benefits: $18
- Pub Crawl with Skip-the-Line Access and Drinks: $18
- Exclusive Pub Crawl with more than 10 Benefits: $25
When comparing the travel costs between Banos and Cusco, we can see that Cusco is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Banos Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Banos or Cusco?
Cusco has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Banos. When comparing the sizes of Banos 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.