Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Bergen?
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 Bergen or Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bergen or Cusco? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Bergen or Cusco?
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway, and a major tourist destination due to its proximity and easy access to the fjords in West Norway. The nature that surrounds the city is stunning, and you can easily hop into the nearby countryside for some incredible hikes and outdoor adventures. The city itself is well known for its music and art scenes, making it a cultural haven in the country. There are many reasons to visit Bergen, not the least of which is the people that live there. Bergen is the most hilly city within Norway. It is surrounded by the Seven Mountains, which restrict development and keep the city contained. Situated in the far west of Norway, Bergen can be reached by a very scenic seven hour train ride from Oslo.
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 10-Day Tours in Norway, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Norway, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Bergen Prices
Norway PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBergen $153Cusco $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Bergen is $153, while the average daily cost in Cusco is $65. 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 Bergen and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBergen $79Cusco $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBergen $158Cusco $50
Compare Hotels in Bergen and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Bergen 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: Bergen Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bergen $11Cusco $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bergen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bergen:
- BGO Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $54
- Private Transfer From Bergen Hotel to Bergen Airport: $86
- Private Transfer From Bergen Airport to City Centre: $99
- Bergen Private Transfer from Bergen (BGO) Airport to City centre: $101
- Bergen Private Transfer from Bergen city centre to Bergen airport: $101
- Private One-Way Bergen Airport and City Transfers: $108
- Arrival Private Transfer from Bergen Cruise Port to Bergen City by Sedan: $120
- Private Airport Transfer From Bergen Airport or Hotels in Bergen: $123
- Arrival Private Transfer from Bergen Cruise Port to Bergen City by Minibus: $150
- Departure Private Transfer from Bergen City to Bergen Cruise Port by Minibus: $150
- Arrival Private Transfer from Bergen Airport BGO to Bergen by Car: $152
- Departure Private Transfer from Bergen City to Bergen Airport BGO by Minivan: $160
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$1.17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- One-Way Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $7.00
- One-Way Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $9.00
- Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $9.50
- Cusco Airport Shared Arrival Transfer: $9.50
- Pickup from Cusco airport and transfer to your hotel in Private vehicle: $9.52
- Private transfer from your hotel in downtown Cusco to the Airport: $11
- Private Airport transfer to centrally located hotels in Cusco: $11
- Private transfer from the airport to central hotels in Cusco: $11
- Private transfer from Cusco Airport to your city-center hotel: $11
- Private transfer from your hotel in downtown Cusco to the Airport: $11
- Cusco Airport to hotel Transfer: Fast, Reliable Drop-Off: $12
- Cusco Airport Private Transfer: $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Bergen or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Bergen 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 dayBergen $62Cusco $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bergen
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bergen.
- Bergen Food Tour: $177
- A Taste of Bergen Food Tour with Floibanen Funicular: $233
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.33
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Mango$0.58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Cooking Class in Sacred Valley 8 Recipes and Drinks: $29
- Multi-Course Dinner with Live Folk Show Performance: $35
- Bilingual Cooking Class with Pisco Cocktail in Cusco: $40
- Cusco Billingual Cooking Class at 6pm: $40
- Market tour & Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco: $54
- Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $54
- High-End Peruvian Cooking Class, Pisco Sour & San Pedro Market: $57
- Short Immersion Cooking Class: $60
- Cooking classes A tour through the flavors in Cusco: $60
- Cusco Cooking Class Experience: $61
- Cusco Collective Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $65
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bergen $19Cusco $31
Tours and Activities in Bergen
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bergen are as follows:
- Tip-Based Walking Tour of Bergen: $3.42
- Self-Guided Podcast Tour: Bergen's Dance with the Elements: $5.46
- Bergen's University District: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Bergen Self-Guided Tour at Bryggen and Old Town, Audio and Quiz: $7.98
- Off the Beaten Track in A Private Self-Guided Tour: $7.99
- Bergen Self-Guided Audio Tour: Landmarks, Grieg, Ibsen & WWII: $8.99
- Audio Walking Tour in Bergen Famous Ghosts Location: $9.75
- Pocket Bergen A Self-guided Tour to the Unesco Site of Bryggen: $9.99
- Bergen Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $10
- Exploring Bergen Audio Tour through the Eyes of Edvard Grieg: $13
- Walking Tour of Central Bergen: $16
- Bergen Outdoor Escape Game: Self-Guided City Adventure: $23
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$2.91
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- Half Day Walking Tour of Cusco: $5.00
- Cusco City Walking tour: Historia, Tradition, Culture: $5.00
- Cusco Self Guided Walking Tour Landmarks, Audio and Quiz: $7.98
- Cusco Walking Tour with an Experienced Local Guides: $10
- City Tour - Cusco: $10
- Cultural & Historic Walking Tour with Local Drinks: $10
- Half Day City Tour in Cusco: $10
- Shared City Tour in Cusco & Visit Museum South American Camelid: $10
- Half-Day Cusco City Tour – Explore History, Culture & Inca Ruins: $12
- Cusco City Tour Explore Four Inca Ruins in Half Day: $12
- Explore Cusco Highlights in a Half Day City Tour: $12
- City Tour Cusco: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBergen $8.03Cusco $10
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: Cusco Bar Hopping Experience: $22
- Exclusive Pub Crawl with more than 10 Benefits: $25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bergen and Cusco, we can see that Bergen is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bergen 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 Bergen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bergen 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 Bergen Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bergen or Cusco?
Cusco has a larger population, and is about 46% larger than the population of Bergen. When comparing the sizes of Bergen 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.