A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bonn vs. Cusco for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bonn or Cusco?

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

Should I visit Bonn 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: Bonn or Cusco?

Bonn

Bonn was the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany (previously, West Germany) and it has a population of about 315,000 people. It sits on the Rhine River just twenty kilometers away from Cologne. Many people travel to Bonn for conferences and business, but Bonn also has a lot of cultural and historical sights to offer visitors. The city is also famous as the birth place of Ludwig van Beethoven. There's a strong student culture in the city as well, and it actually shares many characteristics with Italian cities because of its many cafes and restaurants which line the streets. Outdoor beer gardens are popular and Bonn is a particular good summer destination when the weather is pleasant and you can enjoy the outdoor setting. The city's location also makes it a great base for day trips to Cologne, Dusseldorf, and the Rhine and Eifel regions.

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 Family-Friendly Tours to Germany, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Germany, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Peru, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Bonn?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Bonn is €154, while the average daily cost in Cusco is €55. 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 Bonn and Cusco in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bonn 85
    Cusco 21
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bonn 170
    Cusco 42
Compare Hotels in Bonn and Cusco

Looking for a hotel in Bonn 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.

Hotels in Bonn


Hotels in Cusco


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: Bonn Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bonn 23
    Cusco 9.07

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bonn

Also for Bonn, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Bonn hotels Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) - Departure Private Transfer: $55

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cusco

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


  • Taxi Ride
    0.98

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:

  • Private Transfer between Cusco and Puno: $335
  • Full-Day Trip to Machu Picchu with Hotel Transfers: $333
  • Direct Private Transfer From Cusco to Puno, English Local Speaking Driver: $271
  • Ollantaytambo train station to Cuzco RoundTrip Private Transfer: $152
  • Private Transfer from Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ) Airport to Ollantaytambo: $143
  • Private Transfer from Ollantaytambo to Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ) Airport: $140
  • Scenic Journey from Cusco to Puno by Bus Including Hotel Transfers: $128
  • Cusco:Transfers from/to the Airport in Luxury Transportation: $119
  • From Cusco:Sacred Valley with Ollantaytambo or Urubamba transfer : $119
  • Transfer Cusco - Ollantaytambo train station : $95
  • Private City Tour and Saksaywaman Visit with Transfer: $80
  • Cuzco to Ollantaytambo Train Station - Departure Private Transfer: $76

Is it cheaper to fly into Bonn or Cusco?

Prices for flights to both Cusco and Bonn 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
    Bonn 49
    Cusco 20

Typical Food Prices in Cusco

Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:


  • Sandwich
    1.96
  • Mango
    0.49

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco

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

  • Small-Group Virtual Ceviche Cooking Experience: $25
  • Short Peruvian Cooking Class - by Pete: $30
  • Folkloric Andean Show & 3-Course Dinner at Tunupa: $35
  • CUSCO COOKING CLASS LUNCH - Quick Culinary Dive: $40
  • Peruvian Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $49
  • 3-Hour Peruvian Cooking Class: $49
  • CUSCO COOKING CLASS DINNER - Short & Immersive Cooking Class: $53
  • Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market in Cusco: $54
  • Fully hands-on High End Peruvian Cooking Class & San Pedro Market Guided Visit: $55
  • Cooking Class and market tour with a local chef: $56
  • Peruvian Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $56
  • Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market in Cusco: $59

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bonn 34
    Cusco 26

Tours and Activities in Bonn

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bonn.

  • Free Walking Tour Bonn - City Center: $3.24
  • Bonn Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $3.97
  • Beethoven’s Birthplace Self Guided Tour through Bonn’s Old Town: $6.99
  • Bonn Self Guided City Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $7.34
  • Bonn Self Guided Historical Walking Tour: $7.70
  • Bonn in 1 Day: Walking Tour - Audioguide in 7 languages: $8.10
  • Bonn Exploration Game and City Tour on your Phone: $8.80
  • Bonn Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $12
  • Autumn tours with a live guide: $20
  • From Christmassy Advent Cruise on the Rhine: $21
  • From Rhine River Boat Tour to Königswinter: $21
  • 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Ticket: $22

Typical Entertainment Prices in Cusco

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Cusco are as follows:


  • Salsa Class
    2.45

Tours and Activities in Cusco

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:

  • 2 Day Pisac Ollantaytambo Salt flats Moray Sacred Valley Tour: $297
  • City Tour Cusco / Tour in the City: $12
  • Half- Day City Tour Cusco : $150
  • Humantay Lake Tour From Cusco: $63
  • Moray saltmines ATV (Cuatrimotos) Tour: $70
  • Mountain View Picnic & Salt Mines Tour with Private Service: $180
  • Official Machupicchu Ticket: $99
  • Official Ticket- Machu Picchu Lost Citadel: $72
  • Rainbow Mountain 1 day Tour : $42
  • Sacred Valley Tour in Cusco : $47
  • Ticket To Machu Picchu + Machu Picchu Mountain : $89
  • Tour de 1 dià a la montaña de colores : $47

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bonn 23
    Cusco 8.61

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 : $14
  • Pub Crawl with Skip-the-Line Access and Drinks: $18
  • Exclusive Pub Crawl with more than 10 Benefits: $25
  • Pisco and wine tour in the Majes Valley: $50


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bonn and Cusco, we can see that Bonn is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bonn 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 Bonn would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bonn 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 Bonn Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Bonn or Cusco?

Bonn has a larger population, and is about 0% larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Bonn 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.