Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Brisbane?
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 Brisbane or Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Brisbane and Cusco can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Brisbane or Cusco?
Brisbane
Although Brisbane is often overlooked as a travel destination in Australia, it is the capital of the state of Queensland, and is the third largest city in Australia. It's a very young and vibrant city with an active nightlife and a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. It's a modern and economically thriving city and, if you do have time to visit, it actually has a lot to offer travelers. It has some beautiful scenery, a wonderful warm climate all year long, and is actually one of the fastest growing cities in Australia.
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 Luxury Tours to Australia, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Brisbane Prices
Australia PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBrisbane $151Cusco $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Brisbane is $151, 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 Brisbane and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBrisbane $80Cusco $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBrisbane $160Cusco $46
Compare Hotels in Brisbane and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Brisbane 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: Brisbane Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Brisbane $17Cusco $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Brisbane
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Brisbane:
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Airtrain to the City$9.63
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Go Card$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Brisbane
Also for Brisbane, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Brisbane Airport: Shared Transfer to Brisbane: $22
- Movie World Theme Park from Brisbane Hotel One Way Transfer: $29
- BNE Airport to City | Gold Coast Private Transfer: $40
- Brisbane Airport: Shared Transfer to Gold Coast: $54
- Brisbane Airport: Shared Transfer to Sunshine Coast: $57
- Brisbane Airport: Shared Transfer to Sunshine Coast: $58
- Croc Express to Australia Zoo from Brisbane Transfers Only: $58
- Brisbane Airport Private Transfer to City Center: $73
- Brisbane hotels to Brisbane Airport (BNE) - Departure Private Transfer: $81
- Private Transfer: Brisbane Airport BNE or Brisbane City to Cruise Port: $90
- Private Transfer: Cruise Port to Brisbane Airport BNE or Brisbane City: $90
- NOOSA: Private Transfer to/fro Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY): $93
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:
- Full-Day Trip to Machu Picchu with Hotel Transfers: $335
- From 2-Day Guided Trip to Machu Picchu with Transfers: $329
- Cusco One Day Tour to Machu Picchu with Train Transfers: $299
- Direct Private Transfer From Cusco to Puno, English Local Speaking Driver: $282
- Cusco : Transfer to Puno: $245
- Ollantaytambo train station to Cuzco RoundTrip Private Transfer: $206
- Private Transfer from Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ) Airport to Valle Sagrado : $167
- Ollantaytambo Train Station to Cuzco - Arrival Private Transfer: $103
- Cuzco to Ollantaytambo Train Station - Departure Private Transfer: $103
- Ollantaytambo train station to Cuzco city or airport- Roundtrip Private Transfer: $80
- Private City Tour and Saksaywaman Visit with Transfer: $80
- Temple of the Moon Horseback Riding Tour with Transfer: $75
Is it cheaper to fly into Brisbane or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Brisbane 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 dayBrisbane $53Cusco $23
Typical Food Prices in Brisbane
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Brisbane:
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Hamburger Lunch$5.13
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Cup of Coffee$1.93
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Chinese Food Lunch$8.02
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Ice cream$3.53
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Japanese Meal$13
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Smoothie$4.17
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Japanese Soup$7.38
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Coffee & Muffin$4.49
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Morning Mint Tea$2.25
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Veggie Burger & Chips$8.98
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Bread$1.67
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Brisbane
For Brisbane, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Vertigo Dinner – Dining on the Edge: $161
- Dinner on the Edge with Vertigo Brisbane: $163
- Local Icons Food Tour: $345
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.18
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Mango$0.55
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
- Dinner at Café del Museo Larco restaurant: $28
- Folkloric Andean Show & 3-Course Dinner at Tunupa: $37
- Cusco street food tour: $39
- 3-Hour Peruvian Cooking Class: $49
- Andean Folk Show with Dinner at Tunupa Plaza de Armas: $50
- High-Vibe Peruvian Cooking Class in Sacred Valley: $50
- Pete's Peruvian Cooking Class: $52
- Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $54
- Cusco Cooking Classes and San Pedro Market Tour: $55
- Cooking Class and market tour with a local chef: $56
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market in Cusco: $57
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Brisbane $23Cusco $29
Typical Entertainment Prices in Brisbane
For Brisbane, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Concert Tickets$13
Tours and Activities in Brisbane
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Brisbane.
- True Crime Tour: $22
- Fortitude Valley Historical Crime Walking Tour: $22
- Brisbane Dark Stories True Crime Tour: $22
- Winery Tour and Tasting: $23
- Bloody Brisbane CBD Crime Tour - Crime Tours Australia | Jack Sim: $23
- Moonlight State Fortitude Valley Crime Tour Crime Tours Australia: $23
- Haunted Brisbane CBD Ghost Tour: $23
- Solve a Detective Case in a themed adventure: $26
- Alice In Puzzleland an Escape Hunt Brisbane Experience: $31
- Bomb At Government House An Escape Hunt Adventure: $31
- Midday River Guided Sightseeing Cruise: $32
- Sightseeing River Cruise with Morning Tea: $32
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$2.73
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- Cusco City Tour I Half-Day: $25
- Cusco city wolking tour : $35
- Official Machupicchu Ticket: $99
- Official Ticket- Machu Picchu Lost Citadel: $77
- Private Tour to Sacred Valley Full Day from Cusco: $110
- Rainbow Mountain 1 day Tour : $35
- Sacred Valley Complete Tour with Lunch: $40
- Salineras Tour of Maras, Moray and Sacred Valley of the Incas: $52
- Ticket To Machu Picchu + Machu Picchu Mountain : $89
- Tour a la montaña de 7 colores vinicunca 1 dia: $32
- "Free Walking Tour Cusco": Downtown, San Blas neighborhood.: $5.00
- 07:00 am Humantay Lagoon Tour: A Late Start, A Better Experience: $98
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBrisbane $49Cusco $9.59
Typical Alcohol Prices in Brisbane
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Brisbane:
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Evening at the Bar$9.63
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Sixpack of Beer$8.98
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Guiness Beer$5.45
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Sixpack of Beer$8.34
Sample the Local Flavors in Brisbane
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Brisbane:
- XXXX Beer Brewery Tour & Beer Tasting: $24
- Stone & Wood Brewery Tour: $29
- Hop on Hop off Brewery Adventure : $65
- Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting in Brisbane: $98
- Half Day Gold Coast Brewery Tour: $104
- Afternoon Brisbane Half-Day Brewery Tour: $104
- Hop on Hop off Wine tasting tour to Tamborine Mountain: $108
- Hinterland Heritage Wine Tour : $131
- Brisbane Brewery Full Day Tour with Lunch: $136
- Mount Tamborine Deluxe Wine Tasting with Two Course Lunch: $147
- Tamborine Wine & Distillery Tour + 2 Course Lunch: $161
- Mount Tamborine Wine Tasting Tour from Brisbane or the Gold Coast: $163
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 : $19
- Cusco Pub Crawl: Bar Tour, Drinks And Club with no waiting lines: $19
- Pub Crawl with Skip-the-Line Access and Drinks: $19
- Pisco and wine tour in the Majes Valley: $50
- Pub Crawl with 3 Bars and Nightclub Entry: $66
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Brisbane and Cusco, we can see that Brisbane is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Brisbane is in Pacific 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 Brisbane would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Brisbane 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 Brisbane Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Brisbane or Cusco?
Brisbane has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Brisbane 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.