Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Cairo?
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 Cairo or Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cairo and Cusco can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Cairo or Cusco?
Cairo
Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.
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 Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Cairo Prices
Egypt PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairo $31Cusco $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $31, while the average daily cost in Cusco is $66. 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 Cairo and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairo $11Cusco $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairo $22Cusco $50
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Cairo 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: Cairo Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairo $3.55Cusco $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
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Metro Ride$0.08
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Taxi Ride$0.29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- Arrival transfer from Cairo airport: $5.00
- Transfer from Cairo Airport to Hotel at Cairo or Giza: $6.00
- Cairo CAI Airport Private Transfer to/from Cairo/El Omraniya: $8.82
- Cairo Airport (CAI) Private Transfer From or To All Cairo Hotells: $9.45
- Private Cairo Airport Transfers & Limousine to Anywhere in Cairo or vice versa: $10
- Private transfer from Cairo Airport to the hotel in Cairo or Giza: $10
- Cairo Airport Private Transfer ( One-Way comfort ride ): $10
- Private Transfer from Cairo Airport to Hotels in Cairo: $10
- Private Transfer from Cairo Airport: $12
- Cairo Airport Arrival or Departure private Transfer: $12
- VIP Meet and assist with transfer from Cairo and SPX Airport: $12
- Cairo or Giza Transfer from Airport to Hotel or Vice Versa: $12
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$1.19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- Airport Transfer (Private Service): $25
- Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $15
- Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $15
- Cusco Airport Pick-Up (Private Transfer to your Cusco Hotel).: $23
- Cusco Airport Shared Arrival Transfer: $9.50
- Cusco Bus Station Arrival or Departure Transfer: $19
- Cusco Private Airport Transfer Arrival Departure or Round Trip: $15
- Cusco Private Transfer to Poroy Railway Station: $15
- Cusco to Puno Direct Bus Transfer: $37
- Cuzco to Ollantaytambo Train Station - Departure Private Transfer: $107
- Direct Private Transfer From Cusco to Puno, English Local Speaking Driver: $292
- Full Day Rainbow Mountain Tour from Cusco with Hotel Transfer: $42
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Cairo 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 dayCairo $17Cusco $25
Typical Food Prices in Cairo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:
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Juice$0.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.
- Giza Pyramids, Camel Ride, ATV & Shopping Tour with Dinner Cruise: $5.00
- Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river: $5.00
- 2 Hour Cairo Dinner Cruise on Nile river with live band: $7.00
- Giza Pyramids Sphinx Camel Ride ATV Bike Shopping Dinner cruise: $7.00
- Night Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer and folklore show: $7.00
- 5 Star Dinner Nile Cruise in Cairo Night Tour: $8.00
- night-tour Nile dinner cruise with open buffet and belly dancer: $8.00
- Cairo Dinner Cruise in Nile River With Belly Dancer & Tanora show: $8.00
- Food Tour Private Tour from Cairo or Giza Hotel: $8.00
- Cairo Dinner Cruise show with belly dancer show on Nile river: $8.00
- Private Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Quad Bike, Camel Ride, Nile Dinner Cruise: $8.00
- Romantic Nile Dinner Cruise Experience: $8.00
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.38
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Mango$0.60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Short Peruvian Cooking Class by Pete: $30
- Cusco Tunupa Restaurant Folk Show with Dinner: $32
- Market-to-Table Peruvian Cooking Class and Cocktail in Cusco: $52
- High-End Peruvian Cooking Class, Pisco Sour & San Pedro Market: $57
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $65
- Cusco Collective Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $65
- Cusco Street Food Tour and Pisco Tasting Experience: $69
- Cooking Class Peruvian Culinary Experience with Local Chefs: $70
- Cusco Authentic Food Tour with 9 Locals Favorites Tastings: $76
- Dinner Show at SUYU a Peruvian Gastronomic and Experience: $77
- Cusco Tour at Night: Planetarium, Dinner & Pisco Sour: $79
- Curious Monkey Cusco- Eat the Streets, Walking Food Tour: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairo $8.51Cusco $32
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo
Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Camel Market for Two$0.79
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Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$6.06
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Khan khalili Market Old Bazar tour: $2.00
- Best-Selling Giza Pyramids Tour: Camel Ride, Lunch &Private Guide: $2.50
- Ancient Egypt Journey: Giza, Saqqara & Dahshur Private Experience: $4.00
- VIP Luxury Shopping Tour –Local Markets + Gourmet Lunch & Drinks: $4.00
- Private Half-Day Giza Pyramids & Sphinx Tour with Camel Ride: $4.00
- Full-Day Giza Pyramids,Sphinx, Saqqara&Memphis All-Inclusive Tour: $4.00
- Day tour to Giza pyramids & sphinx, saqqara and Memphis: $4.00
- Full Day tour Giza Pyramids Sphinx Camel &Quad Bike &Free lunch: $4.50
- Private Tour in Pyramids of Giza with Lunch and Camel Ride: $4.50
- Luxury Private Tour Giza Pyramids and Grand Egyptian Museum: $4.74
- Half Day Tour to Giza Pyramid,Sphinx ,inside pyramid,Camel,lunch: $5.00
- private tour Shopping tours : papyrus perfume gold ,silver cartouche: $5.00
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$2.98
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- Discover Cusco with Guided Walking Tour: $5.00
- Cusco City Walking tour: Historia, Tradition, Culture: $5.00
- Cusco Self Guided Walking Tour Landmarks, Audio and Quiz: $8.31
- City Tour - Cusco: $10
- City tour Cusco Half day: $11
- Cusco City Tour: Four Ruins in Half Day: $12
- City Tour - Lugares destacado en Cusco + Experiencia Fotográfica: $12
- Half Day City Tour in Cusco: $12
- Half-Day Cusco City Tour – Explore History, Culture & Inca Ruins: $12
- City Tour Cusco: $12
- Excursion to Moray & Maras - Salt Mines || Group tour ||: $12
- Cusco City Tour in Half Day: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCairo $1.38Cusco $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairo
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cairo:
- Pub Crawl and Speakeasy Bar Tour with 2 Free Drinks: $69
Sample the Local Flavors in Cusco
Also in Cusco, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Discover Cusco Nightlife with Bar Crawl Cusco: $17
- Cusco Pub Crawl: Bar Tour, Drinks And Club with no waiting lines: $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and Cusco, we can see that Cusco is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cairo is in Africa 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 Cairo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairo 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 Cusco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cusco than you might in Cairo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cairo Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairo or Cusco?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Cairo 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.