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

Should you visit Cali 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 Cali 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: Cali or Cusco?

Cali

Cali is Colombia's third largest city. Founded in 1536, can be explored on foot: walk under the shade of trees along the riverbank, admire the architecture of churches and other national monuments, and visit the city's many museums. Being the salsa capital of the world, Cali is primarily a destination for salsa and party but it also offers some great days out in the nearby natural surroundings. In Cali, travelers can enjoy music festivals, learn about sugarcane farming, and take in the mountainous landscapes.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Colombia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.


Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Cali?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cali is $25, 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 Cali and Cusco in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cali $6.04
    Cusco $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cali $12
    Cusco $46
Compare Hotels in Cali and Cusco

Looking for a hotel in Cali 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 Cali


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: Cali Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cali $5.65
    Cusco $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cali

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


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $1.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cali

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

  • Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport : $17
  • Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airpot One Way Transfer: $19
  • Transfer in Private Car from Cali Airport (CLO) -Cali City: $22
  • Alfonso Aragon Airport CLO to Cali Palmira Arrival Transfer: $24
  • Transfer in Private Minivan from Cali Airport (CLO) - Cali City: $25
  • Airport Transfers Cali (per way): $34
  • Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira-RoundTrip Transfer: $48
  • RoundTrip Transfer in Private Minivan Cali Airport (CLO) - Cali City: $51
  • From Cali Airport: One-way Privater Transfer to Cali: $58
  • Arrival Transfer from Cali Airport CLO to Cali City by MiniSuv: $98
  • National Park Waterfalls Tour with Lunch & Transfer: $115
  • City Highlights Private Bus Tour with Transfer: $150

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cusco

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.09

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:

  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cusco HTL-APT (CUZ): $18
  • Transfer to Ollantaytambo Cusco Peru: $60
  • Transfer from Cusco to Ollantaytambo: $40
  • Transfer Hotel to Airport in Cusco | Private Service |: $10
  • Transfer From Airport to Cusco Center Hotels: $25
  • Transfer Cusco to Urubamba: $40
  • Transfer Cusco Airport to your Hotel in Cusco: $10
  • Transfer Cusco Airport - Hotel or vice versa.: $20
  • Transfer Cusco Airport - Hotel or Train Station: $12
  • Transfer Cusco - Ollantaytambo train station : $95
  • Transfer Between Cusco's Airport and City Hotels: $25
  • Taxi Transfer ROUNDTRIPS MINIVAN-SACRED VALLEY-CUSCO APTO: $60

Is it cheaper to fly into Cali or Cusco?

Prices for flights to both Cusco and Cali 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
    Cali $8.60
    Cusco $13

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cali

For Cali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Alameda Market Cali Food Tour: $14
  • Street Food Tour: $21
  • Alameda Market Food Tour: $55
  • Flavors of Food tour at the local market: $59

Typical Food Prices in Cusco

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


  • Sandwich
    $2.18
  • 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 Ceviche Cooking Experience: $25
  • Small-Group Virtual Peruvian Cooking Experience: $25
  • CUSCO COOKING CLASS LUNCH - Quick Culinary Dive: $37
  • 3-Hour Peruvian Cooking Class: $49
  • Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $50
  • Pete's Peruvian Cooking Class: $52
  • Vegetarian Cooking Class, Local Market Tour in Cusco: $58
  • Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market in Cusco: $59
  • Peruvian Cooking Experience & Pisco Tasting in Cusco : $59
  • Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market Tour: $63
  • Peruvian Cooking Class & Market Tour: $65
  • Awamaki Cooking Class: $68

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cali $11
    Cusco $29

Tours and Activities in Cali

For Cali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Gastronomic Tour at the Alameda Market Shared: $13
  • Cali's Cultural and Historical Walking Tour: $14
  • Cali Salsa & Resistance Street Art Tour: $14
  • Cali Salsa Tour: Learn the history, dance and play instruments: $15
  • Cultural and heritage Cali tour: $16
  • Walking Tour in the Historic Center of Cali City: $25
  • The Cali Street Food Walking Tour: $30
  • Coffee Tasting Experience in Cali Colombia : $35
  • Walking tour of the historic center: $37
  • Cali Walking Tour: $38
  • Craft beer tour in Cali: $41
  • Commune 20 Siloe Tour: $45

Typical Entertainment Prices in Cusco

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


  • Salsa Class
    $2.72

Tours and Activities in Cusco

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

  • 1 Day Rainbow Mountain Tour From Cusco: $75
  • ATV Tour to Moray, Maras and Salar in the Sacred Valley of the Incas: $42
  • City Tour Cusco / Tour in the City: $12
  • Colorful mountain adventure with a slightly steep hike: $48
  • Cusco City Tour I Half-Day: $28
  • Half-Day Private Tour to Maras and Moray: $90
  • Official Machupicchu Ticket: $96
  • Official Ticket Football Day tour In Cusco with Tourism Guide: $100
  • Official Ticket- Machu Picchu Lost Citadel: $72
  • Sacred Valley Tour in Cusco : $47
  • Ticket To Machu Picchu + Machu Picchu Mountain : $89
  • Tour a la montaña de 7 colores vinicunca 1 dia: $48

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cali $8.51
    Cusco $9.58

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


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cali and Cusco, we can see that Cusco is more expensive. And not only is Cali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cali 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 Cali.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cali Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cali or Cusco?

Cali has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Cali 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.