Which city is cheaper, Machu Picchu or Castro?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Castro vs. Machu Picchu for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
Jump to 
Should you visit Castro or Machu Picchu?
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 Castro and Machu Picchu can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Castro or Machu Picchu?
Castro
The capital of Chiloe, modern and dynamic, has succeeded in keeping its authenticity even though it now has many gigantic supermarkets, hotels and other touristic infrastructures. It is located on the island's eastern coast, halfway between Ancud in the north and Quellon in the south, and is a convenient base for exploring the stunning sites in the region of Chiloe Island. The tourist information is located on the town square in front of the church.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a site of ancient Inca ruins located about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Cuzco, Peru, in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba of the Andes Mountains. It is perched above the Urubamba River valley in a narrow saddle between two sharp peaks, Machu Picchu ("Old Peak") and Huayna Picchu ("New Peak"), at an elevation of 7,710 feet (2,350 metres). One of the few major pre-Columbian ruins found nearly intact, Machu Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Thus, Machu Picchu is not only an impressive remnant of the Inca civilization, it is also one of the world's most important archaeological sites. A stop at Machu Picchu is an essential part of any traveler's itinerary in Peru, as it is one of the seven wonders of the world.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCastro $84Machu Picchu $78
The average daily cost (per person) in Castro is $84, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is $78. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Castro and Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCastro $35Machu Picchu $32
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCastro $70Machu Picchu $64
Compare Hotels in Castro and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in Castro or Machu Picchu? 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: Castro Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Castro $19Machu Picchu $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Castro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Castro:
- Chiloe Airport Private Transfer: $83
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Machu Picchu
Also for Machu Picchu, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Aguas Calientes: Bus Transfer to Machu Picchu Citadel: $16
Is it cheaper to fly into Castro or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu and Castro 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 dayCastro $34Machu Picchu $15
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Castro $20Machu Picchu $57
Tours and Activities in Castro
Here are a few actual costs in Castro for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bosque Piedra Reserve Tour: $100
- Castro Sightseeing Tour in Chiloe: $63
- Chaiguen Adventure Park in Chiloe: $139
- Chiloé National Park Private Tour from Castro: $222
- Coastal Villages Tour of Chiloé from Castro: $99
- Full Day Private Chiloe National Park Tour Following "The Darwin´s Route": $155
- Highlights of Chiloe Island Self-guided Audio Tour by VoiceMap: $5.34
- Lemuy Island Tour from Castro: $178
- Pier of Light Full Day Tour in Chiloe: $170
- Quinchao Island Full Day Tour in Chiloe: $124
Typical Entertainment prices in Machu Picchu
For Machu Picchu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Gardens of Mandor$2.61
Tours and Activities in Machu Picchu
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Machu Picchu.
- From Aguas Calientes: Machu Picchu Guided Tour: $27
- Machu Picchu Admission Ticket: $31
- Huaynapicchu mountain hike + Machu Picchu entrance ticket: $40
- Machu Picchu official entrance ticket: $40
- Private Guided Tour from Aguas Calientes: $45
- Admission Ticket to Machu Picchu Ruin and Mountain: $53
- Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu Admission Ticket: $53
- Machu Picchu Ticket: Official Entrance Ticket: $63
- Machu Picchu Lost Citadel Official Ticket: $65
- Machu Picchu Official Ticket: $68
- Machu Picchu Official Entrance Ticket: $68
- Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu Entrance Ticket: $85
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayCastro $16Machu Picchu $5.30
When comparing the travel costs between Castro and Machu Picchu, we can see that Castro is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
Related Articles for Castro
Related Articles for Machu Picchu
Budget Your Trip
Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.More City Comparisons
Recife vs. CastroRecife vs. Machu Picchu
Fortaleza vs. Castro
Fortaleza vs. Machu Picchu
Puerto Iguazu vs. Castro
Puerto Iguazu vs. Machu Picchu
Mar del Plata vs. Castro
Mar del Plata vs. Machu Picchu
La Plata vs. Castro
La Plata vs. Machu Picchu
Buenos Aires, Argentina vs. Castro
Buenos Aires, Argentina vs. Machu Picchu
Asuncion vs. Castro
Asuncion vs. Machu Picchu
Salto vs. Castro
Salto vs. Machu Picchu
Punta del Este vs. Castro
Punta del Este vs. Machu Picchu
Piriapolis vs. Castro
Piriapolis vs. Machu Picchu
Montevideo vs. Castro
Montevideo vs. Machu Picchu
Colonia del Sacramento vs. Castro
Colonia del Sacramento vs. Machu Picchu
Sao Paulo vs. Castro
Sao Paulo vs. Machu Picchu
Salvador vs. Castro
Salvador vs. Machu Picchu
Share This Page
Pin This Page
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.