Should you visit Cuenca or Cusco?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Cuenca and Cusco. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
Cuenca
Cuenca is a vibrant colonial city in southern Ecuador, the third largest in the country, and the capital of Azuay Province. Cuenca is considered as Ecuador's most important and beautiful colonial city after Quito. Dating from the 16th century, Cuenca's historic center, a Unesco World Heritage Site with its trademark skyline of massive rotundas and soaring steeples, is a magical sight in which you will feel like you are moving back in time. Cuenca is the center of many craft traditions, including ceramics, metalwork and the internationally famous panama hat. The nearby villages also offer many other handicrafts. Tourists enjoy wandering the ancient streets discovering picturesque alleys and hidden corners, where nuns march along cobblestone streets and kids in Catholic-school uniforms skip past historic churches. Fascinating historic monuments and fabulous views are found at every turn. Cuenca also has outstanding art museums and festivals. For a rewarding cultural experience, visit during Easter to attend the Festival of Religious Music.
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. (Read this advice about managing the altitude in Cusco and Machu Picchu.)
Which city is cheaper, Cusco or Cuenca?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Cuenca is $34, while the average daily cost in Cusco is $40. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Cuenca and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $20 for a double occupancy room in Cuenca.
A hotel room in Cusco is about $36 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
Food in Cuenca costs travelers about $12 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
Cusco food costs typically run travelers around $10 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Cuenca $12
Cusco $10
Typical Food prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cuenca:
-
Lunch
$10
-
Snacks
$5.00
-
Empanada
$1.50
-
Hot Dog
$1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cuenca
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cuenca.
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Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca:
$55
-
Cuenca City Tour & Cooking Class (PRIVATE Tour):
$95
Typical Food prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich
$2.10
-
Mango
$0.52
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
-
Small-Group Virtual Ceviche Cooking Experience:
$25
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Tunupa Cusco Restaurant: Dinner with Show:
$28
-
CUSCO COOKING CLASS LUNCH 12:00PM TO 1:30PM (Available only in English):
$37
-
Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market in Cusco:
$39
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Dinner at Calle del Medio restaurant:
$40
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Dinner at Pachapapa restaurant.:
$40
-
Peruvian Cooking Classes:
$43
-
Dinner at Tunupa restaurant with folkloric show.:
$45
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Dinner at Inca Grill Restaurant:
$45
-
Curious Monkey- The Gordito, Walking Food Tour:
$45
-
Fully hands-on High End Peruvian Cooking Class & San Pedro Market Guided Visit:
$45
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Cuenca is $8.60 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
The average price of local transportation around Cusco is $9.36 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cuenca:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cuenca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cuenca:
-
Cuenca Arrival Transfer:
$15
-
Cuenca Departure Transfer:
$15
-
Cuenca Airport Shuttle Transfer:
$19
-
Cuenca to Guayaquil Transfer in Fantasy Bus:
$25
-
Cuenca to Alausi Transfer in Fantasy Bus:
$25
-
Transfer In Cuenca Airport - Hotel:
$25
-
Arrival Private Transfer: Cuenca Airport CUE to Cuenca City by Minivan:
$74
-
Departure Private Transfer: Cuenca City to Cuenca Airport CUE by Minivan:
$74
-
Private Transfer from Cuenca to Guayaquil.:
$83
-
Private Transfer from Cuenca City Center to Madrid City Center:
$147
Typical Local Transportation prices in Cusco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cusco:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
-
Aiport Transfers Service:
$41
-
Airport Cusco Transfers:
$60
-
Airport Transfer, City Tour, Sacred Valley & Machupicchu (All Included):
$580
-
Arrival Private Transfer Cusco Airport CUZ to Cusco City by Minivan:
$27
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Arrival Private Transfer from Cusco Airport CUZ to Cusco City by Sedan Car:
$18
-
Arrival Private Transfer: Cusco Airport CUZ to Cusco City by Sprinter Minibus:
$51
-
Arrival Transfer & Cusco City Tour:
$43
-
CUSCO MAGICAL 4D Transfer, Hotel, City Tour, Sacred Valley and Machu picchu:
$641
-
Cusco – Puno Direct Transfers:
$39
-
Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer:
$8.20
-
Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer:
$9.67
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Cusco Airport Arrival or Departure Private Transfer:
$9.70
Entertainment
Cuenca's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $13 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Cusco's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $22 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Cuenca
Here are a few actual costs in Cuenca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Guided tour to Cuenca City:
$9.95
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Cuenca City Tour:
$20
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Cuenca City tour:
$25
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Half-Day Tour of Cuenca Including Panama Hat Factory:
$30
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Walking Cuenca City Tour with Pumapungo Complex Half Day:
$30
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Cuenca City Tour:
$30
-
Biking and Walking City Tour Cuenca:
$30
-
Half-Day Biking and Walking Tour of Cuenca, Ecuador:
$30
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Private Half-Day Cuenca City Tour:
$38
-
Cajas National Park Half Day Tour:
$40
-
Private Half-Day City Tour Including Turi Viewpoint:
$41
-
Biking Cuenca City Tour:
$45
Typical Entertainment prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Cusco are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
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Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary Admission Ticket:
$7.00
-
the best tour 4 ruins cusco:
$10
-
Cusco Cathedral Admission Ticket:
$10
-
Walking tour in Cusco:
$10
-
Walking Tour Game:
$11
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city cusco tour:
$12
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City Tour in Cusco:
$14
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Tours in Cusco with mgtravelsperu:
$14
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Machu Picchu: 2-Hour Small Group Guided Tour:
$14
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City Tour cusco and archaeological sites:
$15
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Shared Cusco City Tour by Bus:
$15
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City Tour Cusco Peru:
$15
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Cuenca may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $11 per day on alcoholic beverages.
The average person spends about $7.33 on alcoholic beverages in Cusco per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cuenca and Cusco, we can see that Cusco is more expensive. And not only is Cuenca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cuenca would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cuenca 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 Cuenca.
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