A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Curitiba vs. Machu Picchu for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Curitiba or Machu Picchu?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Curitiba and Machu Picchu 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: Curitiba or Machu Picchu?

Curitiba

Curitiba is a relatively large city that is convenient to visit if you're traveling to Iguazu Falls from either Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo. It is worth a day or two stop over because it has a great old city that has been restored. It's also the capital of Parana, Brazil. Curitiba is one of the more wealthy cities in the southern region of Brazil. It has a diverse population with many immigrants and some interesting cultural events.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu or Curitiba?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Curitiba is $73, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is $101. 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 Curitiba and Machu Picchu in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Curitiba $30
    Machu Picchu $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Curitiba $60
    Machu Picchu $84
Compare Hotels in Curitiba and Machu Picchu

Looking for a hotel in Curitiba 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.

Hotels in Curitiba


Hotels in Machu Picchu


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: Curitiba Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Curitiba $16
    Machu Picchu $30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Curitiba

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Curitiba:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.95

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Curitiba

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

  • Curitiba Airport PrivateTransfers Round Trip or One Way: $109
  • Private Transfer from Curitiba Airport: $106
  • Afonso Pena Airport (CWB) to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $87
  • Private Transfer from Curitiba Airport (CWB) to Porto Belo Port : $75
  • Private Transfer from Curitiba City Hotels to Porto Belo Port: $75
  • Shared transfer between Curitiba Airport and Hotels: $73
  • Afonso Pena Airport CWB to Beach Resorts : Arrival Transfer: $43
  • Shared Transfer: Curitiba International Airport: $39
  • Private Transfer from Curitiba City to Curitiba Airport (CWB): $35
  • Curitiba Airport (CWB) to Downtown - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $33
  • Curitiba to Afonso Pena Airport (CWB)- Departure Private Transfer: $17
  • Curitiba to Curitiba Airport (CWB) - Departure Private Transfer: $16

Is it cheaper to fly into Curitiba or Machu Picchu?

Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu and Curitiba 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
    Curitiba $28
    Machu Picchu $19
Typical Food Prices in Curitiba

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Curitiba:


  • Chips
    $0.88

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Curitiba

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

  • Bar-hopping and Food Tour in Curitiba: $30
  • Curitiba's History Food Tour: $70
  • Curitiba's History Food Tour: $76
  • Curitiba Tour by Night with Dinner: $94

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Curitiba $19
    Machu Picchu $74

Tours and Activities in Curitiba

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Curitiba.

  • Full Day Tour to Vila Velha and Buraco do Padre: $154
  • 2-Day Rafting and Rappelling Adventure in Tibagi: $186
  • 4-Hour Private Tour of Curitiba City: $69
  • Arte Bike Tour - Bike Tour with Kuritbike: $24
  • CRAFT BREWERS TOUR By Jens Tours: $71
  • Complete Tour to Ilha do Mel: $145
  • Curitiba City Tour: $58
  • A complete city tour: $104
  • A private city tour: $70
  • Tour in Barigui Park: $120
  • Walking tour from past to present: $12
  • Full-day tour in Curitiba: $77

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
    $2.71

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Curitiba $14
    Machu Picchu $6.90
Typical Alcohol Prices in Curitiba

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Curitiba:


  • Beer
    $0.44


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Curitiba and Machu Picchu, we can see that Machu Picchu is more expensive. And not only is Curitiba much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Curitiba would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Curitiba 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 Machu Picchu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Machu Picchu than you might in Curitiba.

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