Which place is cheaper, Baltimore or Cusco?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cusco or Baltimore?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cusco or Baltimore, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Cusco or Baltimore?
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.
Baltimore
Baltimore is a large, industrial city and popular tourist destination in the state of Maryland. It is about an hour outside of Washington, D.C. and is a hub of tourism and entertainment for the area. It has a vibrant nightlife, comfortable climate, and is a great place to visit when you're in the area. The city proper has a population of about 600,000 and the metropolitan area has 2.7 million. Its economy is centered around science, technology, engineering and math and it has many undergraduate and graduate schools including the world renowned Johns Hopkins University.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCusco $50Baltimore $184
The average daily cost (per person) in Cusco is $50, while the average daily cost in Baltimore is $184. 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 Cusco and Baltimore in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCusco $23Baltimore $93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCusco $46Baltimore $186
Compare Hotels in Cusco and Baltimore
Looking for a hotel in Cusco or Baltimore? 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: Cusco Hotel Prices and Baltimore Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cusco $9.96Baltimore $21
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$1.07
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- Cusco – Puno Direct Transfers: $24
- Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $15
- Cusco Airport Arrival or Departure Transfer : $13
- Cusco Airport Pickup and Private Transfer: $15
- Cusco Airport: Private 1-Way Transfer: $15
- Cusco Bus Station Arrival or Departure Transfer: $13
- Cusco Private Transfer to Poroy Railway Station: $15
- Cusco to Ollantaytambo: One-Way Private Transfer: $55
- Abode of the Gods ATV Tour with Transfer: $30
- Alpaca and Llama Farm Tour w/ Transfer & Weaving Demo: $34
- Full-Day Trip to Machu Picchu with Hotel Transfers: $290
- One-Way Airport Transfer to Hotel: $9.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Baltimore
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Baltimore:
- Oakland to San Francisco Airport (SFO)-Departure Private Transfer: $44
- Private Arrival Transfer from Baltimore Washington Airport BWI: $60
- Baltimore City to Washington City - Private Car Transfer: $63
- Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI) to Washington - Arrival Private Transfer: $93
- Arrival Private Transfer Baltimore Airport BWI to Baltimore by Business Vehicle: $111
- Departure Private Transfer Baltimore to Baltimore Airport BWI - Business Vehicle: $111
- BWI Airport: Transfer to Baltimore or Washington DC: $150
- Airport Transfer BWI Airport to Baltimore Downtown Area Only: $160
- Private Transfer to BWI or Washington DC/Airports: $160
- Airport transfer to or from Silver Spring, MD & Reagan Airport(DCA): $200
- Private transfer To or Form Bethesda and Dulles International Airport: $209
- Airport Transfer Baltimore/Washington International Airport BWI to Washington,DC: $240
Is it cheaper to fly into Cusco or Baltimore?
Prices for flights to both Baltimore and Cusco 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 dayCusco $13Baltimore $46
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.15
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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
- Folkloric Andean Show & 3-Course Dinner at Tunupa: $35
- CUSCO COOKING CLASS LUNCH - Quick Culinary Dive: $37
- 3-Hour Peruvian Cooking Class: $49
- Market Tour & Traditional Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco: $53
- Cooking Class and market tour with a local chef: $56
- Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market in Cusco: $59
- Dinner at Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba Hotel: $65
- Peruvian Market Tour And Cooking Class in Cusco: $65
- Peruvian Cooking Class, Cocktails & Local Market Tour: $65
- Peruvian Cooking Class & Market Tour: $65
- Awamaki Cooking Class: $68
Typical Food Prices in Baltimore
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Baltimore:
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Seafood Dinner (for 2) in Fells Point$76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Baltimore
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Baltimore.
- Federal Hill Food Tour: $71
- Little Italy and Jonestown Food Tour: $73
- Fells Point Food Tour in Baltimore: $74
- Inner Harbor Buffet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner: $76
- Christmas Eve Gourmet Brunch or Dinner Cruise: $84
- Christmas Day Gourmet Brunch or Dinner Cruise: $84
- Baltimore Signature Dinner Cruise: $101
- Baltimore Buffet Dinner/Dance Cruise of the Inner Harbor: $119
- Baltimore Father's Day Buffet Dinner Cruise : $126
- Baltimore New Year's Eve Buffet Dinner Cruise: $251
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cusco $29Baltimore $18
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$2.69
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- Free Walking Tour of Cusco: $2.00
- Cusco : Half Day City Tour: $9.00
- Walking Tour Cusco: $10
- Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary Admission Ticket: $10
- CUSCO CITY TOUR 2024 Half Day Tour in Cuzco: $10
- Cusco City Half-Day Tour: $12
- Open Bus Tour of the City’s Wonder’s: $12
- Sightseeing Tour of the City on an Open-Top Bus: $12
- City Tour Cusco / Tour in the City: $12
- Open-Top Bus City Tour: $12
- Mirabus Cusco city tour | Panoramic view |: $12
- Historic Walking Tour with Pisco Sour and Music Show: $13
Tours and Activities in Baltimore
Here are a few actual costs in Baltimore for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Self-guided Waterfall Hiking Tour through Great Falls National Park: $5.00
- Downtown Baltimore In-App Audio Tour: $9.00
- Historic & Cultural Baltimore Self-Driving Audio Guided Tour: $14
- Antietam National Battlefield Self-Guided Driving Tour: $15
- Historical Baltimore Self-Driving Sightseeing Audio Tour: $17
- Baltimore Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
- Baltimore Ghosts By US Ghost Adventures: $24
- The Original Fells Point Ghost Walk by Baltimore Ghost Tours: $24
- Baltimore's Cruise ship Tour-shuttle service: $25
- Inner Harbor Sightseeing Cruise: $28
- Baltimore Harbor Tour: $28
- The Original Fells Point Ghost Walk by Baltimore Ghost Tours: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCusco $9.46Baltimore $17
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
- Exclusive Pub Crawl with more than 10 Benefits: $25
Sample the Local Flavors in Baltimore
Also in Baltimore, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Original Fells Point Haunted Pub Tour by Baltimore Ghost Tours: $33
- Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- From Patapsco Region Wine Tour with Lunch: $175
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cusco and Baltimore, we can see that Baltimore is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cusco is in South America and Baltimore is in North 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 Cusco would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cusco 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 Baltimore would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Baltimore than you might in Cusco.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cusco Expensive? and Is Baltimore Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cusco or Baltimore?
Baltimore has a larger population, and is about 96% larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Cusco and Baltimore, 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.