Which place is cheaper, Calgary or Cusco?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Cusco or Calgary?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cusco or Calgary, 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 Calgary?
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.
Calgary
Calgary is the largest city in Alberta and, located at the edge of the prairie and foothills, it is a gateway to the Rocky Mountains. If you're headed to Banff or Jasper, this is likely to be your first stop. It's also Canada's fourth largest city and worth a few days visit. Calgary's economy is diverse, but includes energy, financial services, film and television, transportation, technology, manufacturing, and much more.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.
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Cusco Prices
Peru PricesCalgary Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCusco $64Calgary $177
The average daily cost (per person) in Cusco is $64, while the average daily cost in Calgary is $177. 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 Calgary in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCusco $24Calgary $73
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCusco $48Calgary $146
Compare Hotels in Cusco and Calgary
Looking for a hotel in Cusco or Calgary? 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 Calgary Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cusco $11Calgary $12
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$1.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- Assistance & Transfers Included | Hassle-free service in Cusco: $30
- Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $9.50
- Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $9.18
- Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $15
- Cusco Airport Pickup and Transfer: $9.00
- Cusco Airport Private Departure Transfer: $18
- Cusco Airport Private Transfer with large Van: $45
- Cusco Private Airport Transfer: Fast, Reliable Hotel Drop-Off: $20
- Alpaca and Llama Farm Tour with Transfer & Weaving Demo: $34
- Cuzco to Ollantaytambo Train Station - Departure Private Transfer: $108
- Direct Private Transfer From Cusco to Puno, English Local Speaking Driver: $295
- Ollantaytambo Train Station to Cuzco - Arrival Private Transfer: $108
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Calgary
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Calgary:
- Calgary Airport Transfer to/from Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise: $46
- Experience Private Airport Transfer in Calgary: $52
- Banff Lake Louise or Canmore and Calgary Private Shuttle Transfer: $61
- From Bus Transfer to Banff: $61
- Calgary Airport to Banff and Beyond Transfer Service: $65
- Private Transfers during Calgary Stampede: $73
- Prvt. Transfer YYC Airport to WinSport Olympic Park: $87
- Calgary Downtown Transfers: $87
- Calgary Airport (YYC) to Calgary hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $101
- Private Transfer: Calgary Airport to Downtown: $110
- Calgary YYC Airport to Canmore/Banff (Private Transfer): $110
- Private Transfer within Calgary from Airport or Hotels: $111
Is it cheaper to fly into Cusco or Calgary?
Prices for flights to both Calgary 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 $24Calgary $54
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.29
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Mango$0.57
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Cooking Class Lomo Saltado Pisco Sour y Papa a la Huancaina: $40
- Pete's Peruvian Cooking Class: $52
- Cusco Cooking Classes and San Pedro Market Tour: $55
- Hands-on High End Peruvian Cooking Class & San Pedro Market Visit: $57
- Peruvian Cooking Class in Sacred Valley: $59
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market in Cusco: $59
- Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market in Cusco: $59
- Cooking Class in Ollantaytambo: $68
- Best Cusco walking tour: dinner street food tasting: $74
- Curious Monkey Cusco- Market and Streets, Walking Food Tour: $75
- The 10 Tastings of Cusco With Locals: Private Food Tour : $90
- Cusco Cooking Class with San Pedro Market Tour: $92
Typical Food Prices in Calgary
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Calgary:
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Bread, Chips, Cheese$8.10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Calgary
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Calgary.
- Sushi Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Calgary: $63
- Pasta Cooking Class at a Local Distillery in Calgary: $63
- Light Brunch & Food Tour at Calgary Farmers' Market WEST: $81
- Iconic Eats of Calgary Food Tour: $128
- Iconic Eats of Calgary Food Tour: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cusco $31Calgary $15
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$2.87
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- Cultural & Historic Walking Tour with Local Drinks: $10
- Cusco Walking tour and Koricancha Temple of the inkas tour: $10
- City Tour - Lugares destacado en Cusco + Experiencia Fotográfica: $12
- City Tour Cusco: $12
- City tour in Cusco.: $14
- From City Tour Including Sacsayhuamán and Tambomachay: $14
- City Tour Half Day Templo of the Sun, Sacsayhuaman y Qenqo: $14
- City Tour Half Day Tour with Sacsayhuaman and Q’enqo: $15
- City Tour Cusco in Panoramic Bus Daily Departures: $15
- Half-Day City Tour with Sacsayhuaman and Qenqo: $15
- From Half Day City Tour : $15
- Half-Day City Tour of Cusco Including Tambomachay: $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Calgary
Here are a few typical costs in Calgary for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Stampede Admission (for 2)$22
Tours and Activities in Calgary
Here are a few actual costs in Calgary for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Tips-Based City Highlights Walking Tour | 3-Hour: $4.08
- Calgary City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based : $5.00
- Downtown Calgary a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.63
- Sam Centre Calgary Stampede Museum Ticket: $7.28
- Discover Calgary with 3 Smartphone Audio Walking Tours: $15
- Calgary Downtown: 2-Hour Introductory Walking Tour: $21
- Shared Tour from Calgary to Moraine, Lake Louise and Emerald Lake: $28
- Heritage Park Historical Village Admission Ticket: $29
- Victoria Park Mural Tour of Calgary: $37
- Calgary Self Guided Walking Tour and Scavenger Hunt: $42
- Moraine Lake and Lake Louise Half Day Tour: $44
- 3-Hour Sightseeing Bus Tour: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCusco $10Calgary $11
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: Cusco Bar Hopping Experience : $19
- Cusco Pub Crawl: Bar Tour, Drinks And Club with no waiting lines: $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Calgary
Also in Calgary, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Brewery Tours at Award Winning Venues: $83
- Calgary Brewery Tour: $88
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cusco and Calgary, we can see that Calgary 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 Calgary 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 Calgary would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Calgary 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 Calgary Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cusco or Calgary?
Calgary has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Cusco and Calgary, 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.