Which place is cheaper, La Paz or Cusco?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cusco or La Paz?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cusco or La Paz, 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 La Paz?
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.
La Paz
La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur, Mexico. It has a population of about 215,000 people and is a significant commercial center for the region. The city has a good economy and a high standard of living when compared to much of Mexico. Much of the economy is focused on eco-tourism and there are many protected marine environments in the area.
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 Budget Tours to Mexico, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCusco $51La Paz $118
The average daily cost (per person) in Cusco is $51, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $118. 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 La Paz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCusco $23La Paz $52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCusco $46La Paz $104
Compare Hotels in Cusco and La Paz
Looking for a hotel in Cusco or La Paz? 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 La Paz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cusco $10La Paz $22
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$1.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- One-Way Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $5.40
- Transfers in Cusco: $6.00
- One-Way Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $9.00
- Private 1-Way Transfer to Velasco Astete Airport: $9.00
- One-Way Airport Transfer to Hotel: $9.50
- Pickup from Cusco airport and transfer to your hotel in Private vehicle: $9.52
- Transfer Cusco Airport to your Hotel in Cusco: $10
- Private transfers from Cuzco Airport to Hotels and Sacred Valley: $10
- Transfer Hotel to Airport in Cusco | Private Service |: $10
- Transfer Cusco Airport - Hotel or Train Station: $12
- Cusco Bus Station Arrival or Departure Transfer: $13
- Cusco Airport Arrival or Departure Transfer : $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz
Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Paz:
- Roundtrip Transfer to La Paz International Airport: $73
- La Paz Airport to Costa Baja Private Roundtrip Transfer: $90
- La Paz Int. Airport (LAP): Private Transfer to La Paz hotels: $174
- Private Transfer from La Paz to Cabo San Lucas: $240
- La Paz Airport: Private Roundtrip Transfer to La Ventan: $260
Is it cheaper to fly into Cusco or La Paz?
Prices for flights to both La Paz 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 $13La Paz $38
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.17
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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.
- Folkloric Andean Show & 3-Course Dinner at Tunupa: $15
- 3-Hour Peruvian Cooking Class: $49
- Pete's Peruvian Cooking Class: $52
- Market Tour & Traditional Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco: $53
- Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $54
- Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market in Cusco: $59
- Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market Tour: $63
- Peruvian Cooking Class & Market Tour: $65
- Awamaki Cooking Class: $68
- Curious Monkey Cusco- Eat the Streets, Walking Food Tour: $70
- The 10 Tastings of Cusco With Locals: Private Food Tour : $77
- Planetarium and Night Tour with Dinner and Pisco Sour: $79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Paz.
- 4 Hours of Guided La Paz Street Food Tour: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cusco $29La Paz $13
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$2.71
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
- Guided Walking Tour in English with Local Guide: $5.00
- Cusco : Half Day City Tour: $9.00
- Open-Top Bus City Tour: $12
- Sightseeing Tour of the City on an Open-Top Bus: $12
- Mirabus Cusco city tour | Panoramic view |: $12
- Mirabus Cusco city tour | Panoramic view |: $12
- Mirabus City Tour | Panoramic View: $12
- City tours Cusco: $12
- Open Bus Tour of the City’s Wonder’s: $12
- Historic Walking Tour with Pisco Sour and Music Show: $13
- City Tour in Cusco: $14
Tours and Activities in La Paz
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Paz are as follows:
- Half Day Sandboarding and Paddleboarding Experience in La Paz: $81
- Unique Mexican Spirits Tasting & Pairing Experience: $85
- Sunset Sandboarding at La Paz Dunes Tour: $89
- City Tour & Beaches from La Paz: $91
- Supercombo 2-Day City Tour: $105
- Half Day Private Tour of the Beaches of La Paz: $113
- From Los Cabos: City Tour La Paz, Balandra and Todos Santos: $115
- holy spirit island tour: $116
- Los Cabos Tour from La Paz: $119
- Snorkel Tour with Whale Shark in La Paz: $119
- Balandra Beach and City Tour: $129
- Megacombo 2-Day City Tour + Whale Watching: $129
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCusco $9.56La Paz $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Cusco
Also in Cusco, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Exclusive Pub Crawl with 10+ benefits: $18
- Pub Crawl with Skip-the-Line Access and Drinks: $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cusco and La Paz, we can see that La Paz 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 La Paz 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 La Paz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Paz 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 La Paz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cusco or La Paz?
Cusco has a larger population, and is about 82% larger than the population of La Paz. When comparing the sizes of Cusco and La Paz, 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.