Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Dubrovnik?
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 Dubrovnik or Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Dubrovnik or Cusco? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Dubrovnik or Cusco?
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, the "Pearl of the Adriatic", is a beautiful walled city in southern Croatia that sits on the edge of the Adriatic Sea. It's a small city, with only about 40,000 residents, but it's become one of the most significant tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city was historically built on maritime trade, which is not surprising given its location near major Italian and Greek ports such as Venice, Bari, Corfu, and Trieste. It was a center of language and literature and was the home of many important poets, playwrights, painters, and scientists during the 15th and 16th centuries. Today its economy is dependent on tourism and it is one of the most popular destinations in the region. People visit the city for its impressive history, beautiful setting, great weather, and interesting architecture.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Split, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Croatia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Dubrovnik Prices
Croatia PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubrovnik €158Cusco €57
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubrovnik is €158, while the average daily cost in Cusco is €57. 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 Dubrovnik and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubrovnik €65Cusco €22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubrovnik €130Cusco €44
Compare Hotels in Dubrovnik and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Dubrovnik or Cusco? 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: Dubrovnik Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubrovnik €22Cusco €9.55
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubrovnik
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubrovnik:
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Bus Around Town€1.43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubrovnik
Also for Dubrovnik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer from Dubrovnik airport to Dubrovnik city: $23
- Dubrovnik to Koločep Island Ferry Scenic Transfer: $23
- Return transfer to Dubrovnik airport: $26
- Private return transfer to Dubrovnik airport: $29
- Dubrovnik airport to Dubrovnik city private transfer: $32
- Convenient Bus Transfer from/to Split: $33
- Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) to Dubrovnik - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
- Bus transfer between Dubrovnik and Herceg Novi: $37
- Departure Private Transfer: Dubrovnik City to Dubrovnik Airport by Business Car: $40
- Private Transfer from Dubrovnik Port to Dubrovnik Airport (DBV): $41
- Dubrovnik hotels to Dubrovnik Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $41
- Dubrovnik Cruise Port to Dubrovnik Arrival Private Transfer: $41
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€1.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- Private Transfer from Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ) Airport to Valle Sagrado: $169
- Private Transfer from Valle Sagrado to Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ) Airport: $166
- Cuzco to Ollantaytambo Train Station - Departure Private Transfer: $104
- Ollantaytambo Train Station to Cuzco - Arrival Private Transfer: $104
- Private Transfer from Cusco Hotel, airport to Sacred Valley: $90
- Ollantaytambo train station to Cuzco city or airport- Roundtrip Private Transfer: $81
- Private Transfer from Cusco Airport to Urubamba: $60
- Airport Transfer from Juliaca to Puno: $59
- Transfer from Ollantaytambo to Cusco: $54
- Private Transfer: Cusco to Ollantaytambo Train Station: $50
- Private Transfer from Cusco to Ollantaytambo Train Station: $45
- Full Day Rainbow Mountain Tour from Cusco with Hotel Transfer: $42
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubrovnik or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Dubrovnik 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 dayDubrovnik €75Cusco €21
Typical Food Prices in Dubrovnik
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubrovnik:
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Seafood Dinner (for 2)€29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubrovnik
For Dubrovnik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sunset Dubrovnik & Dinner At St Jacob Beach: $99
- Dubrovnik Food Tour: Local Dishes & City Stories: $115
- Dinner in the Sky Dubrovnik - Dine 50m Above Ground: $136
- Old Town Dubrovnik Food Tour of 8 Authentic Croatian Tastings: $138
- Croatian Traditional Cuisine: Peka Cooking Lesson: $157
- Dubrovnik Sunset Cruise with dinner on board: $159
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich€2.06
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Mango€0.52
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Cusco Tunupa Restaurant Folk Show with Dinner: $32
- Cusco Billingual Cooking Class at 6pm: $40
- Bilingual Cooking Class with Pisco Cocktail in Cusco: $40
- Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $54
- Cooking Class in Sacred Valley 8 Recipes and Drinks: $55
- 3hr Cooking Class in Cusco with 7 traditional recipes & drinks: $55
- Traditional Peruvian Cooking Class and Market Tour in Cusco: $57
- Short Immersion Cooking Class: $60
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $65
- Cooking Class in Ollantaytambo: $68
- Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco: $69
- Cusco Street Food Tour and Pisco Tasting Experience: $69
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubrovnik €15Cusco €28
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubrovnik
For Dubrovnik, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Boat to Lokrum Island (for 2)€13
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Dubrovnik City Wall Tour (for 2)€53
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Dubrovnik Cable Car (for 2)€45
Tours and Activities in Dubrovnik
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubrovnik.
- Self Guided Private Tour of Dubrovnik's Best Kept Secrets: $2.28
- Dubrovnik Medieval Adventure: Self-Guided City Quest: $4.93
- Game of Thrones Filming Locations Walking Tour in Dubrovnik: $5.00
- Selfguide® Secrets Tour Dubrovnik with Game of Thrones Spots: $5.22
- Self guided walking tour of Dubrovnik with audio guide: $5.80
- Dubrovnik Game Of Thrones self-guided tour with mobile app: $8.99
- Skip the Line: Love Stories Museum Admission Ticket: $10
- Beyond the Walls: A Historical Dubrovnik Audio Tour: $12
- Hajduk Split Stadium Tour: An Unforgettable Experience: $16
- Dubrovnik 45 minute Panoramic Cruise: $17
- Dubrovnik 45-Minute Boat Tour Around Old Town Walls: $20
- Group Tour Evening Stroll Through The Old Town: $21
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€2.58
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- 1 Day Ausangate 7 Lagoons Hiking Tour & Hot Springs: $59
- 1 Day Classic Sacred Valley Tour With Buffet Lunch: $55
- 1 Day Rainbow Mountain Tour From Cusco: $60
- 1 Day Rainbow Mountain Walking Tour: $35
- 1-Day Humantay Lake Tour From Cusco: $60
- 1-Day Tour Rainbow Mountain from Cusco: $190
- 1-Day Tour Sacred Valley From Cusco: $120
- 2 Day Machu Picchu Tour by Car: $150
- 2 days 1 night - Machupicchu by bus tour: $220
- 2-Day Guided Tour of Ausangate Trek: $290
- 2-Day Machu Picchu Tour by Minivan from Budget Adventure: $203
- 2-Day Rainbow Mountain Tour with Hotel Stay: $185
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubrovnik €16Cusco €9.07
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubrovnik
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubrovnik:
- Dubrovnik Sunset Tour with Wine Tasting: $41
- Panoramic Dubrovnik Tour Golden Hour Sunset and Wine Tasting: $45
- Columbo Pub Crawl Dubrovnik: $70
- Private Scenic Sunset Tour & Premium Wine Tasting Above Dubrovnik: $75
- Ston and Korcula Island Day Trip from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting: $80
- Konavle Valley Wine Tour from Dubrovnik -Train Ride &Wine Tasting: $93
- Day trip to Korčula and Pelješac with Wine Tasting: $93
- Day trip to Korčula and Pelješac with Wine Tasting from Koločep: $102
- Konavle Valley Tour, Train Ride and Wine Tasting from Kolocep: $103
- Full Day Korcula and Peljesac Wine Tasting Tour in Dubrovnik: $114
- Half Day Gastro Tour with Wine Tasting in Cilipi: $157
- E-Bike Tour + Gourmet Snack + Wine Tasting (Small Group): $171
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: $22
- Cusco Pub Crawl: Bar Tour, Drinks And Club with no waiting lines: $23
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubrovnik and Cusco, we can see that Dubrovnik is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubrovnik is in Europe and Cusco is in South 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 Dubrovnik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dubrovnik or Cusco?
Cusco has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Dubrovnik. When comparing the sizes of Dubrovnik and Cusco, 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.