Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Florianopolis?
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 Florianopolis or Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Florianopolis 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: Florianopolis or Cusco?
Florianopolis
With a population of almost 500,000, Florianopolis is the capital city of the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. The city is split between mainland Brazil and Santa Catarina Island.
Florianopolis has grown in popularity with tourists recently because of its wonderful scenery, beautiful beaches, and fascinating culture. Many Brazilians have also moved here, leaving behind the big cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Florianopolis has a warm humid subtropical climate. There are summer, winter, spring and fall seasons. Frosts are rare but do occur occasionally. Highs during the warmest months are usually in the high 70s Fahrenheit. Rain is evenly distributed throughout the year and there is no distinct dry season.
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 Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Brazil, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Florianopolis Prices
Brazil PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFlorianopolis $76Cusco $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Florianopolis is $76, while the average daily cost in Cusco is $64. 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 Florianopolis and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFlorianopolis $25Cusco $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFlorianopolis $50Cusco $48
Compare Hotels in Florianopolis and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Florianopolis 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: Florianopolis Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Florianopolis $13Cusco $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florianopolis
Also for Florianopolis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Hercilio Luz Airport - North Island Transfer: $14
- Private Transfer Florianópolis Airport to City Center: $37
- Shared transfer from Florianópolis airport to Balneário Camboriú: $56
- Private Transfer from FLN Airport to the City Balneario Camboriú: $86
- Private Transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $102
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$1.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cusco HTL-APT (CUZ): $25
- Transfers in Cusco secure and punctual service: $15
- Transfer to Ollantaytambo from Cusco: $75
- Transfer from Cusco city to the airport: $15
- Transfer from Cusco Airport to the Sacred Valley: $30
- Transfer from Cusco Airport to Your Hotel: $25
- Transfer from Cusco Airport to Ollantaytambo Station: $50
- Transfer Cusco_Ollantaytambo or vice versa with city tour and Pisac: $140
- Transfer Cusco to Urubamba: $40
- Transfer Cusco to Sacred Valley of the Incas: $36
- Transfer Cusco to Ollantaytambo Station Outbound or Return: $34
- Transfer Cusco airport: $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Florianopolis or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Florianopolis 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 dayFlorianopolis $37Cusco $24
Typical Food Prices in Florianopolis
For Florianopolis, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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A Quick Snack$0.43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Florianopolis
For Florianopolis, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 4h Cooking Class in 8 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $85
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.31
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Mango$0.58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Multi-Course Dinner with Live Folk Show Performance: $32
- Cooking Class: Lomo Saltado, PapaHuancaina, Pisco Sour, Picarones: $50
- Market-to-Table Peruvian Cooking Class and Cocktail in Cusco: $52
- Dinner Show at SUYU a Peruvian Gastronomic and Experience: $53
- Market tour & Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco: $54
- Traditional Peruvian Cooking Class and Market Tour in Cusco: $57
- Cusco Cooking Class Experience: $61
- Local Market and Peruvian Cooking Class with Pisco Sour in Cusco: $65
- Cusco Cooking Classes and San Pedro Market Tour: $65
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $65
- Cusco Collective Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $65
- Cooking Class in Ollantaytambo: $68
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Florianopolis $25Cusco $31
Typical Entertainment Prices in Florianopolis
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Florianopolis's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Internet$0.58
Tours and Activities in Florianopolis
For Florianopolis, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Yoga experience at the Floripa Beaches in Brazil: $12
- Florianopolis Walking Tour - History, Art and Gastronomy: $18
- Florianópolis city tour (full day): $23
- Bombinhas Beach and 4 Islands Tour: $23
- Discover Florianópolis: Full Day City Tour and Local Highlights: $33
- Tour Balneario Camboriu and Laranjeiras Beach TELEFERICO INCLUDED: $38
- Floripa City Tour by Bus - Whole Island - The Most Complete City Tour: $39
- Kayaking Tour French Island Canasvieiras Florianópolis: $41
- Rafting Adventure in Apuama - Rio Cubatão in Greater Florianópolis: $41
- Balneário Camboriú tour and cable car ride from Florianópolis: $48
- Panoramic Tour to Campeche Island & Lagoon of Conception: $49
- Sandboard Experience by Adrenailha: $72
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$2.89
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 Palcoyo 7-Color Mountain Hiking Tour: $45
- 1 Day Rainbow Mountain Walking Tour: $35
- 1 Day Sacred Valley Tour with Moray from Cusco: $61
- 1 Day Sacred Valley VIP Tour from Cusco: $100
- 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 Day Machu Picchu by Car Tour Scenic Hike and Exploration: $130
- 2 Day Tour to Machupicchu by Minivan: $145
- 2-Day Guided Tour of Ausangate Trek: $290
- 2-Day Machu Picchu Tour by Minivan from Budget Adventure: $203
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFlorianopolis $8.52Cusco $10
Typical Alcohol Prices in Florianopolis
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florianopolis from other travelers:
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Beer$0.58
Sample the Local Flavors in Florianopolis
Also in Florianopolis, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Floripa Pub Crawl: $24
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 Florianopolis and Cusco, we can see that Florianopolis is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Florianopolis would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Florianopolis 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 Florianopolis Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Florianopolis or Cusco?
Florianopolis has a larger population, and is about 32% larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Florianopolis 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.