Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu or Geneva?
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 Geneva or Machu Picchu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Geneva and Machu Picchu. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Geneva or Machu Picchu?
Geneva
Geneva is the second largest city in Switzerland and was previously the home for the United Nations Headquarters. The UN is now housed in New York City, but there is still a very strong presence in Geneva. Geneva is not known to be as energetic as some other European cities, but if you search it out, then you're sure to find some interesting places and lively nightlife. It's a very international city, in part because of the heavy UN presence, giving it an interesting feel. It is a French speaking city, and advertisements, signs, and television are all done in French.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a site of ancient Inca ruins located about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Cuzco, Peru, in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba of the Andes Mountains. It is perched above the Urubamba River valley in a narrow saddle between two sharp peaks, Machu Picchu ("Old Peak") and Huayna Picchu ("New Peak"), at an elevation of 7,710 feet (2,350 metres). One of the few major pre-Columbian ruins found nearly intact, Machu Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Thus, Machu Picchu is not only an impressive remnant of the Inca civilization, it is also one of the world's most important archaeological sites. A stop at Machu Picchu is an essential part of any traveler's itinerary in Peru, as it is one of the seven wonders of the world.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Switzerland, The Best Adventure Tours to Switzerland, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Geneva Prices
Switzerland PricesMachu Picchu Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGeneva $288Machu Picchu $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Geneva is $288, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is $122. 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 Geneva and Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGeneva $168Machu Picchu $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGeneva $336Machu Picchu $88
Compare Hotels in Geneva and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in Geneva or Machu Picchu? 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: Geneva Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Geneva $11Machu Picchu $32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Geneva
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Geneva:
- Private transfer from Geneva airport (GVA) to Verbier (Minibus): $1,465
- Private transfers: Geneva airport (GVA) to Interlaken.: $881
- Private Transfers: Geneva airport (GVA) to Zermatt.: $881
- Private Transfer from Geneva Airport(GVA) to Serre Chevalier: $797
- Private Transfers: Geneva airport (GVA) to Verbier.: $764
- Private Transfer From Geneva Airport to Neuchatel: $528
- Private transfers: Geneva airport (GVA) to Montreux.: $458
- Private Transfer from Geneva Airport(GVA) to Val Thorens: $449
- Private transfers: Geneva airport (GVA) to Lausanne.: $317
- Private 1-way Transfer from Geneva Airport (GVA) to Megeve: $305
- Private 1-way Transfer from Megeve to Geneva Airport (GVA): $304
- Chamonix: Private Transfer from Geneva with Wi-Fi and Water: $293
Is it cheaper to fly into Geneva or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu and Geneva 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 dayGeneva $105Machu Picchu $35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Geneva
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Geneva.
- City Tour and Fondue Cooking Class, Swiss Folklore: $223
- Taste Geneva – A Full Food Tour of Swiss Flavors by Do Eat Better: $225
- Geneva City Tour with Cooking Class: $228
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Geneva $35Machu Picchu $78
Tours and Activities in Geneva
Here are a few actual costs in Geneva for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- (KTG210) - Geneva City Tour and Yvoire: $203
- (KTG353) - Winter Tour: Gruyeres, chocolate tour from Geneva: $200
- (STTG04) - Sightseeing Cruise at Geneva with Wine and Aperitif: $37
- A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Geneva’s Old Town: $12
- Annecy - Venice of the Alps - Tour from Geneva: $96
- Annecy Private Guided Tour from Geneva: $477
- Audioguided sightseeing cruise of Geneva: $24
- Best Intro Tour of Geneva with a Local: $178
- Best of Geneva City Tour with optional boat cruise: $74
- Best of Geneva City Tour: International Area and Old Town: $73
- Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $108
- Chamonix Day Trip and Geneva City Tour: $196
Typical Entertainment Prices in Machu Picchu
For Machu Picchu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Gardens of Mandor$2.87
Tours and Activities in Machu Picchu
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Machu Picchu.
- Private & Flexible 3-Hour Guided Tour of Machu Picchu: $60
- Private Tour Guide Service: $98
- Machu Picchu Morning Combo: Entrance Ticket, Bus and Guide: $196
- Machu Picchu Small-Group Combo: Entrance Ticket, Bus & Guide: $196
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGeneva $26Machu Picchu $7.28
Sample the Local Flavors in Geneva
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Geneva:
- Geneva Countryside Wine tasting, Aperitif, Castle By E-bike: $175
- Swiss Vineyard Wine Tasting Tour in Vaud: $262
- Lavaux, Chexbres, and Valais Wine Tasting Tour: $450
- Vineyard Tour & Wine Tasting by TukTuk: $541
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Geneva and Machu Picchu, we can see that Geneva is more expensive. And not only is Machu Picchu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Geneva is in Europe and Machu Picchu 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 Machu Picchu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Machu Picchu 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 Geneva would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Geneva than you might in Machu Picchu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Geneva Expensive? and Is Machu Picchu Expensive?.
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.