Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu or Ghent?
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 Ghent 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 Ghent 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: Ghent or Machu Picchu?
Ghent
Ghent is a large city in the northern part of Belgium (the Flanders region) with a population of about 250,000. This city was one of the most powerful cities in Europe during the Middle Ages, which is portrayed today, mostly through architecture. There is a large university in Ghent with over 60,000 students, and a large portion of the population are young students. However, among the natives and students, there are also many foreigners and artists that you will find walking the streets of the city. Ghent is also Belgium's second largest port city.
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 The Best Cultural Tours in Belgium, The Best Budget Tours to Belgium, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Ghent Prices
Belgium PricesMachu Picchu Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGhent €144Machu Picchu €104
The average daily cost (per person) in Ghent is €144, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is €104. 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 Ghent and Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGhent €72Machu Picchu €38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGhent €144Machu Picchu €76
Compare Hotels in Ghent and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in Ghent 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: Ghent Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ghent €19Machu Picchu €27
Is it cheaper to fly into Ghent or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu and Ghent 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 dayGhent €60Machu Picchu €30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ghent
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ghent.
- Walking Food Tour in Ghent: $93
- Walking food tour: Introduction to Ghent through food: $109
- Small-Group Food Tour in Ghent by Bike: $178
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ghent €8.64Machu Picchu €66
Tours and Activities in Ghent
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ghent are as follows:
- Explore History and Family Walking Tour in Mons: $245
- Bicycle tour in historic Ghent: $54
- Charlie's Private Beer Tour (Ghent) : $179
- Charlie's Private Chocolate Tour (Ghent): $198
- Charlie's Private Highlights Tour (Ghent): $149
- Charlie's Private Off The Beaten Path Tour (Ghent): $209
- Charlie's Private Tasting Tour (Ghent): $239
- Charlie's famous Chocolate Tour (Ghent): $56
- Charlie's famous Tasting Tour (Ghent): $70
- Discover Ghent with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $30
- Escape Tour Gent -selfguided citygame- and find the secret exit!: $24
- Evening Tour of the Dark Side of Gent: $3.57
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€2.44
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 dayGhent €18Machu Picchu €6.20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ghent and Machu Picchu, we can see that Ghent is more expensive. And not only is Machu Picchu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ghent 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 Ghent would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ghent 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 Ghent 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.