Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Guatemala City?
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 Guatemala City or Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Guatemala City 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: Guatemala City or Cusco?
Guatemala City
Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Guatemala City Prices
Guatemala PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuatemala City $56Cusco $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $56, 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 Guatemala City and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuatemala City $25Cusco $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuatemala City $50Cusco $48
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City 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: Guatemala City Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guatemala City $6.28Cusco $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- One way Shared Transfer to Antigua: $24
- Private Departure Transfer:Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport(GUA): $24
- Private Airport Transfer La Aurora airport to Guatemala: $25
- Private Transfer: Guatemala City Airpot(GUA) to Antigua Guatemala: $29
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Antigua: $30
- Private Ground Transfer Airport - Antigua Guatemala: $30
- Private Transfer from Airport to Antigua Guatemala: $32
- La Aurora Airport (GUA): One-Way Private Transfer to Antigua: $32
- Private Transfer from La Aurora International Airport to Antigua: $32
- Private Arrival Transfer: La Aurora International Airport to Antigua Hotel: $35
- Private Transfer: Guatemala City ⇄ Antigua – One-Way: $40
- San Salvadorz: Convenient bus transfer from/to Guatemala: $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$1.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- One-Way Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $7.00
- Cusco Airport Pickup and Transfer: $9.00
- Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $9.50
- Transfer Cusco Airport to your Hotel in Cusco: $10
- Private transfer from your hotel in downtown Cusco to the Airport: $11
- Private Airport transfer to centrally located hotels in Cusco: $11
- Private transfer from your hotel in downtown Cusco to the Airport: $11
- Private transfer from Cusco Airport to your city-center hotel: $11
- Cusco Airport to hotel Transfer: Fast, Reliable Drop-Off: $12
- Transfer Cusco airport: $12
- Transfer Cusco Airport - Hotel or Train Station: $12
- Private Transfer: Cusco Hotel to Airport: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Guatemala City 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 dayGuatemala City $27Cusco $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.
- Guatemala: Wine and Pizza Tasting Experience: $35
- Antigua: Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class: $80
- Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
- Food Tour Zona 4: Dinner Date Experience: $125
- Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $188
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza with Great Volcano Views: $205
- Pacaya Volcano. Tour and pizza making on Volcanic Heat: $275
- Puerto Quetzal: Private Tour Pacaya Volcano 4x4 and Pizza: $550
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.Guatemala City $1.23Cusco $31
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- Graffiti Walking Tour in 4 Grados Norte Guatemala City: $20
- Historic Center Walking Tour; Art and History: $27
- Volcano-Grown Coffee Tasting Experience: $28
- Half-Day Guatemala City Explorer Tour: $34
- Walking Tour: $35
- Walking Tour of Guatemala City's Historical Center: $35
- Guatemala city walking tour everyday 2 persons and up: $39
- Half Day Antigua Guatemala Tour: $40
- Private Tour in the Historic Center of Guatemala City: $45
- Guatemala City Express: Half-day city tour: $45
- Antigua Guatemala Express Half Day Colonial Charm Tour: $45
- City walking tour Guatemala City and Relieff Map: $47
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:
- Walking Tour in Cusco: $7.00
- City Tour - Cusco: $10
- Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary® Admission Ticket: $10
- Half-Day Cusco City Tour – Explore History, Culture & Inca Ruins: $12
- City Tour Cusco: $12
- Cusco Machu Picchu Self Guided Audio Tour (Without a Ticket): $12
- Half Day City Tour in Cusco: $12
- City Tour - Lugares destacado en Cusco + Experiencia Fotográfica: $12
- City Tour in Cusco & visit Museum South American Camelid: $13
- Cusco City Tour: 4-Hour Tour to Sacsayhuamán and Qenqo: $15
- Explore Cusco Highlights in a Walking Tour: $15
- Half-Day City Tour with Sacsayhuaman and Qenqo: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuatemala City $6.97Cusco $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Guatemala City
Also in Guatemala City, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Guatemala City Legends Tour + Craft Beers at El Cadejo Brewery: $105
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 comparing the travel costs between Guatemala City and Cusco, we can see that Cusco is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Guatemala City is in Central America and Cusco is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guatemala City Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guatemala City or Cusco?
Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Guatemala City 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.