Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu or Guatemala City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Guatemala City or Machu Picchu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Guatemala City or Machu Picchu? 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 Machu Picchu?
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.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuatemala City $44Machu Picchu $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $44, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is $101. 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 Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuatemala City $24Machu Picchu $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuatemala City $48Machu Picchu $84
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City 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: Guatemala City Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guatemala City $6.17Machu Picchu $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Panajachel or Atitlan: $254
- Private Ground Transfer Guatemala City To Panajachel, LakeAtitlan: $150
- Private Transfer from La Aurora Airport to Antigua Guatemala: $120
- Transfer from Airport to Antigua: $80
- Transfer from Guatemala City hotel to INTL Airport La Aurora: $75
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Antigua: $74
- One way private transfer to Antigua: $74
- Private Transfer from La Aurora Airport to Puerto Quetzal Port: $73
- Guatemala City Airport (GUA) to Quetzaltenango-Arrival Transfer: $65
- Guatemala Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $56
- Private Airport Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $45
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Hotels: $43
Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu 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 $15Machu Picchu $19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.
- Cooking class/Pepian Workshop: $35
- Taste Antigua Guatemala Walking Food Tour : $75
- Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
- Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $178
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Cooked Under Volcanic Heat: $180
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guatemala City $1.21Machu Picchu $74
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- 2in1 Tour: Avocado Farm + Private Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $130
- 3-hour Bike Tour Guatemala City South: $55
- 4-hour Bike Tour Guatemala City South Center: $65
- Acatenango Volcano Overnight Adventure from Guatemala City : $300
- Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City: $77
- Antigua Guatemala , Full-Day Shared Tour from Guatemala City: $75
- Antigua Guatemala Full Day Tour: $58
- Antigua walking tour from Guatemala City : $90
- Bike Tour to Antigua Villages from Guatemala City : $175
- Chichicastenango - Panajachel collective tour: $150
- Chichicastenango Market Tour: $116
- City Tour - Test Fly by Escuela de Flight S.A: $158
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$2.71
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuatemala City $6.84Machu Picchu $6.90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guatemala City and Machu Picchu, we can see that Machu Picchu is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Guatemala City is in Central America 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 Guatemala City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guatemala City 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 Machu Picchu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Machu Picchu than you might in Guatemala City.
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 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.