Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Havana?
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 Havana or Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Havana and Cusco can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Havana or Cusco?
Havana
The city of Havana is at the top of most peoples' bucket list - mostly because of the allure of a forbidden land. Before the Communist revolution, Cuba was a popular tourist destination. Since it has reopened in the 1990s, it has drawn tourists from all over the world (except the US).
This capital city is a land trapped in the past. With 50 years of neglect, when you step off the plane, prepare to step back in time. A trip to Havana is meant for those with truly open minds - and when they arrive they'll be swept away.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Havana Prices
Cuba PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHavana $74Cusco $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Havana is $74, while the average daily cost in Cusco is $66. 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 Havana and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHavana $42Cusco $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHavana $84Cusco $50
Compare Hotels in Havana and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Havana 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: Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Havana $19Cusco $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Havana
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Havana:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.68
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$1.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- Airport Cusco Transfers: $69
- Airport Transfer (Private Service): $25
- Cusco Airport Arrival or Departure Transfer: $19
- Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $9.50
- Cusco Airport Pick-Up – Private Transfer to Your Hotel: $7.50
- Cusco Airport Pick-Up (Private Transfer to your Cusco Hotel).: $23
- Cusco Private Airport Transfer Arrival Departure or Round Trip: $15
- Alpaca and Llama Farm Tour with Transfer & Weaving Demo: $34
- Full Day Rainbow Mountain Tour from Cusco with Hotel Transfer: $42
- Lake Humantay Full Day Trip with Transfers, Breakfast and Lunch: $42
- Ollantaytambo Train Station to Cuzco - Arrival Private Transfer: $107
- One-Way Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $7.00
Is it cheaper to fly into Havana or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Havana 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 dayHavana $18Cusco $25
Typical Food Prices in Havana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Havana:
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Pizza$0.03
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.35
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Mango$0.59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Bilingual Cooking Class with Pisco Cocktail in Cusco: $40
- Market-to-Table Peruvian Cooking Class and Cocktail in Cusco: $52
- Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $54
- Cooking Class in Sacred Valley 8 Recipes and Drinks: $55
- Traditional Peruvian Cooking Class and Market Tour in Cusco: $57
- Cusco Food Tour: Andean Cuisine & City Tour: $63
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $65
- Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco: $69
- Cusco Street Food Tour and Pisco Tasting Experience: $69
- Cooking Class Peruvian Culinary Experience with Local Chefs: $70
- Cusco Authentic Food Tour with 9 Locals Favorites Tastings: $76
- Cusco Tour at Night: Planetarium, Dinner & Pisco Sour: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Havana $11Cusco $32
Tours and Activities in Havana
Here are a few actual costs in Havana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private: City Tour with Lunch, Rum, and Chocolate: $2,000
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$2.94
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- Half Day Walking Tour of Cusco: $4.00
- City Tour - Cusco: $10
- Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary® Admission Ticket: $10
- Discover Cusco with Guided Walking Tour: $10
- Half-Day Cusco City Tour – Explore History, Culture & Inca Ruins: $12
- City Tour Cusco: $12
- City Tour - Lugares destacado en Cusco + Experiencia Fotográfica: $12
- City Tour in Cusco with visit South American camelids: $12
- Cusco City Tour in Half Day: $13
- Historic Walking Tour with Pisco Sour and Local Music: $14
- City tour in Cusco.: $14
- Half-Day City Tour of Cusco: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHavana $5.76Cusco $10
Typical Alcohol Prices in Havana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Havana:
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Mojito$0.15
Sample the Local Flavors in Cusco
Also in Cusco, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Discover Cusco Nightlife with Bar Crawl Cusco: $16
- Cusco Pub Crawl: Bar Tour, Drinks And Club with no waiting lines: $23
When comparing the travel costs between Havana and Cusco, we can see that Havana 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 Havana is in Caribbean Islands 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 Havana Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Havana or Cusco?
Havana has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Havana 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.