Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Helsinki?
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 Helsinki or Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Helsinki and Cusco can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Helsinki or Cusco?
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital of Finland and dates back to 1550. Helsinki is an international metropolis with a diverse population, but also a small town vibe. The city itself has a population of just over 600,000 but the metropolitan area, including Espoo and Vantaa, has a population of more than 1.3 million. There are many outdoor bars and cafes that take advantage of the warmer summer months. During this time there are long days, and the population floods into the street after a long and cold winter, so visiting during the summer is a fun and lively experience.
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 10-Day Tours in Finland, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Finland, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Helsinki Prices
Finland PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHelsinki €164Cusco €57
The average daily cost (per person) in Helsinki is €164, while the average daily cost in Cusco is €57. 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 Helsinki and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHelsinki €73Cusco €22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHelsinki €146Cusco €44
Compare Hotels in Helsinki and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Helsinki 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: Helsinki Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Helsinki €22Cusco €9.51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki
Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Helsinki Hotels to Helsinki Cruise Terminal: $68
- Helsinki West Harbour Terminal to Helsinki hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
- Private Transfer from Helsinki Port to Helsinki Airport (HEL): $68
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
- Private Transfer from Helsinki Cruise Terminal to Helsinki hotels: $68
- Private Transfer from Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki Port: $68
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki West Terminal Private Transfer: $68
- Minivan Departure Transfer Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL: $83
- Helsinki Private Transfer from Helsinki city centre to Helsinki airport: $83
- Helsinki Private Transfer from Helsinki (HEL) Airport to City centre: $83
- Helsinki Private Airport & City Transfer: $88
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€1.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- Transfers in Cusco secure and punctual service: $15
- Transfer to Ollantaytambo to/from Urubamba: $41
- Transfer from Cusco Airport to the Sacred Valley: $30
- Transfer from Cusco Airport to Sacred Valley hotels: $34
- Transfer from Cusco Airport to Ollantaytambo Station: $41
- Transfer From Cusco Airport: $15
- Transfer From Airport to Cusco Center Hotels: $23
- Transfer Cusco to Poroy: $20
- Transfer Cusco Airport to Hotel in Cusco Round Trip: $22
- Transfer Cusco - Ollantaytambo train station: $95
- Tourist Transfer from Cusco to Hydroelectric: $60
- Tour in the Sacred Valley of the Incas with Transfer to Ollantaytambo: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Helsinki or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Helsinki 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 dayHelsinki €59Cusco €21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Helsinki Authentic Walking Food Tour with 8 Local Tastings: $121
- From Moose & Wildlife Safari with Campfire Dinner: $170
- FOOD Tour with Roof Top Bar in Helsinki: $187
- Authentic Lake Sauna, Swim and Dinner with Locals near Helsinki: $288
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich€2.05
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Mango€0.51
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Cusco Tunupa Restaurant Folk Show with Dinner: $32
- Cooking Class: Lomo Saltado, Papa Huancaina, Pisco Sour in Cusco: $48
- Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $54
- High-End Peruvian Cooking Class, Pisco Sour & San Pedro Market: $57
- Short Immersion Cooking Class: $60
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $63
- Cooking Class in Ollantaytambo: $68
- Cooking Class Peruvian Culinary Experience with Local Chefs: $70
- Dinner Show at SUYU a Peruvian Gastronomic and Experience: $77
- Cusco Tour at Night: Planetarium, Dinner & Pisco Sour: $79
- Cusco Food Tour: Andean Cuisine & City Tour: $79
- Curious Monkey Cusco- Market and Streets, Walking Food Tour: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Helsinki €27Cusco €28
Tours and Activities in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Porvoo Self Guided Audio Walking Tour Painted Stories and Quiz: $8.23
- A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Helsinki's Historical Highlights: $12
- A Finntastic Walking Tour in Helsinki: $24
- Discover Helsinki City Walk - Multiple Tours Daily: $24
- Suomenlinna Ferry and Guided Walking Tour in the Fortress: $30
- Sightseeing Cruise in Archipelago of Helsinki: $33
- Helsinki Canal Cruise: $34
- Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour: $42
- City Sightseeing Helsinki Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $42
- Helsinki Private Walking Tour with a Local: $49
- Sauna and Sightseeing Helsinki cruise: $53
- Helsinki Walking Tour - Small Group: $58
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€2.57
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- 1 Day Ausangate 7 Lakes Hiking Tour & Hot Springs: $48
- 1 Day Palcoyo 7-Color Mountain Hiking Tour: $45
- 1 Day Rainbow Mountain Walking Tour: $35
- 1 Day Sacred Valley VIP Tour from Cusco: $100
- 1 Day Tour to Palccoyo (Alternative Rainbow Mtn) from Cusco, Peru: $154
- 1-Day Humantay Lake Tour From Cusco: $60
- 1-Day Tour Rainbow Mountain from Cusco: $190
- 2 Day Machu Picchu Tour by Car: $150
- 2 Day Tour to Machupicchu by Minivan: $145
- 2 days 1 night - Machupicchu by bus tour: $220
- 2-Day Group Tour: Cusco City Tour & Sacred Valley of the Incas: $46
- 2-Day Machu Picchu Tour by Minivan from Budget Adventure: $203
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHelsinki €16Cusco €9.03
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: Bar Tour, Drinks And Club with no waiting lines: $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Helsinki and Cusco, we can see that Helsinki is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Helsinki is in Europe and Cusco 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 Cusco would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cusco 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 Helsinki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Helsinki than you might in Cusco.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Helsinki Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Helsinki or Cusco?
Helsinki has a larger population, and is about 79% larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Helsinki 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.