Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Kingston?
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 Kingston or Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or Cusco, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Kingston or Cusco?
Kingston
Kingston is Jamaica's capital city with a population of about 579,000. For being located on an island, Kingston is a very large city with several different zip codes. Not only is Kingston the cultural capital of the country, but also the commercial one as well.
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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Kingston Prices
Jamaica PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKingston $125Cusco $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $125, while the average daily cost in Cusco is $65. 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 Kingston and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKingston $63Cusco $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKingston $126Cusco $50
Compare Hotels in Kingston and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Kingston 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: Kingston Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kingston $29Cusco $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- From One Way Shared Transfer to Kingston Airport: $19
- Private Kingston Airport (KIN) Transfer for Kingston Hotels: $20
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport (KIN) Across Jamaica: $25
- Kingston Airport Transfers Private Taxi Service***: $25
- Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN): $27
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Kingston International Airport (KIN): $34
- Kingston Norman Manley Airport (KIN) to Kingston - Arrival Private Transfer: $40
- Jamaica Airport Transfers and Tours: $40
- Airport /Hotel Transfer Norman Manley airport and Montego bay: $40
- From One Way Shared Transfer to Port Antonio: $47
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport Across Jamaica: $49
- Private Arrival Transfer: Kingston International Airport to Hotel: $53
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$1.17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $15
- Cusco Airport Pick-Up (Private Transfer to your Cusco Hotel).: $23
- Cusco Airport Pickup and Private Transfer: $15
- Cusco Airport Pickup and Private Transfer: $15
- Cusco Airport Pickup and Transfer: $9.00
- Cusco Airport Private Transfer: $12
- Cusco Airport Private Transfer to Your Hotel with Meet and Greet: $21
- Cusco Airport Round-Trip Private Transfer: $30
- Cusco Airport Transfer: Private Taxi, Van & SUV: $24
- Cusco Airport to hotel Transfer: Fast, Reliable Drop-Off: $12
- Cusco Bus Station Arrival or Departure Transfer: $19
- Cusco Private Transfer to Poroy Railway Station: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Kingston 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 dayKingston $45Cusco $24
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.33
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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.
- Cooking Class in Sacred Valley 8 Recipes and Drinks: $29
- Multi-Course Dinner with Live Folk Show Performance: $35
- Bilingual Cooking Class with Pisco Cocktail in Cusco: $40
- Cooking Class: Lomo Saltado, PapaHuancaina, Pisco Sour, Picarones: $50
- Dinner Show at SUYU a Peruvian Gastronomic and Experience: $53
- Market tour & Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco: $54
- Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $54
- Cooking classes A tour through the flavors in Cusco: $60
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $65
- Local Market and Peruvian Cooking Class with Pisco Sour 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.Kingston $12Cusco $31
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Walking Tour with Mural Exploration: $26
- Bunny Lee Museum and Recording Studio Admission Ticket: $30
- Kingston Creative: Mural Art Walking Tour: $31
- Club Kingston VIP Departure Lounge Experience: $38
- Rhythmic Walking Music Tour: $40
- Guided Bar Hopping Tour with VIP Speakeasy Entry: $40
- Walk/Drive Tour of Downtown Kingston/Tivoli Gardens/Trench Town.: $48
- Sugar Minott's Youth Promotion Studio Tour: $50
- Judgement Yard Tour: $50
- Devon House Heritage Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $63
- Cultural Walking Tour of Kingston: $65
- Tour a Jamaican Farm: $70
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$2.91
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- Discover Cusco with Guided Walking Tour: $5.00
- Half Day Walking Tour of Cusco: $5.00
- Cusco City Walking tour: Historia, Tradition, Culture: $5.00
- Cusco Self Guided Walking Tour Landmarks, Audio and Quiz: $7.99
- City Tour - Cusco: $10
- Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary® Admission Ticket: $10
- Half Day City Tour in Cusco: $10
- City Tour in Cusco with visit South American camelids: $11
- Half-Day Cusco City Tour – Explore History, Culture & Inca Ruins: $12
- Cusco City Tour: Four Ruins in Half Day: $12
- Explore Cusco Highlights in a Half Day City Tour: $12
- Cusco Machu Picchu Self Guided Audio Tour (Without a Ticket): $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKingston $11Cusco $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Kingston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kingston:
- Worthy Park Estate Rum Distillery Tour with Tasting: $144
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kingston and Cusco, we can see that Kingston is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kingston is in Caribbean Islands 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 Kingston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kingston 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 Kingston Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kingston or Cusco?
Kingston has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Kingston 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.