A Travel Price Comparison for Peru Lake Titicaca (Puno) vs. Cusco for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Cusco?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Lake Titicaca (Puno) and Cusco. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Cusco?

Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Lake Titicaca, which directly translates to "puma stone" in Quechua, is located high in the Andes Mountains straddling Peru and Bolivia, with about 60% of the lake in Peru and 40% in Bolivia. Among the lake are three main islands, the most popular of which are the Uros Islands, also known as the floating islands, where the Uros people live on totora reeds that grow in the lake.

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 Photography Tours in Peru, The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru, The Best Luxury Tours to Peru, and The Best Budget Tours to Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Lake Titicaca (Puno) Prices
    Peru Prices
    Cusco Prices
    Peru Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $66
    Cusco $60

The average daily cost (per person) in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $66, while the average daily cost in Cusco is $60. 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) and Cusco in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $26
    Cusco $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $52
    Cusco $46
Compare Hotels in Lake Titicaca (Puno) and Cusco

Looking for a hotel in Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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.

Hotels in Lake Titicaca (Puno)


Hotels in Cusco


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: Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $10
    Cusco $9.95
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):


  • Taxi
    $0.81

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):

  • Puno Airport Shared Transfer: $20
  • Private Transfer from Puerto de Puno to Hotel Puno: $20
  • Private Transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno Plaza de Armas: $40
  • Puno Arrival Transfer from Juliaca Airport: $45
  • Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $186
  • Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay, English Speaking Driver: $201
  • Private Transfer From Puno to Arequipa with English Speaking Driver: $253
  • Direct Private Transfer From Puno to Cusco, English Local Speaking Driver: $259

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cusco

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cusco:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.07

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:

  • One-way transfer from hotel to airport: $6.32
  • One-Way Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $7.00
  • One-Way Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $9.00
  • One-Way Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $9.00
  • Private 1-Way Transfer to Velasco Astete Airport: $9.00
  • Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $9.18
  • Pickup from Cusco airport and transfer to your hotel in Private vehicle: $9.52
  • One-way transfer from the airport to the hotel: $9.60
  • Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $9.67
  • Cusco Private Transfer/ Airport Transfer: $10
  • Private transfers from Cuzco Airport to Hotels and Sacred Valley: $10
  • Transfer Cusco Airport to your Hotel in Cusco: $10

Is it cheaper to fly into Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Cusco?

Prices for flights to both Cusco and Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $26
    Cusco $22
Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:


  • Tamales
    $1.48

Typical Food Prices in Cusco

Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:


  • Sandwich
    $2.15
  • Mango
    $0.54

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.

  • Folkloric Andean Show & 3-Course Dinner at Tunupa: $37
  • Pachapapa Restaurant Lunch or Dinner: $41
  • 3-Hour Peruvian Cooking Class: $49
  • Cusco Tunupa Restaurant Folk Show with Dinner : $49
  • Cusco Cooking Class. Traditional 2 course Dinner - Bilingual 6pm: $50
  • Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market in Cusco: $55
  • Market Tour & Traditional Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco: $55
  • Cooking Class and market tour with a local chef: $56
  • Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market in Cusco: $59
  • San Pedro Market Tour with Peruvian Cooking Class: $59
  • Andean Folk Show with Dinner at Tunupa Plaza de Armas: $60
  • Short Immersion Cooking Class: $60

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $29
    Cusco $29

Tours and Activities in Lake Titicaca (Puno)

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:

  • Half Day Tour to Sillustani from Puno : $22
  • Morning: Uros Floating Islands Tour from Puno: $25
  • Lake Titicaca Uros Floating Islands Half-Day Tour: $25
  • Sillustani Tombs Half Day Tour from Puno: $28
  • Walking City tour Puno: $28
  • Uros and Taquile Islands From Puno Full Day Tour with Lunch: $30
  • Puno City Tour and Carlos Dreyer Museum: $31
  • Half Day Tour to Chullpas de Sillustani From Puno: $35
  • Tour to Uros and Taquile Islands in a Fast Boat: $37
  • 3h Boat Tour to Uros Island from Puno: $40
  • One-day tour of the Uros and Taquile Islands of Lake Titicaca: $40
  • Full Day Tour Uros and Taquile Islands (Speed Boat): $40

Typical Entertainment Prices in Cusco

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Cusco are as follows:


  • Salsa Class
    $2.68

Tours and Activities in Cusco

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:

  • Via Ferrata, Skybike, and Rappel Adventure: $5.00
  • Free Walking tour in Cusco : $5.00
  • Around Walking Tour Cusco Historic Center: $10
  • City tour photography experience: $12
  • Open-Top Bus City Tour: $12
  • Sightseeing Tour of the City on an Open-Top Bus: $12
  • Mirabus Cusco City Tour: $12
  • Mirabus Cusco city tour | Panoramic view |: $12
  • City Tour in Cusco: $13
  • CUSCO CITY TOUR 2025 Half Day Tour in Cuzco: $13
  • Cusco : City Tour of 4 Ruins and Sun Temple: $13
  • Qoricancha, Sacsayhuamán, & Tambomachay Half-Day Tour: $13

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lake Titicaca (Puno) $13
    Cusco $9.45

Sample the Local Flavors in Cusco

Also in Cusco, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Pub Crawl with Skip-the-Line Access and Drinks: $18
  • Cusco Pub Crawl: Cusco Bar Hopping Experience : $18
  • Cusco Pub Crawl: Bar Tour, Drinks And Club with no waiting lines: $19
  • Pisco and wine tour in the Majes Valley: $50


When comparing the travel costs between Lake Titicaca (Puno) and Cusco, we can see that Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lake Titicaca (Puno) Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Cusco?

Cusco has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Lake Titicaca (Puno). When comparing the sizes of Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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.