Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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 G Adventures Tours to Peru, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lima, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLake Titicaca (Puno) $54Cusco $50
The average daily cost (per person) in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $54, while the average daily cost in Cusco is $50. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLake Titicaca (Puno) $25Cusco $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLake Titicaca (Puno) $50Cusco $44
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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lake Titicaca (Puno) $10Cusco $9.80
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
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Taxi$0.79
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
- Puno Arrival Transfer from bus or railway Station: $14
- Puno Airport Shared Transfer: $20
- Private Transfer from Puerto de Puno to Hotel Puno: $21
- Juliaca Airport Private Transfer to/from Puno city: $44
- Private transfer airport-puno-viceverse: $60
- Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $196
- Private Transfer from Puno to Frontera Kasani: $205
- Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay, English Speaking Driver: $212
- Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro with English Speaking Driver: $245
- Private Transfer From Puno to Arequipa with English Speaking Driver: $266
- Private Transfer From Puno to Oruro With a Stop in Lake Titicaca: $290
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$1.06
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- One-Way Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $5.40
- One-Way Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $5.81
- Transfers in Cusco: $6.00
- Private 1-Way Transfer to Velasco Astete Airport: $9.00
- One-Way Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $9.00
- Pickup from Cusco airport and transfer to your hotel in Private vehicle: $9.52
- Private transfers from Cuzco Airport to Hotels and Sacred Valley: $10
- Transfer Cusco Airport to your Hotel in Cusco: $10
- Transfer Hotel to Airport in Cusco | Private Service |: $10
- Transfer from Cusco city to the airport: $10
- Private Shuttle Transfer from Cusco Airport (CUZ) to Hotels in Cusco: $11
- Transfer Cusco Airport - Hotel or Train Station: $12
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
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Food Meals for one dayLake Titicaca (Puno) $15Cusco $13
Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
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Tamales$1.45
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.11
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Mango$0.53
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Small-Group Virtual Ceviche Cooking Experience: $25
- Small-Group Virtual Peruvian Cooking Experience: $25
- Folkloric Andean Show & 3-Course Dinner at Tunupa: $35
- CUSCO COOKING CLASS LUNCH - Quick Culinary Dive: $40
- Cusco Tunupa Restaurant Folk Show with Dinner : $49
- 3-Hour Peruvian Cooking Class: $49
- Pete's Peruvian Cooking Class: $52
- Fully hands-on High End Peruvian Cooking Class & San Pedro Market Guided Visit: $55
- Cooking Class and market tour with a local chef: $56
- Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market in Cusco: $59
- Peruvian Cooking Class , Cocktails, Market Tour in Cusco: $61
- Peruvian Cooking Class & Market Tour: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lake Titicaca (Puno) $29Cusco $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
- Walking City tour Puno: $26
- 4h Tour to Sillustani Inca Ruins: $26
- Sillustani Tombs Half Day Tour from Puno: $28
- Half Day Tour in Sillustani: $29
- Half Day Tour to Chullpas de Sillustani From Puno: $35
- 3h Boat Tour to Uros Island from Puno: $36
- One-day tour of the Uros and Taquile Islands of Lake Titicaca: $40
- Tour to Uros and Taquile Islands in a Fast Boat: $40
- Full Day Guided Tour of the Aymara Route from Puno: $40
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$2.64
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- Around Free Walking Tour Cusco Historic Center: $2.00
- Cusco Inkas Walking City Tour: $2.00
- Free Walking Tour of Cusco: $2.00
- Cusco Walking tour in English : $5.00
- Cusco : Half Day City Tour: $9.00
- Combined city tour cusco: $10
- Cusco City Half-Day Tour: $12
- Open-Top Bus City Tour: $12
- Mirabus tour of the city | Panoramic view: $12
- Sightseeing Tour of the City on an Open-Top Bus: $12
- Explore Cuzco with a sightseeing tour by open top bus.: $12
- Cusco's Street and San Pedro Market Walking Adventure: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLake Titicaca (Puno) $13Cusco $9.30
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 Cusco : $19
- Pub Crawl with Skip-the-Line Access and Drinks: $27
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.
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.