Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu or Liberia?
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 Liberia or Machu Picchu?
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 Liberia and Machu Picchu. 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: Liberia or Machu Picchu?
Liberia
Liberia is a town in northwestern Costa Rica. It is the capital of the Guanacaste province, which is about 140 miles away from Costa Rica's capital, San Jose. The town has a population of about 56,000 and is one of the tourism centers of the country.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a site of ancient Inca ruins located about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Cuzco, Peru, in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba of the Andes Mountains. It is perched above the Urubamba River valley in a narrow saddle between two sharp peaks, Machu Picchu ("Old Peak") and Huayna Picchu ("New Peak"), at an elevation of 7,710 feet (2,350 metres). One of the few major pre-Columbian ruins found nearly intact, Machu Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Thus, Machu Picchu is not only an impressive remnant of the Inca civilization, it is also one of the world's most important archaeological sites. A stop at Machu Picchu is an essential part of any traveler's itinerary in Peru, as it is one of the seven wonders of the world.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Liberia Prices
Costa Rica PricesMachu Picchu Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLiberia $128Machu Picchu $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Liberia is $128, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is $122. 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 Liberia and Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLiberia $60Machu Picchu $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLiberia $120Machu Picchu $88
Compare Hotels in Liberia and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in Liberia or Machu Picchu? 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: Liberia Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Liberia $43Machu Picchu $32
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Liberia
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Liberia are as follows:
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Bike Rental$25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Liberia
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Liberia:
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Dreams Las Mareas Hotel: $295
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Dreams Las Mareas: $285
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Monteverde / Jaco: $268
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Playas del Coco and Playa Hermosa: $265
- Private Transfer from Liberia Int Airport (LIR) to Quepos Port: $258
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Arenal / La Fortuna : $253
- Private Transfer Int. Airport Liberia To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers: $249
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Samara: $232
- Private Transfer from Liberia Int Airport LIR to La Fortuna area: $220
- Liberia Airport to Hotels Round Trip Private Transfers: $220
- Liberia Airport (LIR) to Playa Grande Round-Trip Private Transfer: $214
- Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Rio Perdido Resort: $210
Is it cheaper to fly into Liberia or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu and Liberia 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 dayLiberia $36Machu Picchu $35
Typical Food Prices in Liberia
Some typical examples of dining costs in Liberia are as follows:
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Snacks$1.97
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Lunch at The Shack (for 1)$4.94
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Lunch$11
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Coffee & Tres Leches (for 2)$14
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Ginger Ale$1.28
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Liberia $25Machu Picchu $78
Tours and Activities in Liberia
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Liberia are as follows:
- Birdwatching Experience private tour : $300
- 2 Hour ATV Experience From Guanacaste: $189
- 2 Hour ATV Private Tour in Costa Rica: $81
- 2 Hour Coffee & Chocolate Tour in Playas del Coco: $40
- 3 Hour ATV Adventure Tour in El Jobo: $140
- 3 In 1 Volcano Hot Springs & Mud Baths And River Floating Tour: $235
- 4-Hour Private Guided ATV Tour in Costa Rica: $122
- 5 Tours in 1 – The Ultimate Volcano Adventure!: $159
- 7 Hour Private Tour in Palo Verde National Park with Pickup: $120
- 8 Essential Guanacaste Experiences: culture, nature & wellness : $78
- ATV Beach Tour: $125
- ATV Tour 2hrs - Dreams Las Mareas: $135
Typical Entertainment Prices in Machu Picchu
For Machu Picchu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Gardens of Mandor$2.87
Tours and Activities in Machu Picchu
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Machu Picchu.
- Private & Flexible 3-Hour Guided Tour of Machu Picchu: $60
- Private Tour Guide Service: $98
- Machu Picchu Morning Combo: Entrance Ticket, Bus and Guide: $196
- Machu Picchu Small-Group Combo: Entrance Ticket, Bus & Guide: $196
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLiberia $13Machu Picchu $7.28
When comparing the travel costs between Liberia and Machu Picchu, we can see that Liberia 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 Liberia is in Central America and Machu Picchu 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 Liberia Expensive? and Is Machu Picchu Expensive?.
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.