Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Lima?
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 Lima 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 Lima 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: Lima or Cusco?
Lima
Lima, the capital city of Peru, is likely to be your point of entry for the country. Lima was founded in 1535 and was the seat of the Spanish rule for 300 years. It's a surprisingly modern city despite its rich history, but many beautiful churches and colonial architecture remain today. There are also large slum areas that highlight the poverty that exists in the city. The city and its surrounding metropolitan area have a population of about 8.5 million people, many of whom came from the Andes Mountains in search of work. Unfortunately the work opportunities are limited and the poverty is obvious as you arrive in Lima.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, The Best Adventure Tours to Peru, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Lima Prices
Peru PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLima $98Cusco $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Lima is $98, while the average daily cost in Cusco is $66. 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 Lima and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLima $54Cusco $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLima $108Cusco $50
Compare Hotels in Lima and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Lima 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: Lima Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lima $6.29Cusco $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.96
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Taxi Ride$5.96
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Short Taxi Ride$4.47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- QuickLlama: Door-to-door transfer from Lima Airport to Miraflores: $5.95
- QuickLlama: Door-to-door transfer from Miraflores to Lima Airport: $5.95
- LIMA AIRPORT SHUTTLE - Shared Transfer: $13
- Lima Airport Transfer Service Available 24 7: $15
- Transfer: Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima City Center: $15
- Private taxi transfer: Lima Jorge Chávez Airport – Safe: $16
- Private Transfer from Callao Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $18
- Private Transfer from Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Callao Port: $18
- Private Transfer from Lima hotels to Callao Cruise Port: $18
- Private Transfer from Callao Cruise Port to Lima city hotels: $18
- Transfer To Lima Airport: $20
- Private Executive Transfers in Lima: $20
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$1.19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- One-Way Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $7.00
- Cusco Airport Pickup and Transfer: $9.00
- Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $9.50
- Private transfer from Cusco Airport to your city-center hotel: $11
- Private transfers from Cuzco Airport to Hotels and Sacred Valley: $12
- Transfer Cusco Airport - Hotel or Train Station: $12
- Private transfers from or to Cusco Airport: $14
- Cusco Airport Pickup and Private Transfer: $15
- Transfers in Cusco secure and punctual service: $15
- Cusco Private Transfer to Poroy Railway Station: $15
- Transfer from Cusco city to the airport: $15
- Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Lima or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Lima 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 dayLima $33Cusco $25
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.76
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Ice cream$3.87
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Coffee$3.28
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Donut$1.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Food Tours on the Forbidden Side of Lima with Elite DRONE FOOTAGE: $5.00
- Andean Breads Cooking Class in Lima: $44
- Lima Food Tour with Ceviche, Pisco, and Grilled Chicken: $45
- Lima Street Food Tour: Taste Authentic Peruvian Delights: $45
- Miraflores Cooking Class Ceviche, Tartar & Pisco Sour: $48
- Dinner at Mangos Larcomar Restaurant: $48
- #1 Rated Lima Cooking Class: Make Ceviche, Causa & Pisco Sours!: $49
- Lima Street Food Tour : Try the best Peruvian street food: $49
- Private Churros Cooking Class, Miraflores & Hotel Pickup: $50
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $50
- Private Cooking Class in Causa & Lomo Saltado: $55
- Dinner at the Cala Restaurant in Lima: $63
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.38
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Mango$0.60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Short Peruvian Cooking Class by Pete: $30
- Cusco Tunupa Restaurant Folk Show with Dinner: $32
- Dinner Show at SUYU a Peruvian Gastronomic and Experience: $53
- Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $54
- Cooking Class in Sacred Valley 8 Recipes and Drinks: $55
- San Pedro Market Tour with Peruvian Cooking Class: $57
- High-End Peruvian Cooking Class, Pisco Sour & San Pedro Market: $57
- Cooking classes A tour through the flavors in Cusco: $60
- Short Immersion Cooking Class: $60
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $65
- Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco: $69
- Cooking Class Peruvian Culinary Experience with Local Chefs: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lima $9.50Cusco $32
Typical Entertainment Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lima are as follows:
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Entrance to Museo Larco (for 2)$18
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Movie Tickets$2.53
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Adventure at the Airport of Peru: $10
- Beach tour and surfboards for rent in Lima, Peru: $14
- Miraflores Guided Walking Tour and Surquillo Market Experience: $15
- Historic Lima & Catacombs Tour with Optional Pickup: $19
- Miraflores and Barranco Private Bike Tour: $19
- Private Bike Tour in Lima: $19
- City Tour Lima Half Day: $20
- A Journey Through Time: Lima's Historic Center & Catacombs Tour: $20
- Tour in Lima with Visit to the Catacombs of San Francisco: $20
- The Magic Water Circuit An Unmissable Tour in Lima: $22
- City Tour in Lima: $23
- Jogging Activity through Tourist Places facing the Sea in Lima: $25
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$2.98
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- Cusco Self Guided Walking Tour Landmarks, Audio and Quiz: $8.28
- Half Day City Tour in Cusco: $9.60
- Cusco Walking tour and Koricancha Temple of the inkas tour: $10
- Cultural & Historic Walking Tour with Local Drinks: $10
- Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary® Admission Ticket: $10
- City Tour in Cusco & visit Museum South American Camelid: $10
- City Tour in Cusco with visit South American camelids: $11
- City Tour Cusco: $12
- Explore Cusco Highlights in a Half Day City Tour: $12
- Cusco City Tour in Half Day: $13
- Tour Valle Sur Typon, Pikillacta and Andahuaylillas: $13
- City Tour Cusco, Sacsayhuamán, Tambomachay, Catedral Cusco: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLima $6.18Cusco $10
Typical Alcohol Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Lima are as follows:
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Bottle of Wine$8.01
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Beer$4.47
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Cocktail$3.57
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Free Pub Crawl: $5.00
- Discover Miraflores nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $24
- Discover Barranco's Nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $24
- Bar Crawl Night Tour in Miraflores: $38
- Lima Nightlife Tour & Society – Cultural Pub Crawl: $50
- Local Wine Tour: $77
- From Lima Paracas and Huacachina Oasis Dunes and Wine Tour: $89
Sample the Local Flavors in Cusco
Also in Cusco, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Discover Cusco Nightlife with Bar Crawl Cusco: $17
- Cusco Pub Crawl: Cusco Bar Hopping Experience: $22
- Exclusive Pub Crawl with more than 10 Benefits: $25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lima and Cusco, we can see that Lima is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Lima would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lima 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 Lima Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lima or Cusco?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Lima 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.