Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu 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 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 Lima 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: Lima or Machu Picchu?
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.
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 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 PricesMachu Picchu Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLima $90Machu Picchu $115
The average daily cost (per person) in Lima is $90, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is $115. 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 Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLima $49Machu Picchu $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLima $98Machu Picchu $84
Compare Hotels in Lima and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in Lima 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: Lima Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lima $5.73Machu Picchu $30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.43
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Taxi Ride$5.43
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Short Taxi Ride$4.07
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Private Transfer from Lima hotels to Pisco Cruise Port: $214
- Private Transfer from Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Pisco Port: $214
- Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima City Hotels: $195
- Transfer from Lima Airport to your hotel and vice versa: $175
- Full Day Small Group Tour in Caral with Transfer: $158
- Palomino Islands Excursion & Swimming with Sea Lions with Hotel Transfers: $125
- Enjoy a Football Game in Lima with local guide and Transfers: $82
- Lima Airport Arrival Transfer for small groups: $79
- Private Largevan Transfer - Arrival Lima Airport to Hotel: $70
- Lima Peru Jorge Chavez Airport Transfer: $66
- Transfer + Paracas + Huacachina + Sandboarding + Buggies: $65
- Private Airport Transfer in Luxury SUV: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Lima or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu 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 $31Machu Picchu $33
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.34
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Ice cream$3.53
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Coffee$2.99
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Donut$0.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Dinner at Café del Museo Larco restaurant: $28
- Miraflores: Amazing Peruvian Cooking Class Ceviche Seafood and Pisco Sour: $40
- Peruvian Food Tour Through Local Markets: $40
- Dinner with Folkloric Show at Casa Tambo Restaurant: $44
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $44
- Andean Breads Cooking Class in Lima: $45
- Cooking Workshop and Water Circuit Tour: $45
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $49
- Dinner at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant: $55
- Private Guided Walking Street Food Tour in Lima: $55
- Food History & Local Markets (Food Tour): $56
- Lima's #1 Reviewed Cooking Class: $59
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lima $8.66Machu Picchu $74
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)$16
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Movie Tickets$2.31
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Ballestas Islands + Huacachina Tour From Lima (Private Group): $190
- Lima Highlights! City Tour + Miraflores, Barranco & San Isidro: $85
- 2 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $279
- 2 Day Tour from Paracas, Ballestas Island and Huacachina: $139
- 2 Day Tour from Paracas, Huacachina, and Pisco Vineyard: $149
- 2-Day Private Hiking Adventure in Marcahuasi (Lima): $500
- 2-Hour Private Tour of Miraflores with Drone Video Included: $39
- 3 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $289
- 3 Day Tour to Paracas, Huacachina, and Pisco Vineyard: $159
- 3 Hours Walking Tour of Lima Old Town and Catacumbs: $45
- 3-Hour Guided Bicycle Tour in Miraflores: $30
- 3-Hour Private Scooter Tour through Miraflores with Guide: $50
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$2.71
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLima $5.63Machu Picchu $6.90
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$7.30
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Beer$4.07
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Cocktail$3.26
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $18
- Discover Miraflores nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $18
- Discover Miraflores Nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $19
- Local Wine Tour: $58
- Local Wine Tour : $59
- Pub Crawl in Lima: $100
- From Huacachina Sandboarding and Wine Tasting Day Trip: $105
- From Huacachina Sandboarding and Wine Tasting Day Trip: $114
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lima and Machu Picchu, we can see that Machu Picchu is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lima would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lima 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 Machu Picchu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Machu Picchu than you might in Lima.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lima 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.