Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Mexico City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Mexico City or Cusco? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Mexico City is one of the largest and most populated cities in the world. There are an estimated 26 million people living in the greater Mexico City metropolitan area. The area is about 60 kilometers by 40 kilometers and is surrounded by tall mountains and volcanoes on three sides. Mexico City proper has about 8.8 million people and is the capital of the country. More than a third of the country's economy is based here, making it the wealthiest city in all of Latin America.
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 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Mexico City is $214, while the average daily cost in Cusco is $51. 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 Mexico City and Cusco in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Mexico City 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.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Mexico City:
Also for Mexico City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cusco:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Mexico City 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.
For Mexico City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Mexico City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
For Mexico City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Cusco are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mexico City:
Also in Cusco, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mexico City and Cusco, we can see that Mexico City is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mexico City is in North America and Cusco is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Mexico City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mexico City 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 Mexico City Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Mexico City has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Mexico City 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.