Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu or Mexico City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Mexico City or Machu Picchu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mexico City or Machu Picchu? 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.
Where Should I go: Mexico City or Machu Picchu?
Mexico City
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.
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 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
-
Mexico City Prices
Mexico PricesMachu Picchu Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMexico City $215Machu Picchu $123
The average daily cost (per person) in Mexico City is $215, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is $123. 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 Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMexico City $39Machu Picchu $45
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMexico City $78Machu Picchu $90
Compare Hotels in Mexico City and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in Mexico City 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: Mexico City Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mexico City $12Machu Picchu $32
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Mexico City
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Mexico City:
-
Metro$1.10
-
Uber Ride$3.85
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mexico City
Also for Mexico City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Teotihuacan: Private Balloon Flight with optional Transfer: $1,436
- Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary Visit with Transfer: $842
- Shared Balloon Flight in Teotihuacan with transfer: $293
- Mexico City to Guanajuato - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $282
- Private Transfer from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende: $272
- Balloon adventure: transfer+breakfast in the cave+guided pyramids: $230
- Balloon Flight over Teotihuacán with Transfers Included: $228
- Private Airport Transfer to Hotel de CDMX (8 to 11 people): $227
- Balloon Flight in Teotihuacan Transfers and Breakfast Included: $227
- Luxury Airport Transfer: $209
- Mexico Airport (MEX) to Ixtapan De La Sal - Round-Trip Transfer: $208
- Mexico City Private Transfer to or from Airport: $206
Is it cheaper to fly into Mexico City or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu 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.
Food
-
Food Meals for one dayMexico City $44Machu Picchu $35
Typical Food Prices in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Lunch for Two$12
-
Coffee and Snacks$4.29
-
Dinner for 2$25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Mexico City Coyoacan Food Tour & Optional Frida Kahlo Museum: $20
- Private Street Food Tour Mexico City - Best rated: $35
- Cable Car, Cultural Spaces, and Traditional Food Tour: $40
- Polanco Food Tour: 5 Tastings, Tacos, Mezcal & Churros: $49
- San Juan Market Food Tour Exotic Bites & Flavors: $52
- Coyoacan Market Food Tour Urban Eats & Local Legends: $52
- Tortilla Crawl: Food Tour in Mexico City: $55
- Mexico : Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $58
- 3 Hours Food Tour Best Vegan Tacos in Mexico City: $62
- Local Markets & Food Tour in Mexico City: $63
- 3h Cooking Class in 8 Recipes & Drinks: $68
- Tamales Cooking Class in Mumu’un Baj: $68
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mexico City $14Machu Picchu $79
Tours and Activities in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "Sabor a Calle": Mexico City Street Food Adventure: $93
- 1 Day Tour to Zacatlán and Chignahuapan from Mexico city: $200
- 1 day in Puebla and Cholula in private tour from Mexico city: $160
- 100% Private Tour in Teotihuacán Pyramids from Mexico City: $102
- 100% private tour in Chapultepec Castle & around (with transport): $74
- 100% private tour in Guadalupe's Basilica with transport: $80
- 2026 Azcapotzalco Walking Tour Mexico City Adventure: $140
- 3 Day Private Culinary Experience in CDMX Beyond Tacos: $300
- 3-in-1 Tour: Frida Kahlo Museum, Coyoacan and Xochimilco Small Group: $77
- 3X1 Tour in Xochimilco UNAM and Coyoacan: $60
- 4 Hour Guided Private Art Tour in Mexico: $45
- 4x4 RZR Adventure in Valle de Bravo: $136
Typical Entertainment Prices in Machu Picchu
For Machu Picchu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Gardens of Mandor$2.89
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMexico City $19Machu Picchu $7.35
Sample the Local Flavors in Mexico City
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mexico City:
- CDMX Pub Crawl: Guided Pub Crawl with Party Games: $24
- Mexico City Pub Crawl: $25
- The Mexico City Pub Crawl: A real chilango night: $33
- THE MEXICO CITY PUB CRAWL: A real chilango night: $35
- Make Your Own Tequila or Mezcal with Distillery and Cocktails: $91
- Zona Rosa Pub Crawl Experience: $100
- Distillery Tour and Lucha Libre Spirits and Showdown: $122
- Mexican Wine Tasting with Food Pairing: $126
- Private Cheese and Wine Tour to Queretaro: $511
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mexico City and Machu Picchu, we can see that Mexico City is more expensive. And not only is Machu Picchu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mexico City is in North America and Machu Picchu 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 Machu Picchu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Machu Picchu 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 Machu Picchu.
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 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.