Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Montego Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Montego Bay or Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Montego Bay and Cusco can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Montego Bay or Cusco?
Montego Bay
As with most places around the tropical oasis of Jamaica, Montego Bay (or "MoBay") is an ideal place to visit for a Caribbean getaway. It is Jamaica's second largest city and the capital of St. James parish on the northern coast. Montego Bay is considered to be the tourist capital of the country and is where the largest airport is located, bringing in many international travelers.
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 The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $203Cusco $51
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $203, 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 Montego Bay and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $104Cusco $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $208Cusco $46
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay 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: Montego Bay Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $15Cusco $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Shared Transfer: From/to Montego Bay International Airport: $8.33
- Montego Bay Hotels Private Transfer : $10
- Montego Bay Hotels Private Airport Transfer : $10
- Riu Reggae , Riu Palace & Riu Mobay Montego Bay Airport Transfers: $11
- Private Transfer Sangster International Airport to Montego Bay: $12
- RIU Reggae Palace and RIU Montego Bay Private Airport Transfer: $13
- Private Airport Transfer to Sandals Montego : $13
- MBJ Airport: Private Transfer to Montego Bay: $14
- Private Airport Transfer to Hyatt Ziva & Zilara to Jewel Grande: $14
- Relaxing Airport To Resort In Montego Bay Transfer: $14
- Private Airport Transfer to Breathless/ to Secrets Resort: $14
- Private Airport Transfer to Half Moon - Holiday Inn - Zoetry: $14
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$1.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- One-Way Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $5.40
- Transfers in Cusco: $6.00
- One-Way Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $9.00
- Private 1-Way Transfer to Velasco Astete Airport: $9.00
- One-Way Airport Transfer to Hotel: $9.50
- Pickup from Cusco airport and transfer to your hotel in Private vehicle: $9.52
- Transfer Hotel to Airport in Cusco | Private Service |: $10
- Transfer Cusco Airport to your Hotel in Cusco: $10
- Private transfers from Cuzco Airport to Hotels and Sacred Valley: $10
- Transfer Cusco Airport - Hotel or Train Station: $12
- Cusco Bus Station Arrival or Departure Transfer: $13
- Cusco Airport Arrival or Departure Transfer : $13
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Montego Bay 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 dayMontego Bay $84Cusco $13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
- Private Transportation to DINNER or NIGHT CLUBS: $55
- Lunch or Dinner with Pickup from Montego Bay : $81
- Night cruise and swim the Falmouth Mystic Lagoon, Dinner and Rum Punch Inclusive: $85
- Rick’s Cafe Cliff Diving, Sunset & Dinner Tour with Transportation : $130
- Sunset Boat Ride in the Falmouth Luminous Lagoon swim and Dinner : $165
- Sunset Boat Cruise in Falmouth Luminous Lagoon, Swim and Dinner : $170
- Restaurant Transportation for Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Montego Bay: $180
- Houseboat Restaurant and Grill for Dinner Private Transportation : $180
- Private Sea-Food Tour & Floyds Pelican Bar from Montego Bay or ..: $185
- [PRIVATE] Premium Jamaican Food Tour of Local Cuisine: $190
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.17
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Mango$0.54
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Folkloric Andean Show & 3-Course Dinner at Tunupa: $15
- 3-Hour Peruvian Cooking Class: $49
- Pete's Peruvian Cooking Class: $52
- Market Tour & Traditional Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco: $53
- Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $54
- Cooking Class and market tour with a local chef: $56
- Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market in Cusco: $59
- Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market Tour: $63
- Peruvian Cooking Class & Market Tour: $65
- Awamaki Cooking Class: $68
- Curious Monkey Cusco- Eat the Streets, Walking Food Tour: $70
- The 10 Tastings of Cusco With Locals: Private Food Tour : $77
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $32Cusco $29
Typical Entertainment Prices in Montego Bay
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Montego Bay are as follows:
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Admission to Doctor's Cave Beach$2.74
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Snorkeling Trip$19
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One Tank Dive$38
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1.5 Hr Horseback Ride$44
Tours and Activities in Montego Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
- Greenwood Great House Entry Ticket: $20
- Cinnamon Hill Great House Tour - Home of Johnny Cash: $23
- Skip the Line: Rose Hall Great House & Garden Tour Ticket: $30
- Private Shopping Tour in Montego Bay with Hotel Pickup: $35
- Montego Bay Sightseeing Tour and Souvenir Shopping: $35
- Rose Hall Great House Haunted Night Tour: $35
- Skip the Line: Ahhh Ras Natango Gallery and Garden Admission Tickets: $35
- Shopping and Sightseeing Tour of Montego Bay City: $39
- Shopping and Sightseeing Local Guided Tour In Montego Bay: $40
- Bamboo Rafting, Hip-Strip & Margaritaville Tour from Montego Bay: $40
- Montego Bay Walking Tour: $40
- Private Montego Bay Shopping Tour with Transportation: $45
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$2.71
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- Free Walking Tour of Cusco: $2.00
- Cusco Walking Tour: A Journey Through Ancient Streets: $5.00
- Cusco : Half Day City Tour: $9.00
- Open-Top Bus City Tour: $12
- Mirabus Cusco city tour | Panoramic view |: $12
- Mirabus Cusco city tour | Panoramic view |: $12
- City tours Cusco: $12
- Mirabus City Tour | Panoramic View: $12
- Open Bus Tour of the City’s Wonder’s: $12
- Sightseeing Tour of the City on an Open-Top Bus: $12
- Historic Walking Tour with Pisco Sour and Music Show: $13
- City Tour in Cusco: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13Cusco $9.56
Sample the Local Flavors in Montego Bay
Also in Montego Bay, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Appleton Estate Admission Ticket & Distillery Tour with Tastings: $39
- Montego Bay Jamaica Rum Distillery Tour Private Driver: $215
Sample the Local Flavors in Cusco
Also in Cusco, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Exclusive Pub Crawl with 10+ benefits: $18
- Pub Crawl with Skip-the-Line Access and Drinks: $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and Cusco, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands 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 Montego Bay would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Montego Bay 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 Montego Bay Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or Cusco?
Cusco has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay 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.