Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Ocho Rios?
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 Ocho Rios or Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ocho Rios or Cusco, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Ocho Rios or Cusco?
Ocho Rios
Ocho Rios, or "Ochi" is a town located on the northeastern shore of Jamaica and is a popular hub for cruise ships. It is a great destination for tourists as it has many resorts and beautiful beaches.
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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Ocho Rios Prices
Jamaica PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOcho Rios $86Cusco $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Ocho Rios is $86, while the average daily cost in Cusco is $65. 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 Ocho Rios and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOcho Rios $51Cusco $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOcho Rios $102Cusco $50
Compare Hotels in Ocho Rios and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Ocho Rios 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: Ocho Rios Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ocho Rios $7.41Cusco $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios
Also for Ocho Rios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Jamaica Private Hotel and Airport Transfer: $5.00
- Private Ian Fleming Airport Transfer to Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay: $15
- Montego Bay Airport (MBJ) Transfer One-Way or Round-Trip to Hotel: $19
- Private Transfer from Ian Fleming Airport to Ocho Rios: $20
- Private Transfer From the Ocho Rios Airport/ Ian Fleming: $20
- Private Round Trip Transfer to YAAMAN Adventure Park Ocho Rios: $27
- ATV Tour Ocho Rios - Private Transfer Only (Activity Fee Excluded): $27
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Dunns River Climb and Zipline over the Falls!: $34
- Montego Bay Airport Transfer: $39
- Private Nightlife Transfer Around Ocho Rios: $40
- Private Transfer to Mystic Mountain from Ocho Rios: $40
- Private Airport Transfer from Ocho Rios: $40
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$1.17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- Direct Private Transfer From Cusco to Puno, English Local Speaking Driver: $281
- Ollantaytambo train station to Cuzco RoundTrip Private Transfer: $205
- Private Transfer from Valle Sagrado to Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ) Airport: $163
- Scenic Journey from Cusco to Puno by Bus Including Hotel Transfers: $128
- Cuzco to Ollantaytambo Train Station - Departure Private Transfer: $103
- Transfer Cusco - Ollantaytambo train station: $95
- Private Transfer from Cusco Hotel, airport to Sacred Valley: $90
- Cusco to Puno Scenic Transfer with Sightseeing Stops & Lunch: $72
- Private Transfer from Cusco Airport to Urubamba: $60
- From Direct Bus Transfer to Arequipa: $60
- Tourist Transfer from Cusco to Hydroelectric: $60
- Private Airport Transfer from Juliaca to Puno: $55
Is it cheaper to fly into Ocho Rios or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Ocho Rios 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 dayOcho Rios $28Cusco $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Flavors of Jamaica Food Tour from Runaway Bay: $138
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.33
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Mango$0.58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Cooking Class in Sacred Valley 8 Recipes and Drinks: $29
- Multi-Course Dinner with Live Folk Show Performance: $35
- Bilingual Cooking Class with Pisco Cocktail in Cusco: $40
- Cooking Class: Lomo Saltado, PapaHuancaina, Pisco Sour, Picarones: $50
- Dinner Show at SUYU a Peruvian Gastronomic and Experience: $53
- Market tour & Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco: $54
- Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $54
- Cooking classes A tour through the flavors in Cusco: $60
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $65
- Local Market and Peruvian Cooking Class with Pisco Sour in Cusco: $65
- Cusco Collective Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $65
- Cooking Class in Ollantaytambo: $68
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ocho Rios $15Cusco $31
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Tour of Brimmer Hall Estate$11
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Admission to Coyaba Gardens$5.34
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Tour of Prospect Plantation$18
Tours and Activities in Ocho Rios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ocho Rios.
- Ocho Rios Shopping Tour: $20
- Original Blue Hole St. Ann Ocho Rios Jamaica Admission Fee Ticket: $25
- Blue Hole Admission Fee Ticket: $26
- Private Dunn's River Falls, Ocho Rios Sightseeing and shopping: $35
- Bob Marley Nine Mile Tour: $35
- Ocho Rios City Bus Tour (Beach, Sightseeing & Shopping): $40
- Blue Hole and Dunn's River Tour (Entrance Fees Not Included): $40
- Dunn's River Falls and Blue Hole Private Tour Ocho Rios Jamaica: $43
- Ocho Rios Scenic, Shopping and Lunch Tour: $45
- Blue Hole Tour from Ocho Rios: $49
- Dunn's River Falls and Ocho Rios Sightseeing with Shopping: $50
- Private Magical Firewater Pond and Secluded Bamboo Beach Tour: $50
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$2.91
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- 1 Day Ausangate 7 Lagoons Hiking Tour & Hot Springs: $59
- 1 Day Palcoyo 7-Color Mountain Hiking Tour: $45
- 1 Day Rainbow Mountain Tour From Cusco: $60
- 1 Day Sacred Valley Tour with Moray from Cusco: $75
- 1-Day Tour Sacred Valley From Cusco: $120
- 2 Day Machu Picchu Adventure from Cusco by Minivan: $193
- 2 Days Machu Picchu Tour by Car: $169
- 2 days 1 night - Machupicchu by bus tour: $295
- 2-Day Rainbow Mountain Tour with Hotel Stay: $185
- 2-Day Tour to Floating Islands and Puno From Cusco: $238
- 7 Ausangate Lagoons Full Day Group Tour with meals: $35
- 7 Color Mountain Tour Adventure in Vinicunca: $42
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOcho Rios $7.52Cusco $10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ocho Rios and Cusco, we can see that Ocho Rios is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ocho Rios or Cusco?
Cusco has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Ocho Rios. When comparing the sizes of Ocho Rios 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.