Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu or Paris?
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 Paris or Machu Picchu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Paris 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: Paris or Machu Picchu?
Paris
Paris is a dream destination for many people. It's location on the river Seine contributes to its stunning beauty and you can spend many days wandering through its wonderfully diverse neighborhoods. It's known as a city of culture, fashion, food and fun. There is never a shortage of entertainment and activities around town and a highlight of many people's trips to Paris is to explore the city at night, when it truly comes to life. It is not hard to see why this city has received the nickname as the "City of Lights."
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 Historical Tours in France, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Paris Prices
France PricesMachu Picchu Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayParis €265Machu Picchu €107
The average daily cost (per person) in Paris is €265, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is €107. 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 Paris and Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personParis €153Machu Picchu €39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomParis €306Machu Picchu €78
Compare Hotels in Paris and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in Paris 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: Paris Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Paris €21Machu Picchu €28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Paris
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:
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Metro€6.40
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Train from Airport€9.00
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Metro tickets€6.80
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Train€20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paris
Also for Paris, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Paris to Airport: CDG, Orly, Beauvais: $297
- Private Disneyland Return Transfer Up to 6 People: $296
- Private Transfer from Paris City to Le Havre: $296
- Charles De Gaule Airport Private Transfer: $296
- Private Transfer from CDG Airport to Paris: $296
- Louvre Museum Paris Private Tour with Tickets and Transfers: $295
- Private transfer from Beauvais airport to Paris or back: $290
- Private Mercedes luxury transfer from PARIS to => DISNEYLAND Paris with Cab-Bel-Air: $290
- Panthéon Paris Private Guided Tour with Transfers: $289
- Private Transfer: Paris Airport CDG to Reims / Champagne by Van: $281
- Private transfer to Reims or Epernay : one way OR 8 hours tour: $280
- Transfer Charles de Gaulle Airport CDG to Paris: $278
Is it cheaper to fly into Paris or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu and Paris 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 dayParis €72Machu Picchu €31
Typical Food Prices in Paris
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:
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Ice Cream€8.00
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Breakfast€7.00
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Breakfast for 2€30
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Dinner on River Cruise€86
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Dinner€57
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Cheese€13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paris
For Paris, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Paris Marais Walking Food Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $12
- Paris en Scene 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $65
- Paris Capitaine Fracasse 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $67
- Paris Seine River dinner cruise from Alexandre III bridge: $70
- 2 Hour Express Paris Centre Food Tour with 4 Tastings & Fine Wine: $71
- Paris Food Tour: Eat Like a Local with Cheeses, Wines & Secrets: $71
- Paris Food Tour: $82
- Seine River Sightseeing Cruise and Dinner at Le Bistro Parisien: $83
- #1 Montmartre Pastries & Chocolate Food Tour with 6+ Tastings: $94
- Paris Guided Food Tour by Bike - Ile de la Cité and Marais: $94
- Notre Dame and Latin Quarter Food Tour with 10 Authentic Tastings: $99
- Paris Le Marais Food Tour with French Onion Soup, Cheese and Wine: $101
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Paris €76Machu Picchu €69
Typical Entertainment Prices in Paris
For Paris, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Louvre Entry for Two€18
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Admission to Pantheon€5.00
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Catacombs (2)€23
Tours and Activities in Paris
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Paris.
- #1 Paris Chocolate and Pastry Food Tasting Tour: $77
- Île de la Cité Guided Tour & Audio-Guided Visit of Notre-Dame: $24
- Île de la Cité Guided Tour & Exterior Notre Dame: $46
- Île de la Cité Private 2h Tour with Latin Quarter & Seine River: $195
- Île de la Cité, the Old Town of Paris Private Guided Tour: $216
- 1 Hour Express Paris Tour with Scenic Stops: $176
- 1 Hour Paris Evening Sightseeing Cruise with Illuminations Ticket: $33
- 1 Hour Private Photo Session experience with the Eiffel Tower: $225
- 1-Hour Seine River Cruise Ticket from Eiffel Tower: $20
- 1.5-hour cruise on the Seine departing at 6:30 PM: $21
- 1h30 Private Guided Tour in a Pink Citroën 2CV: $117
- 1st Day in Paris Discovery Private Tour: 'How-to' Orientation & Sightseeing Fun!: $82
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€2.52
Tours and Activities in Machu Picchu
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Machu Picchu.
- Machu Picchu Morning Combo: Entrance Ticket, Bus and Guide: $196
- Machu Picchu Small-Group Combo: Entrance Ticket, Bus & Guide: $196
- Private Tour Guide Service: $98
- Private & Flexible 3-Hour Guided Tour of Machu Picchu: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayParis €24Machu Picchu €6.41
Typical Alcohol Prices in Paris
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:
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Wine€14
Sample the Local Flavors in Paris
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:
- Paris City Center Guided Pub Crawl With Shots & Club Entry: $19
- The Original Pub Crawl + Free Shots + VIP Club Entry: $24
- Pub Crawl Experience in Bars with Club Entry: $30
- Paris International Pub Crawl with Free Shots & Fun Games: $30
- Paris Guided Pub Crawl with Bars Shots and Club Entry: $32
- Paris Gin Craft Distillery Tour and Tasting: $36
- Wine Tasting in Paris right next to Père Lachaise & l'Atelier des lumières: $53
- Vegan Wine Tasting in Paris right next to Père Lachaise: $53
- Wine tasting Paris Saint Germain des Pres: $55
- Cheese and Wine Tasting in the Latin Quarter with Chef Alex: $70
- Cheese & Wine Tasting in Montmartre with a Local Cheesemonger: $82
- Paris Art of Pairing Cheese and Wine Tasting in a Cheese Cellar: $83
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Paris and Machu Picchu, we can see that Paris is more expensive. And not only is Machu Picchu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Paris is in Europe 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 Paris would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paris 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 Paris 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.