Which place is cheaper, Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Pokhara?
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 Pokhara or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Pokhara and Lake Titicaca (Puno) can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Pokhara or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Pokhara
Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal and is strategically located near the popular Annapurna Circuit. The Annapurna Circuit, or the "Apple Pie Trail", is a popular trek through the Annapurna Valley that makes a circular route through stunning mountainous landscapes. Several other trekking options can be found in this region, too. Many people use Pohkara as a place to prepare or recover from their recently completed treks because it is less intimidating than the larger city of Kathmandu.
Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Lake Titicaca, which directly translates to "puma stone" in Quechua, is located high in the Andes Mountains straddling Peru and Bolivia, with about 60% of the lake in Peru and 40% in Bolivia. Among the lake are three main islands, the most popular of which are the Uros Islands, also known as the floating islands, where the Uros people live on totora reeds that grow in the lake.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best Photography Tours in Peru, and The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru.
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Pokhara Prices
Nepal PricesLake Titicaca (Puno) Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPokhara $22Lake Titicaca (Puno) $71
The average daily cost (per person) in Pokhara is $22, while the average daily cost in Lake Titicaca (Puno) is $71. 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 Pokhara and Lake Titicaca (Puno) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPokhara $3.44Lake Titicaca (Puno) $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPokhara $6.88Lake Titicaca (Puno) $56
Compare Hotels in Pokhara and Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Looking for a hotel in Pokhara or Lake Titicaca (Puno)? 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: Pokhara Hotel Prices and Lake Titicaca (Puno) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pokhara $6.71Lake Titicaca (Puno) $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pokhara
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Pokhara:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.66
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pokhara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pokhara:
- Pokhara Airport Shuttles & Private Transfer: $15
- Pokhara Airport Transfer to hotels – Easy, Safe & Hassle-Free: $20
- Annapurna Foothills Day Hike With Transfers: $45
- Pokhara to Kathmandu One Way Transfer by Private AC Car: $80
- Private Transfer from Pokhara to Kathmandu: $120
- Pokhara to Kathmandu: Premium Private Car Transfer: $130
- Transfer to Lower Mustang (Jomsom): $205
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
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Taxi$0.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno):
- Inca Manco Capac Airport to Puno or Titicaca Small-Group Transfer: $20
- Private Transfer From Puno to Chivay, English Speaking Driver: $218
- Private Transfer from Inca Manco Capac (JUL) Airport to Puno: $92
- Private Transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno Plaza de Armas: $40
- Private Transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno or Viceversa: $52
- Private Transfer from Puerto de Puno to Hotel Puno: $22
- Private Transfer from Puno to Desaguadero: $202
- Private Transfer from Puno to Frontera Kasani: $211
- Private transfer from Juliaca Airport to Puno or Viceversa: $52
- Puno Arrival Transfer from bus or railway Station: $8.50
Is it cheaper to fly into Pokhara or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Prices for flights to both Lake Titicaca (Puno) and Pokhara 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 dayPokhara $12Lake Titicaca (Puno) $29
Typical Food Prices in Pokhara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pokhara:
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Dinner for Two$3.95
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Dessert (for 2)$2.64
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Pastries$1.32
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Dinner$5.60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pokhara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Pokhara.
- Nepali cultural dinner night in Pokhara: $21
- Nepalese Momos or Dal Bhat Cooking Class (Cook with Delight): $25
- 2 hours Momo cooking class in Pokhara: $60
- 1 Day Momo making cooking class: $75
- Tour with Dinner to Trout Fish Farm - Bhujung River: $98
- Organic Farm Tour and Cooking Class at Durku: $115
- Full-Day Pokhara Private Couples Romantic Getaway with Dinner: $300
Typical Food Prices in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
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Tamales$1.60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pokhara $6.39Lake Titicaca (Puno) $32
Tours and Activities in Pokhara
Here are a few actual costs in Pokhara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Pokhara to Kathmandu Tourist Bus Ticket Luxury Sofa: $8.40
- Pokhara to Chitwan Tourist Bus Sofa seater: $9.00
- Quick Devi’s Water Fall Tour: $9.26
- Bandipur to Chitwan Tourist Bus Ticket Luxury Sofa: $9.50
- Pokhara Places of Interest Tour by Sharing Bus: $10
- Sarangkot Sunrise & Private Full-Day Highlights Tour: $10
- Chitwan: to Kathmandu/Pokhara Tourist Bus luxurious Sofa: $12
- Kathmandu: to Chitwan By Luxurious Sofa Tourist Bus or Back: $12
- Group Joining Sarangkot Sunrise Himalayas Tour: $12
- Budget Unguided Tour By Sharing Bus: $12
- Bandipur to Kathmandu Tourist Bus Ticket Luxury Sofa: $13
- Tourist Bus: Chitwan to Pokhara or Pokhara to Chitwan: $14
Tours and Activities in Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lake Titicaca (Puno) are as follows:
- 3-Hour Small Group Uros Floating Islands Tour: $8.00
- Uros Floating Island Tour: $10
- Half Day Tour Floating Islands of Uros Puno: $10
- Chullpas Tour of Sillustani Inca Cemetery: $18
- Uros Floating Islands Half-Day Tour from Puno: $22
- Sillustani Tour from Puno with Lake Umayo: $24
- Lake Titicaca Uros Floating Islands Half-Day Tour: $25
- Sillustani Tours: $26
- 4h Tour to Sillustani Inca Tombs from Puno: $28
- Sillustani Tombs Half Day Tour from Puno: $28
- Uros Taquile Island Full Day Group Tour from Puno: $29
- Sillustani Half Day Tour: $29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPokhara $5.77Lake Titicaca (Puno) $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pokhara and Lake Titicaca (Puno), we can see that Lake Titicaca (Puno) is more expensive. And not only is Pokhara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Pokhara is in Asia and Lake Titicaca (Puno) 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 Pokhara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pokhara 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 Lake Titicaca (Puno) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake Titicaca (Puno) than you might in Pokhara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pokhara Expensive? and Is Lake Titicaca (Puno) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pokhara or Lake Titicaca (Puno)?
Pokhara has a larger population, and is about 72% larger than the population of Lake Titicaca (Puno). When comparing the sizes of Pokhara and Lake Titicaca (Puno), 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.