Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Punta del Este?
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 Punta del Este or Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Punta del Este 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: Punta del Este or Cusco?
Punta del Este
Punta del Este with its many beaches, elegant seaside homes, yacht harbor, high-rise apartment buildings, pricey hotels, ardent night scene and glitzy restaurants is a chic beach resort town in Uruguay. Many tourists come from Brazil and Argentina, on the other side of the Rio de la Plata, to get some nice sun and lay on the beach for a weekend getaway. Punta del Este is more expensive than other areas in Uruguay and has been called the Monaco of South America. Tourist season varies wildly from totally deserted in the winter to very crowded in the summer.
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 Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Punta del Este Prices
Uruguay PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta del Este $116Cusco $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta del Este is $116, while the average daily cost in Cusco is $66. 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 Punta del Este and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta del Este $52Cusco $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta del Este $104Cusco $50
Compare Hotels in Punta del Este and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Punta del Este 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: Punta del Este Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta del Este $21Cusco $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta del Este
Also for Punta del Este, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Punta del Este Airport Private Transfer: $60
- Private Transfer to Punta del Este Airport: $60
- Private Transfer - Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Punta Del Este Port: $114
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Cruise Port to Montevideo: $165
- Private Transfer from Montevideo to Punta Del Este Cruise Port: $165
- Private Transfer to Punta del Este Special Art Icons Tour: $185
- Bodega Garzon Wine Experience with Private Transfer: $200
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Port to Montevideo hotels: $271
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$1.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- Ollantaytambo train station to Cuzco RoundTrip Private Transfer: $212
- Private Transfer from Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ) Airport to Valle Sagrado: $172
- Private Transfer from Valle Sagrado to Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ) Airport: $169
- Cuzco to Ollantaytambo Train Station - Departure Private Transfer: $106
- Ollantaytambo Train Station to Cuzco - Arrival Private Transfer: $106
- Transfer Cusco - Ollantaytambo train station: $95
- Private Transfer from Cusco Hotel, airport to Sacred Valley: $90
- Airport Cusco Transfers: $69
- Lake Humantay Full Day Trip with Transfers, Breakfast and Lunch: $42
- Cuzco city or airport to Ollantaytambo train station -Departure Private Transfer: $41
- Ollantaytambo train station to Cusco city - Arrival Transfer: $41
- Transfer Cusco to Urubamba: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta del Este or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Punta del Este 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 dayPunta del Este $51Cusco $25
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.35
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Mango$0.59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Short Peruvian Cooking Class by Pete: $30
- Bilingual Cooking Class with Pisco Cocktail in Cusco: $40
- Cusco Billingual Cooking Class at 6pm: $40
- Market-to-Table Peruvian Cooking Class and Cocktail in Cusco: $52
- Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $54
- Cusco Cooking Class Adventure: $55
- Cooking Class in Sacred Valley 8 Recipes and Drinks: $55
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $65
- Cooking Class in Ollantaytambo: $68
- Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco: $69
- Cooking Class Peruvian Culinary Experience with Local Chefs: $70
- Best Cusco walking tour: dinner street food tasting: $74
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta del Este $10Cusco $32
Tours and Activities in Punta del Este
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta del Este.
- City Highlights and Hidden Gems Guided Tour: $10
- Guided Tour of the Winery Viña Edén: $19
- Guided Tour of Vineyards: $33
- Punta del Este Classic City Tour with Sunset at Casapueblo: $40
- Punta del Este Full-Day Guided Tour: $43
- Discovering Half-Day City Tour: $47
- Punta del Este Shore Tour for Brazilian Cruise Passengers: $49
- Punta del Este City Tour for Cruisers: $50
- Punta del Este Sightseeing Tour: $50
- Shore Excursion for Cruisers: $59
- Punta del Este Shore Tour for Cruise Passengers: $59
- From Montevideo: Punta del Este Full-Day City Tour: $62
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$2.94
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 Rainbow Mountain Tour From Cusco: $60
- 1 Day Rainbow Mountain Walking Tour: $35
- 1 Day Sacred Valley Tour with Moray from Cusco: $61
- 1-Day Humantay Lake Tour From Cusco: $60
- 1-Day Tour Sacred Valley From Cusco: $120
- 2 Day Machu Picchu Tour by Car: $150
- 2 Day Machu Picchu by Car Tour Scenic Hike and Exploration: $130
- 2-Day Machu Picchu by Car Tour: $239
- 2-Day Private Tour Humantay Lake and Salkantay Pass: $199
- 2-Day Rainbow Mountain Tour with Hotel Stay: $185
- 2-Day Tour to Floating Islands and Puno From Cusco: $238
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta del Este $7.41Cusco $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Punta del Este
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Punta del Este:
- Wine Tasting: $42
- Wine Lovers - Fun Wine Tasting outside Punta del Este!: $199
Sample the Local Flavors in Cusco
Also in Cusco, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Cusco Pub Crawl: Cusco Bar Hopping Experience: $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta del Este and Cusco, we can see that Punta del Este is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Punta del Este would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Punta del Este 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 Punta del Este Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Punta del Este or Cusco?
Cusco has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Punta del Este. When comparing the sizes of Punta del Este 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.