Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Recife?
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 Recife 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 Recife 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: Recife or Cusco?
Recife
One of the largest cities on Brazil's northeast coast, Recife is also the capital of the state of Pernambuco. The city gets its name from the Portuguese word for "reef," as it was built around a landscape of natural reef beaches. Many people visit to enjoy these beaches, experience the culture, and explore the history of this important Brazilian city.
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 Wildlife Tours to Brazil, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Recife Prices
Brazil PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRecife $221Cusco $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Recife is $221, 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 Recife and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRecife $89Cusco $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRecife $178Cusco $50
Compare Hotels in Recife and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Recife 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: Recife Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Recife $8.60Cusco $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Recife
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Recife:
- Private Transfer from Olinda to Recife (REC) Airport: $50
- Departure Transfer from Olinda to Recife Airport: $100
- Private Transfer from Igarassu to Recife (REC) Airport: $111
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:
- One-Way Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $7.00
- One-Way Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $7.00
- Cusco Airport Pick-Up – Private Transfer to Your Hotel: $7.50
- Private Transfer: Airport - Hotel in Cusco/Sacred Valley or VV: $9.00
- Private Transfer from your Hotel in Cusco to the Airport: $9.46
- Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $9.50
- Pickup from Cusco airport and transfer to your hotel in Private vehicle: $9.52
- Transfer Cusco Airport - Hotel or Train Station: $12
- Transfer from hotel in Cusco to Airport Velasco Astete.: $12
- One-way transfer from the Airport to the Hotel - Cusco: $13
- Private Transfer: Cusco Hotel to Airport: $15
- Cusco Private Airport Transfer Arrival Departure or Round Trip: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Recife or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Recife 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 dayRecife $123Cusco $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.
- Bilingual Cooking Class with Pisco Cocktail in Cusco: $40
- Market-to-Table Peruvian Cooking Class and Cocktail in Cusco: $52
- Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $54
- Cooking Class in Sacred Valley 8 Recipes and Drinks: $55
- Traditional Peruvian Cooking Class and Market Tour in Cusco: $57
- Cusco Food Tour: Andean Cuisine & City Tour: $63
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $65
- Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco: $69
- Cusco Street Food Tour and Pisco Tasting Experience: $69
- Cooking Class Peruvian Culinary Experience with Local Chefs: $70
- Cusco Authentic Food Tour with 9 Locals Favorites Tastings: $76
- Cusco Tour at Night: Planetarium, Dinner & Pisco Sour: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Recife $11Cusco $32
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:
- Half Day Walking Tour of Cusco: $4.00
- City Tour - Cusco: $10
- Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary® Admission Ticket: $10
- Discover Cusco with Guided Walking Tour: $10
- Half-Day Cusco City Tour – Explore History, Culture & Inca Ruins: $12
- City Tour Cusco: $12
- City Tour - Lugares destacado en Cusco + Experiencia Fotográfica: $12
- City Tour in Cusco with visit South American camelids: $12
- Cusco City Tour in Half Day: $13
- Historic Walking Tour with Pisco Sour and Local Music: $14
- City tour in Cusco.: $14
- Half-Day City Tour of Cusco: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRecife -Cusco $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Cusco
Also in Cusco, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Discover Cusco Nightlife with Bar Crawl Cusco: $16
- Cusco Pub Crawl: Bar Tour, Drinks And Club with no waiting lines: $23
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Recife and Cusco, we can see that Recife 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 Recife would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Recife 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 Recife Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Recife or Cusco?
Recife has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Recife 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.