Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu or Reykjavik?
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 Reykjavik or Machu Picchu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Reykjavik or Machu Picchu, 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: Reykjavik or Machu Picchu?
Reykjavik
Reykjavik is the capital and largest city in the country of Iceland. The city is where the vast majority of the country's population resides and the urban area has about 200,000 residents. The city is sprawling, with a large area covered in suburbs. The the city center is quite compact, with many interesting and colorful houses. There are a lot of things that attract tourists to this city, including an interesting culture and history as well as plenty of shopping and dining opportunities.
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 Budget Tours to Iceland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Iceland, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Reykjavik Prices
Iceland PricesMachu Picchu Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayReykjavik $298Machu Picchu $125
The average daily cost (per person) in Reykjavik is $298, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is $125. 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 Reykjavik and Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personReykjavik $155Machu Picchu $45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomReykjavik $310Machu Picchu $90
Compare Hotels in Reykjavik and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in Reykjavik 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: Reykjavik Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Reykjavik $51Machu Picchu $32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Reykjavik
Also for Reykjavik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private 7-hour Airport/Cruise Transfer & Tour: $1,831
- Landmannalaugar Super Jeep All Year Transfer: $1,702
- Silver Circle Tour & Roundtrip Airport Transfer: $1,386
- Private 4-Hour Airport/Cruise Transfer & Tour: $1,221
- Private 3-Hour Airport/Cruise Transfer & Tour: $977
- Blue Lagoon with Private Roundtrip Transfer: $613
- From Skarfabakki: Blue Lagoon Round-Trip Transfer: $524
- Blue Lagoon Luxury Spa with Private Transfer: $400
- From ATV Ride and Blue Lagoon Tour with Transfer: $395
- Keflavik Airport (KEF): Transfer to Skarfabakki Cruise Port: $361
- Hvammsvik Hot Springs: Private Return Transfer with Entrance: $343
- Premium Private Transfer from Reykjavik to Keflavik Airport!: $290
Is it cheaper to fly into Reykjavik or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu and Reykjavik 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 dayReykjavik $58Machu Picchu $36
Typical Food Prices in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner (Fish Market)$198
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Harbor Cruise with 3-Course Dinner: $137
- Food Tour by locals: $140
- Authentic Reykjavik Food Tour with Flea Market Delights: $146
- Icelandic Food Tour: $147
- The Reykjavik Harbor Food Tour: $147
- 3-Hour Shared Christmas Food Tour with Guide in Reykjavik: $149
- Food Tour with 6+ Tastings of Icelandic Classics: $154
- The Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour: $171
- Christmas Food Tour with Tastings and Drinks: $171
- Reykjavík All In One Food Tour - Eat, Drink & Explore with Locals: $204
- Private Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour: $241
- Private Vegetarian Reykjavik Food Tour: $241
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Reykjavik $80Machu Picchu $80
Typical Entertainment Prices in Reykjavik
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Reykjavik's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Art Museum$12
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Wine and Spa$32
Tours and Activities in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Hour ATV Quad Tour : Pick up from Reykjavik (2 persons per ATV): $140
- 1+ hour Private Horse riding tour from Reykjavík/Mosfellsbær: $169
- 1-Hour Helicopter Tour in Iceland: The Geothermal Tour: $553
- 1-Hour Small Group Sightseeing Boat Tour in Vestmannaeyjar: $163
- 1.5 hour ATV Mountain Peak adventure with pickup from Reykjavik: $149
- 2-Hour Buggy Adventure Tour out off Reykjavik: $264
- 2.5 hour Twin Peaks ATV Adventure with pickup from Reykjavik: $179
- 3 Days Tour in South Coast and Golden Circle with Chinese Guide: $159
- 3-Hour Volcanic Springs ATV Adventure From Reykjavik: $339
- Aurora by Boat Reykjavik Adventure: $85
- Become the Hunter Live Self Drive Aurora Hunting Experience: $82
- Bonfires and Fireworks New Years Eve Tour in Reykjavik: $190
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$2.94
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayReykjavik $31Machu Picchu $7.47
Typical Alcohol Prices in Reykjavik
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Reykjavik are as follows:
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Beer$9.76
Sample the Local Flavors in Reykjavik
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Reykjavik:
- Eimverk Distillery Guided Tour with Tasting: $48
- Craft Beer and Brewery Tour in Iceland: $48
- Reykjavík Pub Crawl Tour with Drinks and Games: $115
- Icelandic Bar Crawl Experience: $160
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Reykjavik and Machu Picchu, we can see that Reykjavik is more expensive. And not only is Machu Picchu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik 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.