Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Road Town?
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 Road Town 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 Road Town 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: Road Town or Cusco?
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Road Town Prices
BVI PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRoad Town $355Cusco $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Road Town is $355, 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 Road Town and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRoad Town $206Cusco $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRoad Town $412Cusco $50
Compare Hotels in Road Town and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Road Town 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: Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Road Town $33Cusco $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Road Town
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Road Town:
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Taxi From Airport$30
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$1.19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- Airport Cusco Transfers: $69
- Assistance & Transfers Included | Hassle-free service in Cusco: $30
- Cusco Airport Arrival or Departure Transfer: $19
- Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $15
- Cusco Airport Pickup and Private Transfer: $15
- Cusco Airport Private Transfer with large Van: $90
- Cusco Airport Round-Trip Private Transfer: $30
- Cusco Airport to hotel Transfer: Fast, Reliable Drop-Off: $12
- Cusco Bus Station Arrival or Departure Transfer: $19
- Cusco to Puno Direct Bus Transfer: $37
- Direct Private Transfer From Cusco to Puno, English Local Speaking Driver: $291
- Full Day Rainbow Mountain Tour from Cusco with Hotel Transfer: $42
Is it cheaper to fly into Road Town or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Road Town 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 dayRoad Town $110Cusco $25
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.38
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Mango$0.60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Cusco Tunupa Restaurant Folk Show with Dinner: $32
- Bilingual Cooking Class with Pisco Cocktail in Cusco: $40
- Cooking Class: Lomo Saltado, Papa Huancaina, Pisco Sour in Cusco: $48
- Dinner Show at SUYU a Peruvian Gastronomic and Experience: $53
- Market tour & Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco: $54
- Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $54
- Cooking Class in Sacred Valley 8 Recipes and Drinks: $55
- High-End Peruvian Cooking Class, Pisco Sour & San Pedro Market: $57
- San Pedro Market Tour with Peruvian Cooking Class: $57
- Short Immersion Cooking Class: $60
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $65
- Andean Kitchens Cusco Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Road Town $91Cusco $32
Typical Entertainment Prices in Road Town
Here are a few typical costs in Road Town for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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1 Hr Horseback Ride in Sage Mt. Nat'l Pk$100
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$2.98
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: $5.00
- City tour in Cusco.: $9.80
- Cultural & Historic Walking Tour with Local Drinks: $10
- Cusco Walking tour and Koricancha Temple of the inkas tour: $10
- Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary® Admission Ticket: $10
- City Tour in Cusco with visit South American camelids: $11
- City Tour Cusco: $12
- Tour Valle Sur Typon, Pikillacta and Andahuaylillas: $13
- Historic Walking Tour with Pisco Sour and Local Music: $14
- City Tour Cusco, Sacsayhuamán, Tambomachay, Catedral Cusco: $14
- City Tour Half Day Templo of the Sun, Sacsayhuaman y Qenqo: $14
- Half Day City Tour with Sacsayhuamán & 4 Inca Ruins: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRoad Town $20Cusco $10
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
- Exclusive Pub Crawl with more than 10 Benefits: $25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Road Town and Cusco, we can see that Road Town is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Road Town is in Caribbean Islands and Cusco 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 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 Road Town would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Road Town 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 Road Town Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Road Town or Cusco?
Cusco has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Road Town. When comparing the sizes of Road Town 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.