Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Rome?
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 Rome 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 Rome 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: Rome or Cusco?
Rome
Rome is the kind of city that refuses to stay in the past, even though history is everywhere you look. Ancient ruins rise beside buzzing cafes, scooters zip past Renaissance palaces, and quiet cobblestone lanes suddenly open onto grand piazzas filled with fountains, churches, and street performers. It is a city of layers: the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica, neighborhood trattorias, stylish boutiques, and late-night gelato walks all woven together into one unforgettable experience. Whether you come for the art, the food, the history, or the simple pleasure of wandering without a plan, Rome has a way of making every day feel like a discovery.
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 Luxury Tours to Italy, The Best Budget Tours to Italy, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Rome Prices
Italy PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRome €207Cusco €57
The average daily cost (per person) in Rome is €207, while the average daily cost in Cusco is €57. 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 Rome and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRome €90Cusco €22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRome €180Cusco €44
Compare Hotels in Rome and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Rome 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: Rome Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rome €21Cusco €9.55
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:
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Metro Ride (for Two)€2.00
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Train to the Airport€15
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Taxi to Airport€45
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Bicycle Rental (Full Day)€10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
- Bus Transfer from Fiumicino Airport to Vatican City: $7.00
- Transfer Ciampino Airport - Rome City Center Shuttle Bus: $7.00
- Transfer Rome center - Fiumicino airport: $8.16
- Transfer Ciampino Airport - Rome center: $9.33
- Transfer Fiumicino Airport from/to Vaticano shuttle bus: $9.33
- Bus Transfer from Rome to Milan or Vice Versa: $9.42
- Transfer from Rome to Castel Romano Designer Outlet: $23
- Rome from Civitavecchia Transfer with Optional Open Bus: $30
- Transfer from Civitavecchia by train with Rome HopOnHopOff Option: $30
- Luxury Private Transfer Rome Center to Fiumicino Airport: $47
- Rome Private Transfer with Authentic Italian Breakfast: $47
- Ciampino to Rome transfer: $48
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€1.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- Airport Transfer (Private Service): $25
- Airport Transfer from Juliaca to Puno: $59
- Cusco Airport Arrival or Departure Transfer: $19
- Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $15
- Cusco Airport Pick-Up (Private Transfer to your Cusco Hotel).: $23
- Cusco Airport Pickup and Private Transfer: $15
- Cusco Airport Shared Arrival Transfer: $9.50
- Cusco Airport Transfer: Private Taxi, Van & SUV: $24
- Cusco Airport to hotel Transfer: Fast, Reliable Drop-Off: $12
- Cusco Private Airport Transfer Arrival Departure or Round Trip: $15
- Cusco to Puno Direct Bus Transfer: $37
- Alpaca and Llama Farm Tour with Transfer & Weaving Demo: $34
Is it cheaper to fly into Rome or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Rome 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 dayRome €84Cusco €22
Typical Food Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)€14
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4 Ice Cream Sandwiches€2.99
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Cafe e doce€4.00
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Pizza (Fast Food)€2.65
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)€32
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Cheese and bread€10
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Espresso€2.00
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Dinner€58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
- Pizzas and Piazzas: A Self-Guided Walk of Rome’s Culinary Culture: $20
- Hard Rock Cafe Rome with Set Lunch or Dinner: $34
- Rome Testaccio Market Food Tour Eat Like a Local: $40
- Rome Food Tour for Breakfast Lovers: $41
- Milan Street Food Tour and City Guided Sightseeing: $45
- Rome Early Morning Breakfast and Sightseeing Food Tour: $45
- Rome Pizza Making Class for Families in Trastevere: $45
- Rome Food Tour: Tastings in the Jewish Ghetto & Campo de' Fiori: $45
- Cappuccino, Moka and Tiramisù Cooking Class in Central Rome: $47
- Rome Street Food Tour Eat Like a Local: $51
- Rome's Street Food Tour with Local Tastings & Sightseeing: $52
- Tasty Trastevere Street Food Tour in Rome from Tiberine Island to Ponte Sisto: $52
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich€2.06
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Mango€0.52
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
- 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
- Traditional Peruvian Cooking Class and Market Tour in Cusco: $57
- Short Immersion Cooking Class: $60
- Cusco Food Tour: Andean Cuisine & City Tour: $63
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $65
- Cusco Cooking Classes and San Pedro Market Tour: $65
- Cusco Street Food Tour and Pisco Tasting Experience: $69
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rome €36Cusco €28
Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome
Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)€69
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Coliseum Tickets (for Two)€33
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Roma Pass€30
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Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)€20
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Segway Tour€75
Tours and Activities in Rome
Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Rome Best Kept Secrets: Self-Guided City Tour: $3.49
- Ancient City Walking Tour at Twilight: $4.08
- Colosseum and Roman Forum Sightseeing Area Walking Tour: $4.67
- Historical Walking Tour in Rome City Center with Hidden Gems: $4.67
- Rome Art Walking Tour Who Killed Caravaggio: $4.67
- Audio guided tour of the historic center of Rome: $4.67
- Tour of Rome to Visit the Most Iconic Monuments: $5.00
- Rome Timeless Trail Self Guided Walking Tour with App: $5.50
- Pantheon Rome Entry Ticket: $5.83
- Pantheon Rome Timed Entry Ticket and optional Minerva: $5.83
- Rome Essential : Self-Guided Tour created by local Official Guide: $5.83
- Rome Pantheon Entry Experience With Audio: $5.83
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€2.58
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
- Free Walking tour in Cusco: $5.00
- Half Day City Tour in Cusco: $9.60
- City Tour - Cusco: $10
- Cusco Walking tour and Koricancha Temple of the inkas tour: $10
- City Tour - Lugares destacado en Cusco + Experiencia Fotográfica: $12
- Half-Day Cusco City Tour – Explore History, Culture & Inca Ruins: $12
- City Tour Cusco: $12
- City Tour in Cusco with visit South American camelids: $12
- Tour Valle Sur Typon, Pikillacta and Andahuaylillas: $13
- City tour in Cusco.: $14
- Half-Day City Tour with Sacsayhuaman and Qenqo: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRome €18Cusco €9.07
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
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Bottle of Wine€6.50
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Pint of Beer€6.34
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Beer€10
Sample the Local Flavors in Rome
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
- Cabaret and Burlesque Show at Rome: $35
- Cabaret and Burlesque Show: $35
- Rome’s Exclusive Wine Tasting: Sip Near the Colosseum!: $38
- Wine Tasting and Food Pairing with gelato in Trastevere: $45
- Art, Wine & Food Experience–The Ultimate Roman Wine Tasting: $47
- Dolce Vita Burlesque show: $58
- Burlesque lessons with the best Italian stars: $58
- Frascati Wine Tasting Experience in the Old Town: $61
- Trastevere and Jewish Ghetto Food and Wine Tour: $61
- Wine Tasting and Food Pairing in Underground Cellar in Rome: $63
- Wine Tasting Cold cuts and Rare Cheeses in Grotta a Testaccio: $70
- Private Wine Tasting in Trastevere: $76
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: Bar Tour, Drinks And Club with no waiting lines: $23
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rome and Cusco, we can see that Rome is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rome is in Europe 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 Rome would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rome 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 Rome Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rome or Cusco?
Rome has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Rome 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.