Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu 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 Machu Picchu?
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 Machu Picchu 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 Machu Picchu?
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.
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 Luxury Tours to Italy, The Best Budget Tours to Italy, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Rome Prices
Italy PricesMachu Picchu Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRome €207Machu Picchu €110
The average daily cost (per person) in Rome is €207, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is €110. 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 Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRome €90Machu Picchu €40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRome €180Machu Picchu €80
Compare Hotels in Rome and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in Rome 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: Rome Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rome €21Machu Picchu €28
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:
- Transfer from Civitavecchia 4 people: $292
- Transfer services from airports to rome for up to 4 persons: $292
- Private transfer from Rome to S. Felice Circeo, Sabaudia or Terracina: $292
- Transfer from Fiumicino/Ciampino/Rome to Civitavecchia Port: $291
- Private Express Tour of Roman Catacombs with Transfer: $290
- Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to Saturnia - Arrival Private Transfer: $286
- Private Civitavecchia Port Transfer From / To Rome City Center: $286
- Private Luxury Transfer to the Famous Points of Rome center: $282
- Private Transfer Civitavecchia Port to/from Rome City & Airport: $280
- Private transfer from Rome to Civitavecchia Port - Round trip: $276
- Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to Chianciano - Arrival Private Transfer: $274
- PreCruise Rome Tour Free Transfer to Ship in Port Civitavecchia: $270
Is it cheaper to fly into Rome or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu 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 €84Machu Picchu €32
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rome €36Machu Picchu €70
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:
- " Private pantheon tour: Explore Rome's Divine masterpiece": $104
- "Rome of the Popes" E-bike Tour with Guide for Small Groups: $84
- 1 Hour Pantheon Tour: A Time Travel Experience in Rome + Ebook: $100
- 1,5H Historical City Center Tour on a Golf Cart at Rome: $81
- 1h Colosseum Guided Tour + Roman Forum access: $69
- 2-Hour Private Shopping Tour in Rome with Personal Stylist - Personal Shopper: $117
- 2-Hour Walking Tour in Rome's Enchanting Jewish Ghetto: $84
- 2.5 Hours Private Tour in Rome on a Vintage Fiat 500 open cabrio: $185
- 3 Hour Private Tour of Rome by Motorcycle: $187
- 3 Hours Rome Tour by Golf Car: $117
- 3-Hour Catacumbs and Appian Way Park Guided Tour in Golf Car Pickup: $206
- 3-Hour Private Tour of Rome with Golf Cart: $157
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€2.58
Tours and Activities in Machu Picchu
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Machu Picchu.
- Private & Flexible 3-Hour Guided Tour of Machu Picchu: $60
- Private Tour Guide Service: $98
- Machu Picchu Morning Combo: Entrance Ticket, Bus and Guide: $196
- Machu Picchu Small-Group Combo: Entrance Ticket, Bus & Guide: $196
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRome €18Machu Picchu €6.55
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rome and Machu Picchu, we can see that Rome is more expensive. And not only is Machu Picchu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rome 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 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 Machu Picchu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rome 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.