Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu or Salzburg?
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 Salzburg or Machu Picchu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Salzburg 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: Salzburg or Machu Picchu?
Salzburg
Most people know of Salzburg from its roll in the infamous movie "The Sound of Music." Every child who fell in love with this movie knows the gazebo scene in the rain, or could sing "My Favorite Things" as they skip down the Salzach River, but once you get past the obvious cliches, you can see that Salzburg is a city with a lot of depth and culture aside from the movie.
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 2-Week Tours in Austria, The Best Tours for Seniors to Austria, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Salzburg Prices
Austria PricesMachu Picchu Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySalzburg €185Machu Picchu €104
The average daily cost (per person) in Salzburg is €185, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is €104. 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 Salzburg and Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSalzburg €91Machu Picchu €38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSalzburg €182Machu Picchu €76
Compare Hotels in Salzburg and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in Salzburg 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: Salzburg Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Salzburg €19Machu Picchu €27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salzburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salzburg:
- Hallstatt daytrip: Transfer to Hallstatt + Salzburg and back: $523
- Salzburg daytrip: Private transfer to Salzburg and back: $405
- Private Transfer from Salzburg to Vienna: Door-to-door, English-speaking driver: $295
- Saalbach-Hinterglemm to Innsbruck Airport(INN)-Departure Transfer: $292
- From Salzburg to Munich Airport- Private Transfer - punctual & friendly Driver: $277
- Private Transfer Salzburg → Munich, Hotel-to-Hotel, English-speaking driver: $277
- Private Transfer from Salzburg to Munich With 2h of Sightseeing: $277
- Private transfer from Salzburg to Zell am See ski area: $264
- Private transfer from Salzburg to Passau with Local English Speaking Driver: $256
- Private Transfer From Zell am See To Munich: $245
- Private Salzburg transfer : $239
- Private Transfer From Zell am See To Salzburg, English Speaking Driver: $202
Is it cheaper to fly into Salzburg or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu and Salzburg 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 daySalzburg €71Machu Picchu €30
Typical Food Prices in Salzburg
Some typical examples of dining costs in Salzburg are as follows:
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Lunch Salad€9.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salzburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Salzburg.
- Austrian Apple Strudel Cooking Class including Lunch in Salzburg: $69
- Salzburg Christmas Cookies and Apple Strudel Cooking Lesson: $69
- Apple Strudel & Prezel Cooking Class incl. Dinner & Music: $94
- Best of Mozart Concert and Dinner or VIP Dinner at Fortress Hohensalzburg: $98
- Mozart and Advent/Christmas Concert with Dinner at Fortress Hohensalzburg: $98
- Mozart Dinner Concert in Salzburg: $101
- Mozart Concert and Dinner or VIP Dinner at Fortress Salzburg with River Cruise: $129
- Sound of Music Tour with Edelweiss Cooking Class in Salzburg: $149
- Best of Mozart Concert and GOLDEN VIP Dinner at Fortress Hohensalzburg: $153
- Private Knödel (Austrian Dumplings) Cooking Class with a Chef: $178
- Private Artisanal Charcuterie "Marende" Cooking Class with a Chef: $274
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Salzburg €30Machu Picchu €66
Tours and Activities in Salzburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Salzburg are as follows:
- 2-Hour Private Salzburg City Highlights Tour: $298
- A day in the life of Salzburg - Private tour with a local: $252
- A taste of An audio tour through the birthplace of Mozart: $12
- Amphibious Splash Tour on the water & on the land in Salzburg: $52
- Best of Mozart Concert at Fortress Hohensalzburg with River Cruise: $80
- Best of Salzburg 1-Hour Private Sightseeing Tour: $179
- Charming Sankt Gilgen Family Discovery Walking Tour: $178
- Discover Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- DomQuartier Salzburg Residence and Cathedral Private Tour: $249
- Eagle's Nest & WWII Bunkers & Berchtesgaden Tour from Salzburg: $297
- Eagle's Nest Hiking Tour: $238
- Eagle’s Nest E-Bike Tour in a Small Group: $226
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€2.44
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 daySalzburg €26Machu Picchu €6.20
Typical Alcohol Prices in Salzburg
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Salzburg:
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Beer€3.70
Sample the Local Flavors in Salzburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Salzburg:
- Salzburg Brewery Tour: $60
- Cheers to Beer &Wine Tasting with local Food Pairing: $95
- Private Austrian Wine Tasting with a Pro-Sommelière: $204
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salzburg and Machu Picchu, we can see that Salzburg is more expensive. And not only is Machu Picchu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Salzburg 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 Salzburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Salzburg 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 Salzburg 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.