Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Santiago?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Santiago or Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Santiago and Cusco. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Santiago or Cusco?
Santiago
Santiago is the capital city of Chile. It is centrally located in the long and narrow country, making it a good jumping off point to explore everywhere else. It's convenient location means that you can go skiing in the Andes one day, and hang out at the beach the next.
Santiago has a cool semi-arid climate that is similar to Mediterranean climates. The summers, which are between November and March, are warm and dry. The temperatures climb to around 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The winters, between June and August, are humid with cold mornings. The daily highs are around 55 degrees Fahrenheit and the lows stay a few degrees above freezing. Rain is more common in the winter months and the dry season is between December and March.
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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, The Best Luxury Tours to Chile, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
-
Santiago Prices
Chile PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantiago $161Cusco $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Santiago is $161, 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 Santiago and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantiago $117Cusco $25
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantiago $234Cusco $50
Compare Hotels in Santiago and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Santiago 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: Santiago Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santiago $5.81Cusco $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santiago
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santiago:
-
Metro Ride$1.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago:
- Official Transfer to Concha y Toro Winery: $27
- Private Transfer to Santiago Airport (SCL): $29
- Private Santiago Airport to Santiago Transfer: $32
- Private Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotel in Santiago: $37
- Farellones Full Day Roundtrip Transfer: $40
- Transfer Santiago de Chile airport: $40
- Airport Private Transfer to/from Santiago de Chile: $40
- Private Transfer from Airport to Santiago, Chile: $43
- Valle Nevado Ski Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $45
- Santiago to Santiago Airport (SCL) - Departure Private Transfer: $47
- Private Transfer from Santiago Hotel to Santiago Airport: $49
- Transfer from Santiago Airport to Santiago Centro Commune: $52
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cusco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cusco:
-
Taxi Ride$1.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- One-Way Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $7.00
- Cusco Airport Pick-Up – Private Transfer to Your Hotel: $7.50
- Private Transfer from your Hotel in Cusco to the Airport: $9.46
- Private Transfer from Cusco Airport to Hotels: $9.46
- Private Shuttle Transfer from Cusco Airport (CUZ) to Hotels in Cusco: $9.46
- Transfer Airport Round Trip Cusco to Hotel in Cusco: $9.46
- Pickup from Cusco airport and transfer to your hotel in Private vehicle: $9.52
- Peru Cusco Airport (CUZ) Private Transfer to Cusco City: $10
- Cusco Airport Pickup and Private Transfer: $12
- Transfer Cusco Airport - Hotel or Train Station: $12
- Private transfers from Cuzco Airport to Hotels and Sacred Valley: $12
- Transfer from hotel in Cusco to Airport Velasco Astete.: $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Santiago or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Santiago 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
-
Food Meals for one daySantiago $24Cusco $25
Typical Food Prices in Santiago
Some typical examples of dining costs in Santiago are as follows:
-
Empanada$2.02
-
Hamburger$2.69
-
Dinner$28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santiago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago.
- Legacy Family Tour Lunch or Dinner Pairing 4 Strokes: $40
- Street Food Tour in Santiago with a Local Guide: $58
- Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $82
- 4-Hour Boozy Chilean Cooking Class in Santiago: $85
- Food Tour STGO, Eat like Locals!: $99
- Traditional Dinner Show in Santiago: $107
- Lastarria Food Tour: Wine, Bites & Social Culinary Experience: $109
- Santiago Food Tour: Bohemian Flavors and Local Gems: $109
- Dinner Show in Bali Hai with Wine refill and transportation: $114
- Small-Group Tour: Night City Tour with Santa Lucia Hill and Dinner Show: $116
- Private Dinner & Chilean Folk Show with Transfers: $116
- Alyan Winery Sunset with Wine Tastings and Dinner: $117
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
-
Sandwich$2.35
-
Mango$0.59
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
- Cusco Tunupa Restaurant Folk Show with Dinner: $32
- Bilingual Cooking Class with Pisco Cocktail in Cusco: $40
- Cusco Billingual Cooking Class at 6pm: $40
- Cooking Class: Lomo Saltado, Papa Huancaina & Pisco Sour in Cusco: $51
- Market-to-Table Peruvian Cooking Class and Cocktail in Cusco: $52
- Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $54
- Cooking Class in Sacred Valley 8 Recipes and Drinks: $55
- Cusco Cooking Class Adventure: $55
- Traditional Peruvian Cooking Class and Market Tour in Cusco: $57
- Cusco Food Tour: Andean Cuisine & City Tour: $63
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $65
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santiago $51Cusco $32
Tours and Activities in Santiago
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santiago are as follows:
- Santiago Cathedral's Bell Tower Official Tour: $9.00
- A historical tour of Santiago, Chile: $18
- Cable Car Admission Ticket: $18
- Santiago City Tour: Living History and Local Food Tasting: $20
- Guided City Tour through the historic center of Santiago: $23
- Private Guided Walking Tour of the City Center: $24
- Guided Walking Tour of the Historical Old Town: $25
- Yungay, Memory, Art, and Neighborhood Walking Tour: $25
- Santiago : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $26
- "Tour Tradicional" Viña Cousiño Macul Oficial español: $27
- Guided Walking Tour through the Historic Center: $29
- Andes Snow Experience Farellones Valle Nevado and from Santiago: $30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Cusco are as follows:
-
Salsa Class$2.94
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- Free Walking tour in Cusco: $5.00
- Half Day Walking Tour of Cusco: $5.00
- Half Day City Tour in Cusco: $9.60
- City Tour - Cusco: $10
- Cultural & Historic Walking Tour with Local Drinks: $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
- Historic Walking Tour with Pisco Sour and Local Music: $14
- Open Bus Cusco City Tour: $14
- Half-Day City Tour with Sacsayhuaman and Qenqo: $15
- Cusco City Tour 1/2 Day: $15
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySantiago $9.02Cusco $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago
Also in Santiago, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Traditional Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Official English: $27
- Ludwig's Original Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $34
- "Premium Wine Tour" Viña Cousiño Macul Official english: $45
- Premium Wine Tour in Viña Cousiño Macul Spanish official: $45
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $59
- Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, with Wine Tasting: $60
- Undurraga Winery Tour with Entry and Wine Tasting: $63
- Undurraga Wine tour: $70
- Santa Carolina History and Wine Tasting in Santiago: $70
- Undurraga Wine Tasting Tour from Santiago: $75
- Valparaiso Port and Viña del Mar with Casablanca Wine Tasting: $75
- Half Day Trip to Undurraga Vineyard from Santiago - Wine Tasting Included: $75
Sample the Local Flavors in Cusco
Also in Cusco, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Discover Cusco Nightlife with Bar Crawl Cusco: $16
- Cusco Pub Crawl: Cusco Bar Hopping Experience: $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santiago and Cusco, we can see that Santiago is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Santiago would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santiago 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 Santiago Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santiago or Cusco?
Santiago has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Santiago 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.