Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Santo Domingo?
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 Santo Domingo or Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Santo Domingo and Cusco can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Santo Domingo or Cusco?
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, is a vibrant city that seamlessly blends history, culture, and modernity. Known for being the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas, Santo Domingo offers a wealth of experiences that cater to every type of traveler.
Traveling to Santo Domingo on a budget is entirely achievable with some strategic planning. Accommodations range from luxury hotels to budget-friendly hostels and guesthouses. The Zona Colonial, the historic district, offers several affordable lodging options that provide easy access to major attractions. Hostels offer comfortable accommodations and a chance to meet fellow travelers, too. Eating on a budget is also feasible in Santo Domingo. Local eateries, known as "comedores," serve traditional Dominican dishes at reasonable prices.
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 Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Santo Domingo Prices
Dominican Republic PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanto Domingo $106Cusco $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Santo Domingo is $106, 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 Santo Domingo and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanto Domingo $43Cusco $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanto Domingo $86Cusco $50
Compare Hotels in Santo Domingo and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Santo Domingo 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: Santo Domingo Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santo Domingo $4.87Cusco $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santo Domingo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santo Domingo:
- Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Santo Domingo City): $12
- Private Transfer from Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ): $15
- Santo Domingo Airport: One-Way or Round Trip Transfers: $20
- Experience at the Museo del Ron Dominicano, Private Transfer.: $28
- Santo Domingo to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) - Departure Transfer: $29
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ): $29
- Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) to Puerto Plata - Private Transfer: $36
- Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) to Santo Domingo - Arrival Transfer: $36
- Santo Domingo to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) - Departure Transfer: $36
- Santo Domingo Airport SDQ to Las Galeras/Samana-Arrival Transfer: $38
- Puerto Plata to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) - Private Transfer: $38
- Private Transfer from Las Americas Airport to Santo Domingo: $43
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$1.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- One-Way Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $7.00
- One-Way Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $7.00
- Cusco Airport Shared Arrival Transfer: $9.50
- Pickup from Cusco airport and transfer to your hotel in Private vehicle: $9.52
- Peru Cusco Airport (CUZ) Private Transfer to Cusco City: $10
- Private Transfer from Cusco Hotel to Airport: $11
- Private Transfer from your Hotel in Cusco to the Airport: $11
- Cusco Airport to hotel Transfer: Fast, Reliable Drop-Off: $12
- Transfer from hotel in Cusco to Airport Velasco Astete.: $12
- Private transfers from Cuzco Airport to Hotels and Sacred Valley: $12
- One-way transfer from the Airport to the Hotel - Cusco: $13
- Cusco Airport Pickup and Private Transfer: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Santo Domingo or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Santo Domingo 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 daySanto Domingo $57Cusco $25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santo Domingo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santo Domingo.
- Cooking Class in Santo Domingo:6 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $42
- Food Tour & Paradise Beach Day with Drinks: $140
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.36
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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
- Cusco Billingual Cooking Class at 6pm: $40
- 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
- Cooking Class in Sacred Valley 8 Recipes and Drinks: $55
- 3hr Cooking Class in Cusco with 7 traditional recipes & drinks: $55
- High-End Peruvian Cooking Class, Pisco Sour & San Pedro Market: $56
- Short Immersion Cooking Class: $60
- Cusco Food Tour: Andean Cuisine & City Tour: $63
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santo Domingo $15Cusco $32
Typical Entertainment Prices in Santo Domingo
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Santo Domingo are as follows:
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Snorkeling Tour$44
Tours and Activities in Santo Domingo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santo Domingo are as follows:
- Tour a las Mejores Playas del Caribe: $5.00
- The Battle of Santo Domingo 4D Experience: $5.00
- The Battle of Santo Domingo 4D Experience: $5.00
- Tainos 4D Experience in Santo Domingo's Colonial City: $6.00
- Taínos 4D Experience Discover the Legacy of the Caribbean: $6.00
- Colonial Zone Walking Tour with Coffee: $20
- Colonial Zone Tour with tasting: $20
- Colonial Zone Walking Tour with Tastings: $20
- Ron Barcelo Anejo Experience Factory Tour: $20
- Chocolate Tour + Optional Workshops: $21
- Santo Domingo Tuk Tuk Experience: $25
- Colonial Experience Tour: $30
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$2.96
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
- Discover Cusco with Guided Walking Tour: $10
- Cultural & Historic Walking Tour with Local Drinks: $10
- City Tour Cusco: $12
- Tour Valle Sur Typon, Pikillacta and Andahuaylillas: $13
- Cusco City Tour in Half Day: $13
- Cusco Open Bus Tour: $14
- City tour in Cusco.: $14
- Open Bus Cusco City Tour: $14
- Explore Cusco Highlights in a Walking Tour: $15
- City Tour Half Day Templo of the Sun, Sacsayhuaman y Qenqo: $15
- Half-Day City Tour of Cusco: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanto Domingo $8.02Cusco $10
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: $17
- Cusco Pub Crawl: Bar Tour, Drinks And Club with no waiting lines: $23
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santo Domingo and Cusco, we can see that Santo Domingo is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santo Domingo 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 Santo Domingo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santo Domingo 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 Santo Domingo Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santo Domingo or Cusco?
Santo Domingo has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Santo Domingo 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.