Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu or Seoul?
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 Seoul or Machu Picchu?
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 Seoul and Machu Picchu can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Seoul or Machu Picchu?
Seoul
With a population of more than 11 million, Seoul is easily the largest city in South Korea. It is also the financial, political, and cultural capital of the country and has much to offer open minded travelers. It is often overlooked by travelers who instead head to Tokyo or Shanghai, but Seoul has a wide range of cultural experiences, food options, and historical sights. Seoul is a city of contrasts with ancient traditions, flashy technology, religious temples and a modern youth culture. It is also more affordable than many of the other Asian metropolis' to which it is often compared. If you're looking for an interesting and different experience that is a little off the tourist trail, Seoul can definitely offer that opportunity.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Seoul Prices
South Korea PricesMachu Picchu Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySeoul $119Machu Picchu $125
The average daily cost (per person) in Seoul is $119, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is $125. 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 Seoul and Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSeoul $50Machu Picchu $45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSeoul $100Machu Picchu $90
Compare Hotels in Seoul and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in Seoul 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: Seoul Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Seoul $14Machu Picchu $32
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seoul
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:
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Subway Card$3.34
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Short Taxi Ride$4.67
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Metro Ride$0.90
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Seoul City Pass Plus$6.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- Lotte World Theme Park Private Transfer: $222
- Private Everland Theme Park Transfer: $222
- Private Airport Transfer from/to Incheon International Airport.: $199
- Private Transfer from Seoul to Incheon Cruise Terminal(12 pax): $190
- Private Airport Transfer From Incheon Airport To Seoul(up to 12): $190
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport (1-12pax): $164
- Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $156
- Private transfer from Seoul hotel to Seoul Station and so on: $132
- Private Airport Transfer: Gimpo Airport → Hotel in the City: $125
- Lotte World 1Day Pass+Obesrvatoy+Private round transfer(Seoul): $115
- Incheon Airport transfer directly to Seoul city: $113
- Private Transfer Incheon Airport Seoul Korea: $110
Is it cheaper to fly into Seoul or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu and Seoul 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 daySeoul $48Machu Picchu $36
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
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Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$4.00
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Waffle$0.67
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Dippin' Dots$1.33
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Chicken Fried Rice$3.67
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Chicken Stick$1.33
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Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.27
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Lunch Buffet$4.00
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Donut$0.67
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Mushroom Burger$3.47
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Green Tea Ice Cream$2.20
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Udon & Sushi$4.67
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Fresh Burger$3.20
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Soba Noodles Lunch$3.00
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Bibimbap Lunch$3.34
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Fried Rice$3.67
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Vietnamese Dinner$6.34
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Breakfast and Coffee for 2$6.34
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Donut$1.67
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seoul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
- Guided Street Food Tour at Namdaemun Market: $45
- Seoul Night Run for Local-Favorite Korean BBQ Dinner: $50
- [Wine & K-BBQ] A Perfect Pairing Dinner in Sinchon: $51
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $57
- Sunset Walking Tour in Naksan Park with Dinner: $60
- Wine & K-BBQ: A Perfect Pairing Dinner: $60
- Kimchi Dishes Cooking Class with Wine Pairing: $61
- Korean Home Style Cooking Class in Gangnam Seoul: $62
- Dinner at a Local's Hanok & Seoul's Night Life: $62
- Explore Seoul's Flavors on Group Cooking Class Adventure: $63
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $64
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $67
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Seoul $24Machu Picchu $80
Typical Entertainment Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:
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Palace Tickets$5.34
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Movie Ticket$5.34
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Kimchi Museum$2.00
Tours and Activities in Seoul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
- (Private tour) Nami Island + Railbike + Garden of morning calm: $260
- (Small Group) Art and Architecture tour of Seoul: $121
- 2-Hour Private Kayaking and Paddleboarding Experience in Hanriver: $30
- 2026 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best: DMZ Tour from Seoul: $45
- 3-Hour Self-guided Sokcho Tour with Private Transportation: $30
- ARMY Must Visit BTS Tour in Seoul: $48
- All Inclusive Korean Drinking Culture Experience with Korean BBQ: $99
- Alpaca World & Nami Island Private Tour: $285
- Alternative A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Amazing DMZ Tour: $48
- Amazing Night Tour 2: $52
- Andong Hahoe Village [UNESCO site] Premium Private Tour from Seoul: $274
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$2.94
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySeoul $11Machu Picchu $7.47
Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Discover Makgeolli: Inside Seoul's Hidden Urban Brewery: $9.69
- The Seoul Pub Crawl Official: $22
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $26
- LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl and Drag Show with Local Drag Queen: $28
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $46
- Soju Tasting at Distillery: $51
- Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $57
- Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $67
- Learn and Craft Makgeolli in a Traditional Brewery: $78
- Itaewon Premium Pub Crawl with VIP Bottle Service: $83
- From Yeongdong Day Trip with Wine Tasting and Janggu: $91
When comparing the travel costs between Seoul and Machu Picchu, we can see that Machu Picchu is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Seoul is in Asia and Machu Picchu is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Seoul 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.