A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Skopje vs. Cusco for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Skopje or Cusco?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Skopje or Cusco? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Skopje or Cusco?

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 North Macedonia, The Best Budget Tours to North Macedonia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.


Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Skopje?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Skopje is $74, 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 Skopje and Cusco in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Skopje $53
    Cusco $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Skopje $106
    Cusco $50
Compare Hotels in Skopje and Cusco

Looking for a hotel in Skopje 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.

Hotels in Skopje


Hotels in Cusco


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: Skopje Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Skopje $5.30
    Cusco $11

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:

  • Airport Cusco Transfers: $69
  • Airport Transfer (Private Service): $25
  • Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $9.50
  • Cusco Airport Pick-Up (Private Transfer to your Cusco Hotel).: $23
  • Cusco Airport Pickup and Private Transfer: $15
  • Cusco Airport Pickup and Transfer: $9.00
  • Cusco Airport Shared Arrival Transfer: $9.50
  • Cusco Airport to hotel Transfer: Fast, Reliable Drop-Off: $12
  • Cusco Bus Station Arrival or Departure Transfer: $19
  • Cusco Private Transfer to Poroy Railway Station: $15
  • Cusco to Puno Direct Bus Transfer: $37
  • Alpaca and Llama Farm Tour with Transfer & Weaving Demo: $34

Is it cheaper to fly into Skopje or Cusco?

Prices for flights to both Cusco and Skopje 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 day
    Skopje $12
    Cusco $25

Typical Food Prices in Cusco

Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:


  • Sandwich
    $2.37
  • Mango
    $0.59

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.

  • Cusco Tunupa Restaurant Folk Show with Dinner: $32
  • Cooking Class: Lomo Saltado, Papa Huancaina, Pisco Sour in Cusco: $48
  • Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $54
  • High-End Peruvian Cooking Class, Pisco Sour & San Pedro Market: $57
  • Short Immersion Cooking Class: $60
  • Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $63
  • Cooking Class in Ollantaytambo: $68
  • Cooking Class Peruvian Culinary Experience with Local Chefs: $70
  • Dinner Show at SUYU a Peruvian Gastronomic and Experience: $77
  • Cusco Tour at Night: Planetarium, Dinner & Pisco Sour: $79
  • Cusco Food Tour: Andean Cuisine & City Tour: $79
  • Curious Monkey Cusco- Market and Streets, Walking Food Tour: $80

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Skopje -
    Cusco $32

Tours and Activities in Skopje

Here are a few actual costs in Skopje for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Skopje Day Trip from Sofia – Private Group Tour: $190
  • From Sofia: Kosovo and North Macedonia 2-Day Tour: $404

Typical Entertainment Prices in Cusco

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Cusco are as follows:


  • Salsa Class
    $2.96

Tours and Activities in Cusco

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:

  • Discover Cusco with Guided Walking Tour: $5.00
  • Cusco City Walking tour: Historia, Tradition, Culture: $5.00
  • Cusco Self Guided Walking Tour Landmarks, Audio and Quiz: $8.23
  • City Tour - Cusco: $10
  • Cusco Walking tour and Koricancha Temple of the inkas tour: $10
  • Cultural & Historic Walking Tour with Local Drinks: $10
  • City tour Cusco Half day: $11
  • Half-Day Cusco City Tour – Explore History, Culture & Inca Ruins: $12
  • Half Day City Tour in Cusco: $12
  • Explore Cusco Highlights in a Half Day City Tour: $12
  • City Tour - Lugares destacado en Cusco + Experiencia Fotográfica: $12
  • City Tour Cusco: $12

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Skopje -
    Cusco $10

Sample the Local Flavors in Cusco

Also in Cusco, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Cusco Pub Crawl: Bar Tour, Drinks And Club with no waiting lines: $18


When comparing the travel costs between Skopje and Cusco, we can see that Skopje 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 Skopje is in Europe and Cusco 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 Skopje Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Skopje or Cusco?

Skopje has a larger population, and is about 52% larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Skopje 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.