Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Tokyo?
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 Tokyo or Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tokyo 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: Tokyo or Cusco?
Tokyo
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is by far the most populous city in the world with a staggering 37 million people. As a worldwide hub for technology and business, it hosts millions of visitors annually. But Tokyo is not just a place for business trips. With its incredible mixture of historical temples and shrines, remarkably beautiful parks, endless shopping malls, and genuinely wonderful people, Tokyo is a terrific place to visit and to explore.
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 2-Week Tours in Japan, The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Tokyo Prices
Japan PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTokyo $174Cusco $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Tokyo is $174, 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 Tokyo and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTokyo $73Cusco $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTokyo $146Cusco $50
Compare Hotels in Tokyo and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Tokyo 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: Tokyo Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tokyo $16Cusco $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tokyo
Also for Tokyo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Haneda Airport to Tokyo One Way Transfer: $13
- Tokyo Private Transfer From or To Haneda Airport HND: $33
- HND Airport Private Transfer to/from Tokyo City Center: $45
- DECKS Tokyo Beach & Odaiba 1 Way Door to Door Shared Transfer: $51
- Haneda Airport: 1-Way Shared Shuttle Transfer: $54
- Private transfer from Central Tokyo to Disney Resort: $57
- Tokyo Disneyland/DisneySea: Private Transfer To/From Tokyo Hotels: $59
- Shared Departure Transfer : Central Tokyo Hotel to Haneda Airport: $60
- Shared Arrival Transfer : Haneda Airport to Central Tokyo City: $60
- Airport Shuttle Arrival Transfer : from Haneda Airport to Tokyo City: $60
- Tokyo City: One-Way Private Transfer to/from Yokohama City: $63
- Private One-Way Transfers to/from Yokohama Port: $64
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:
- Private Transfer to Ausangate and the 7 Lagoons from Cusco: $210
- Private Transfer from Valle Sagrado to Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ) Airport: $167
- Scenic Journey from Cusco to Puno by Bus Including Hotel Transfers: $128
- Transfer from Cusco to Urubamba Visiting Chinchero, Maras and Moray: $120
- Ollantaytambo Train Station to Cuzco - Arrival Private Transfer: $105
- Transfer Cusco - Ollantaytambo train station: $95
- Ollantaytambo train station to Cuzco city or airport- Roundtrip Private Transfer: $82
- Transfer to Ollantaytambo from Cusco: $75
- Private Transfer to Ollantaytambo Station and Sacred Valley 24 7: $69
- Private Transfer from Ollantaytambo Train Station to Cusco or Airport: $45
- Lake Humantay Full Day Trip with Transfers, Breakfast and Lunch: $42
- Cuzco city or airport to Ollantaytambo train station -Departure Private Transfer: $41
Is it cheaper to fly into Tokyo or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Tokyo 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 dayTokyo $61Cusco $25
Typical Food Prices in Tokyo
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tokyo:
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Late Night Noodles$4.95
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Conveyor Belt Sushi Snack$4.95
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Meal at Airport$6.45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tokyo
For Tokyo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market: Traditional Culture & Street Food Tour: $19
- Hide's Table A Unique Dinner Gathering Every Wednesday Night: $19
- Tsukiji Market Culture and Food Tour with 40-Year Resident: $25
- Shinjuku Chef‐Led Night Food Tour — What Guides Don’t Show: $28
- Shinjuku: 7-Dishes vegetarian dinner at a Japanese izakaya: $28
- Shibuya 7-Dishes vegetarian dinner at a Japanese izakaya: $28
- Authentic Homestyle Japanese Cooking Class near Tokyo with Risa: $39
- Giant Sushi Cooking Class: Make a 1.5m Sushi Roll in Tokyo: $41
- Japanese Sushi Cooking Class: $47
- Tokyo Cute Sushi : Kawaii Sushi Cooking Class!: $50
- Tokyo Home Cooking: Choose Your Favorite Japanese Dishes: $55
- Tokyo Sushi Making Experience & Japanese Cooking Class: $57
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.35
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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
- Market-to-Table Peruvian Cooking Class and Cocktail in Cusco: $52
- Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $54
- 3hr Cooking Class in Cusco with 7 traditional recipes & drinks: $55
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $65
- Cusco Cooking Classes and San Pedro Market Tour: $65
- Local Market and Peruvian Cooking Class with Pisco Sour in Cusco: $65
- Cooking Class in Ollantaytambo: $68
- Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco: $69
- Cusco Street Food Tour and Pisco Tasting Experience: $69
- Best Cusco walking tour: dinner street food tasting: $74
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tokyo $65Cusco $32
Tours and Activities in Tokyo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tokyo.
- Imperial Palace or Edo Castle Time Trip Learning Walking Tour: $3.15
- Tokyo Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Shinjuku Kabukicho Night Walking Tour: $6.30
- Tokyo Walking Tour 2h15 and 19 audio reviews: $6.70
- Cross Roppongi Karaoke Nightclub Ticket (For Foreign): $6.76
- Tokyo Fuji Art Museum Admission Ticket + Special Exhibition (when being held): $7.56
- TOKYO Audio Guide Tour in The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace: $7.56
- Tokyo Metro Subway Ticket: $8.85
- Tokyo / Shibuya / Yokohama Tours! Choose, Explore and Enjoy!: $10
- Shibuya drinking tour: $10
- Kadokawa Culture Museum Standard Ticket: $11
- Tokyo Hakone Kyoto Nara Osaka and Hiroshima AI Audio Tour: $12
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$2.94
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- 1 Day Ausangate 7 Lagoons Hiking Tour & Hot Springs: $59
- 1 Day Classic Sacred Valley Tour With Buffet Lunch: $55
- 1 Day Rainbow Mountain Tour From Cusco: $60
- 1 Day Rainbow Mountain Walking Tour: $35
- 1-Day Humantay Lake Tour From Cusco: $60
- 1-Day Tour Rainbow Mountain from Cusco: $190
- 1-Day Tour Sacred Valley From Cusco: $120
- 2 Day Machu Picchu Tour by Car: $150
- 2 Day Tour to Machupicchu by Minivan: $145
- 2-Day Guided Tour of Ausangate Trek: $290
- 2-Day Private Tour Humantay Lake and Salkantay Pass: $179
- 2-Day Tour to Floating Islands and Puno From Cusco: $238
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTokyo $31Cusco $10
Typical Alcohol Prices in Tokyo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Tokyo:
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Sake$3.71
Sample the Local Flavors in Tokyo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tokyo:
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $34
- 3 Hours Pub Crawl Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $35
- 3-Hour Tokyo Pub Crawl Nightlife Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $46
- Unique Brewery Tour and One-of-a-Kind Sake Tasting Near Tokyo: $62
- Mt. Fuji & Hakushu Distillery Whisky Museum Bus Tour from Tokyo: $88
- Tokyo Shinjuku Gay Bar Crawl with Drinks: $90
- Shibuya Bar Crawl Tour -3 Drinks & Local Foods-: $101
- Shinjuku Bar Crawl Tour -3 Drinks & Local foods-: $101
- Private Sake Tasting at 300 Years Old Sake Brewery in Tokyo: $120
- Private Shinjuku Nightlife Walking Tour & Golden-Gai Bar Crawl: $145
- Japanese Sake Brewery Visit and Tasting in Kanagawa: $150
- Tokyo Harajuku Night Pub Crawl with Locals – Snack Bars & Karaoke: $164
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: Cusco Bar Hopping Experience: $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tokyo and Cusco, we can see that Tokyo is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tokyo is in Asia 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 Tokyo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tokyo 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 Tokyo Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tokyo or Cusco?
Tokyo has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Tokyo 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.