Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu 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 Machu Picchu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tokyo or Machu Picchu? 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 Machu Picchu?
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.
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 2-Week Tours in Japan, The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Tokyo Prices
Japan PricesMachu Picchu Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTokyo $178Machu Picchu $123
The average daily cost (per person) in Tokyo is $178, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is $123. 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 Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTokyo $74Machu Picchu $45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTokyo $148Machu Picchu $90
Compare Hotels in Tokyo and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in Tokyo 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: Tokyo Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tokyo $17Machu Picchu $32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tokyo
Also for Tokyo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One Way Shuttle Van Transfer, Tokyo ⇔ Nagano: $805
- One Way Shuttle Van Transfer, Tokyo ⇔ Hakone: $426
- Shuttle Van Tour Tokyo for 4 Hours or 6 Hours+Transfer Time: $368
- Yokohama Port: Private Customizable Tour with Transfer: $352
- Private Transfer from Haneda/Narita Airport to Hotel: $308
- Tokyo Disneysea & Disneyland same-day 2-Park Ticket with Transfer: $299
- Arrival Private Transfer: Haneda Airport HND to Tokyo in Sedan: $292
- Departure Private Transfer: Tokyo to Haneda Airport HND in Sedan: $292
- Private TOKYO Tour:After Arrival/Before Departure/Transfer Flight: $288
- Private Airport Transfer: Hotel in Tokyo → Narita Airport (NRT): $284
- Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) to Tachikawa City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $283
- Tokyo 5-Hour Private Charter with NRT/HND Airport Transfer: $277
Is it cheaper to fly into Tokyo or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu 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 $63Machu Picchu $35
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$5.07
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Conveyor Belt Sushi Snack$5.07
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Meal at Airport$6.61
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
- Tokyo : Vintage, Music & Food Tour in Shimokitazawa with a Local: $23
- Shinjuku 7-Dishes vegetarian dinner at a Japanese izakaya: $29
- Asakusa: Senso-ji Sightseeing & Street Food Tour with Photos: $29
- Shibuya 7-Dishes vegetarian dinner at a Japanese izakaya: $29
- For First Time Visitor：Tsukiji Food Tour with Tokyo Travel Advice: $32
- Guided Tsukiji’s Local Food Tour: $32
- Ueno Private Walking Tour and Night Food Tour: $39
- Authentic Homestyle Japanese Cooking Class near Tokyo with Risa: $39
- Giant Sushi Cooking Class: Make a 1.5m Sushi Roll in Tokyo: $42
- Private Yanaka District Walking & Food Tour: $45
- Japanese Sushi Cooking Class: $48
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tokyo $66Machu Picchu $79
Tours and Activities in Tokyo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tokyo.
- "Enjoy Tokyo Tour" Harajuku Meiji-jingu & Delicious Sake Tasting: $65
- "Ginza → Tsukishima" Walking and Japanese Style Fun Dining Tour: $162
- "TOKYO DRIFT" Film Location Tour Mt Nokogiri & Local Drift Garage: $257
- (Private tour)ShinjukuUnfiltered Secret bar restaurant Tour: $259
- 1 Day Tour Explore Nikko’s World Heritage and National Park: $190
- 1 Day Tour to Mt. Fuji and Hakone from Tokyo: $189
- 1 Day Walking Tour in Asakusa Traditional Tokyo and Nature: $128
- 1-Day Mt Fuji and Hakone Sightseeing trip from Tokyo: $338
- 1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour: $126
- 1.5 Hours Private Tour at Asakusa Tokyo with Local Expert Guide: $84
- 10:30 local gathering and rafting tour half day (3 hours): $39
- 2 Day Ginzan Onsen and Zao Snow Monsters Tour from Tokyo: $291
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$2.89
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTokyo $32Machu Picchu $7.35
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$3.80
Sample the Local Flavors in Tokyo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tokyo:
- Low-cost local pub & bar crawling: $32
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $34
- 3 Hours Pub Crawl Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $35
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $36
- 3-Hour Tokyo Pub Crawl Nightlife Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $46
- Tokyo Japanese Wine Tasting Experience (Not Sake) | Near Shibuya: $65
- Nikko Toshogu Shrine and Japanese Sake Brewery Day Tour: $84
- Tokyo Shinjuku Gay Bar Crawl with Drinks: $90
- Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and jump into historic town: $91
- Tokyo Sake Terroir Journey – Guided by Sake Brewery Professional: $91
- Shinjuku Bar Crawl Tour -3 Drinks & Local foods-: $103
- Shibuya Bar Crawl Tour -3 Drinks & Local Foods-: $103
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tokyo and Machu Picchu, we can see that Tokyo is more expensive. And not only is Machu Picchu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tokyo is in Asia and Machu Picchu 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 Machu Picchu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Machu Picchu 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 Machu Picchu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tokyo 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.