Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu or Tulum?
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 Tulum or Machu Picchu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tulum and Machu Picchu can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Tulum or Machu Picchu?
Tulum
When you think of ancient ruins you probably picture dusty archaeological digs surrounded by sand and professors in khaki shorts. What if I told you there is a way to see ancient ruins and visit a tropical beach? That's exactly what you find in Tulum, Mexico.
Built near the end of Mayan era, the ruins of Tulum served as a port before the arrival of the Spanish. It may have been called Zama, meaning City of Dawn, given that these ruins face the sunrise. Because of Tulum's access to both land and sea routes, this spot was an important hub for the trade industry. It may have had another claim to fame, too. According to some murals and other works around the site, it seems this spot was an important site for the worship of the Diving or Descending God. Today, the area is the third most visited archaeological site in all of Mexico with daily tour buses dropping off visitors.
This area is usually packed with people looking to get a glimpse of the seaside ruins. To avoid crowds and capture the best view of the day, try to arrive as early as possible.
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 Mexico, The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Tulum Prices
Mexico PricesMachu Picchu Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTulum $135Machu Picchu $123
The average daily cost (per person) in Tulum is $135, 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 Tulum and Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTulum $55Machu Picchu $45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTulum $110Machu Picchu $90
Compare Hotels in Tulum and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in Tulum 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: Tulum Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tulum $26Machu Picchu $32
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tulum
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tulum:
- Tulum Airport: One-Way or Roundtrip Private Transfer: $302
- Round-trip Private Transfer Cancun Airport to TULUM Downtown: $275
- Tulum to Cancun Airport Private Departure Transfer with Beer: $275
- Luxury SUV Private Transfer from Tulum to Cancun Airport: $263
- Private Transfer Tulum-Bacalar with optional 2h in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve: $250
- Luxury Transfer from Cancun Airport to Tulum: $250
- Private Transfer Tulum to Mérida with Flexible Stops: $247
- Tulum to Chetumal - Private Transfer with Optional Sightseeing: $240
- Private Luxury Transfer Tulum to Cancun Airport: $220
- Tulum Hotels to Merida Rejon Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $207
- Tulum Archaeological Zone: Cenote, Lunch & Transfer: $203
- Private Transfer From Tulum to Cancun With a 2 Hour Stop: $201
Is it cheaper to fly into Tulum or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu and Tulum 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 dayTulum $54Machu Picchu $35
Typical Food Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Lunch$2.75
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tulum
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tulum.
- Salsa Class,Mezcalita Workshop & Mexican Dinner: $86
- Tortilla & Taco Cooking Class – Mexican Cuisine from scratch: $91
- Mexican Cooking Class with Tacos, Ceviche and Margaritas in Tulum: $95
- Mexican Cooking class experience in Tulum: $132
- Temazcal Mayan Ritual, Cenote, Yucatecan Dinner from Tulum: $149
- Private transfer for 5 hours (go dinner,cenotes, shopping and more): $299
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tulum $29Machu Picchu $79
Tours and Activities in Tulum
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tulum are as follows:
- 3 Cenotes & Hidden Lagoon Swim Tour with Lunch from Tulum: $139
- 5 Cenotes Half Day Experience Riviera Maya Cliff Jumping: $40
- 5x1 Deluxe Tour Tulum, Coba, Cenote Transportation from Tulum: $114
- ATV Cenote and Zipline Adventure from Tulum: $129
- ATV Extreme Adventure Single with Ziplines and Cenote Swim: $156
- ATV Extreme Adventure Single with Ziplines and Cenote Swim: $151
- ATV cenote tour Tulum – Mayan Jungle ATV & Cavern Experience: $58
- Adrenaline ATV Cenote and Zip Lines Experience at Tulum: $25
- Adrenaline Tulum Atv tour with ziplines and Cenote adventure: $39
- Adventure at Chichen Itza! Cenote and Valladolid from Tulum City: $98
- Adventure in the Mayan Jungle with ATV and Zip Line in Tulum: $42
- Akumal Bay: Swim with Sea Turtles and Cenote Private Tour: $180
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 dayTulum $23Machu Picchu $7.35
When comparing the travel costs between Tulum and Machu Picchu, we can see that Tulum 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 Tulum is in North America 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 Tulum 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.