Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Valparaiso?
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 Valparaiso or Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Valparaiso and Cusco. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Valparaiso or Cusco?
Valparaiso
Valparaiso, often referred to as Valpo, is an attractive city on the Pacific Coast in Chile. The city has a population of about 300,000 and is only 120 kilometers west of Santiago. The city's main industries aside from tourism include shipping and petroleum refining.
Valparaiso is popular with travelers because of its bohemian culture and brightly colored homes. It also offers some wonderful views of the Pacific Ocean. Although the city is short on specific sights, the atmosphere and beautiful setting make it a wonderful place to visit.
Valparaiso has a mild Mediterranean climate that is comparable to San Francisco or Santa Barbara. The summer is dry but fog is common year around. Rain can be heavy during the winter season and snow falls occasionally in the highest parts of the city. Winds can also be strong during the winter months.
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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Valparaiso Prices
Chile PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayValparaiso $89Cusco $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Valparaiso is $89, 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 Valparaiso and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personValparaiso $38Cusco $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomValparaiso $76Cusco $50
Compare Hotels in Valparaiso and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Valparaiso 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: Valparaiso Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Valparaiso $5.18Cusco $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Valparaiso
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Valparaiso are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$3.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Valparaiso
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Valparaiso:
- Private Transfer from Viña Del Mar or Valparaiso City Hotel To Santiago City: $89
- Private Transfer from Valparaiso Hotel or port To Santiago Airport or Hotel: $110
- Private transfer from Valparaiso or Viña del Mar to San Antonio: $133
- Valparaiso to Santiago Private Transfer or Santiago to Valparaiso: $142
- Private Transfer Viña del Mar to Santiago Airport: $170
- Private Transfer from Valparaiso Cruise Port to Santiago Hotels: $207
- Private Transfer Cruise Port to Santiago with Wine tour & tasting: $209
- Private Transfer from Viña del Mar to Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport: $255
- Private Valparaiso Port Visit El Cuadro Winery & Transfer: $270
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:
- Airport Transfer from Juliaca to Puno: $59
- Cusco Airport Arrival or Departure Transfer: $19
- Cusco Airport Pick-Up – Private Transfer to Your Hotel: $7.50
- Cusco Airport Pickup and Private Transfer: $12
- Cusco Bus Station Arrival or Departure Transfer: $19
- Cusco Private Airport Transfer Arrival Departure or Round Trip: $15
- 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
- Cuzco city or airport to Ollantaytambo train station -Departure Private Transfer: $41
- Cuzco to Ollantaytambo Train Station - Departure Private Transfer: $107
- Direct Private Transfer From Cusco to Puno, English Local Speaking Driver: $291
Is it cheaper to fly into Valparaiso or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Valparaiso 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 dayValparaiso $41Cusco $25
Typical Food Prices in Valparaiso
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Valparaiso:
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Empanada$2.02
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Valparaiso
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Valparaiso.
- Cooking Classes in Viña del Mar Learn to Make Tapas and Desserts: $75
- 3hr Viña del Mar Cooking Class with local : Ceviche & Leche Asada: $85
- Learn to Cook Like a Local: Cooking Class in a Viña del Mar Home: $132
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
- Bilingual Cooking Class with Pisco Cocktail in Cusco: $40
- Cusco Billingual Cooking Class at 6pm: $40
- Cooking Class: Lomo Saltado, Papa Huancaina & Pisco Sour in Cusco: $51
- Market-to-Table Peruvian Cooking Class and Cocktail in Cusco: $52
- Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $54
- Cooking Class in Sacred Valley 8 Recipes and Drinks: $55
- Cusco Cooking Class Adventure: $55
- Traditional Peruvian Cooking Class and Market Tour in Cusco: $57
- Cusco Food Tour: Andean Cuisine & City Tour: $63
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Valparaiso $20Cusco $32
Typical Entertainment Prices in Valparaiso
Here are a few typical costs in Valparaiso for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Boat Tour$4.50
Tours and Activities in Valparaiso
Here are a few actual costs in Valparaiso for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Tour in Street Art, funiculars and port: $25
- Valparaiso Highlights Walking Tour with A Guide: $30
- Valparaiso : Private Custom Tour with A Guide (Private Tour): $36
- Guided Panoramic Tour in Valparaíso: $40
- Famous Viña del Mar! Premium Walking Tour with a Native Guide: $40
- Cultural Tour of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar: $40
- Famous Valparaíso! Premium Walking Tour with a Native Guide: $40
- Valparaiso in Depth : Walking Tour Exclusive: $40
- Walking Tour Valparaiso, History & Art - Private Optional: $41
- Explore Valparaíso and Viña del Mar Tour: $58
- Private Gastronomic Tour Valparaiso: $70
- Valpo in 1 day: Authentic + Famous! Semi-private walking tour & public transport: $80
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:
- Free Walking tour in Cusco: $5.00
- Half Day Walking Tour of Cusco: $5.00
- Half Day City Tour in Cusco: $9.60
- City Tour - Cusco: $10
- Cultural & Historic Walking Tour with Local Drinks: $10
- Cusco Walking tour and Koricancha Temple of the inkas tour: $10
- City Tour - Lugares destacado en Cusco + Experiencia Fotográfica: $12
- Half-Day Cusco City Tour – Explore History, Culture & Inca Ruins: $12
- Historic Walking Tour with Pisco Sour and Local Music: $14
- Open Bus Cusco City Tour: $14
- Half-Day City Tour with Sacsayhuaman and Qenqo: $15
- Cusco City Tour 1/2 Day: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayValparaiso $8.36Cusco $10
Typical Alcohol Prices in Valparaiso
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Valparaiso are as follows:
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Beer$1.07
Sample the Local Flavors in Valparaiso
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Valparaiso:
- A Hop-On Hop-Off Wine Tour Service from Casablanca: $75
- Private Wine Tour in Valparaiso: $273
- Santiago: Valparaíso Walking Tour & Casablanca Wine Tasting: $320
Sample the Local Flavors in Cusco
Also in Cusco, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Discover Cusco Nightlife with Bar Crawl Cusco: $16
- Cusco Pub Crawl: Cusco Bar Hopping Experience: $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Valparaiso and Cusco, we can see that Valparaiso is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Valparaiso would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Valparaiso or Cusco?
Cusco has a larger population, and is about 11% larger than the population of Valparaiso. When comparing the sizes of Valparaiso 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.