Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Veracruz?
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 Veracruz or Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Veracruz and Cusco can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Veracruz or Cusco?
Veracruz
Veracruz is the name of both a state and city in the country of Mexico. Locals often call the city "Puerto" (port) in order to differentiate the city from the state. The general area runs along the Gulf of Mexico and encompasses ruins, old colonial cities, lush green mountains, and delicious seafood.
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 from Playa del Carmen, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Veracruz Prices
Mexico PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVeracruz $145Cusco $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Veracruz is $145, while the average daily cost in Cusco is $64. 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 Veracruz and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVeracruz $50Cusco $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVeracruz $100Cusco $48
Compare Hotels in Veracruz and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Veracruz 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: Veracruz Hotel Prices and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Veracruz $26Cusco $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Veracruz
Also for Veracruz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Veracruz Airport (VER): $26
- Private Transfer to Veracruz Airport (VER): $26
- Transfer from Veracruz Airport to Hotel in Veracruz Port: $43
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Veracruz Airport (VER): $52
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$1.16
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
- Ollantaytambo train station to Cuzco RoundTrip Private Transfer: $206
- Private Transfer from Valle Sagrado to Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ) Airport: $164
- Transfer Cusco_Ollantaytambo or vice versa with city tour and Pisac: $140
- Cuzco to Ollantaytambo Train Station - Departure Private Transfer: $103
- Ollantaytambo Train Station to Cuzco - Arrival Private Transfer: $103
- Airport Cusco Transfer: $80
- Transfer to Ollantaytambo from Cusco: $75
- Cusco to Puno or Puno to Cusco Sightseeing Transfer with Lunch: $72
- Private Transfer to Ollantaytambo Station and Sacred Valley 24 7: $69
- Private Airport Transfer from Juliaca to Puno: $55
- Private Transfer from Cusco Airport to Hotels in Pisac & Urubamba: $53
Is it cheaper to fly into Veracruz or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco and Veracruz 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 dayVeracruz $79Cusco $24
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.31
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Mango$0.58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Multi-Course Dinner with Live Folk Show Performance: $32
- Cooking Class: Lomo Saltado, PapaHuancaina, Pisco Sour, Picarones: $50
- Market-to-Table Peruvian Cooking Class and Cocktail in Cusco: $52
- Dinner Show at SUYU a Peruvian Gastronomic and Experience: $53
- Market tour & Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco: $54
- Traditional Peruvian Cooking Class and Market Tour in Cusco: $57
- Cusco Cooking Class Experience: $61
- Local Market and Peruvian Cooking Class with Pisco Sour in Cusco: $65
- Cusco Cooking Classes and San Pedro Market Tour: $65
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $65
- Cusco Collective Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $65
- Cooking Class in Ollantaytambo: $68
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Veracruz $14Cusco $31
Tours and Activities in Veracruz
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Veracruz.
- Panoramic Sightseeing Bus City Tour of Veracruz: $8.00
- Mandinga And Boat Trip Tour: $25
- Aquatico Inbursa Waterpark: Veracruz - Ticket: $26
- 3-hour tour to the San Juan de Ulúa Fortress: $28
- San Juan De Ulua Tour: $31
- Veracruz City Tour with San Juan de Ulúa and Mandinga Boat: $53
- Live a Kayak Experience: $85
- Full Day Tour to La Antigua, Cempoala and Quiahuiztlán: $89
- Full Day Tour to Catemaco and Los Tuxtlas with Transportation: $94
- Full Day Tour to Alvarado and Tlacotalpan from Veracruz or Boca del Río: $97
- Tour with Certified Guide to Xalapa, Xico and Coatepec: $97
- Full Day Coffee Guided Tour in Coatepec: $100
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$2.89
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 Palcoyo 7-Color Mountain Hiking Tour: $45
- 1 Day Rainbow Mountain Walking Tour: $35
- 1 Day Sacred Valley Tour with Moray from Cusco: $61
- 1 Day Sacred Valley VIP Tour from Cusco: $100
- 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 Machu Picchu by Car Tour Scenic Hike and Exploration: $130
- 2 Day Tour to Machupicchu by Minivan: $145
- 2-Day Guided Tour of Ausangate Trek: $290
- 2-Day Machu Picchu Tour by Minivan from Budget Adventure: $203
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVeracruz $16Cusco $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: Cusco Bar Hopping Experience: $22
- Cusco Pub Crawl: Bar Tour, Drinks And Club with no waiting lines: $23
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Veracruz and Cusco, we can see that Veracruz is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Veracruz is in North America 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 Veracruz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Veracruz 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 Veracruz Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Veracruz or Cusco?
Veracruz has a larger population, and is about 82% larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Veracruz 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.