Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu or Zagreb?
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 Zagreb or Machu Picchu?
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 Zagreb and Machu Picchu. 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: Zagreb or Machu Picchu?
Zagreb
Zagreb, in central Croatia, is the country's capital. It has a wonderful old town that has cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and a great atmosphere. Many people travel to Croatia specifically for its beaches and coastal towns, but if you overlook this lovely capital city, you'll miss a large part of the culture and personality that is Croatia.
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 from Dubrovnik, The Best 2-Week Tours from Split, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Zagreb Prices
Croatia PricesMachu Picchu Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZagreb €89Machu Picchu €104
The average daily cost (per person) in Zagreb is €89, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is €104. 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 Zagreb and Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZagreb €48Machu Picchu €38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZagreb €96Machu Picchu €76
Compare Hotels in Zagreb and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in Zagreb 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: Zagreb Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zagreb €9.11Machu Picchu €27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zagreb
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zagreb:
- Private Split to Zagreb transfer with Plitvice lakes & Wine: $1,006
- Private Transfer Zagreb-Split: $856
- Private Transfer from Split or Trogir to Zagreb: $819
- Private Transfer from Split to Zagreb with stop at Plitvice: $761
- Sarajevo to One-Way Transfer With Plitvice Lakes: $468
- Zagreb to Split: Personalized Transfer & Custom Day Trip!: $427
- Budapest: Private transfer to Zagreb or Zagreb to Budapest: $423
- From Sarajevo: 1-Way Transfer to Zagreb or opposite: $410
- Bratislava: Private transfer to Zagreb or Zagreb to BTS: $332
- Private Transfer Zagreb-Plitvice Lakes: $300
- Krka National Park Private Tour from Zagreb with transfer to Sibenik: $296
- Private Transfer from Zagreb to Budapest with 2 hours for sightseeing: $286
Is it cheaper to fly into Zagreb or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu and Zagreb 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 dayZagreb €29Machu Picchu €30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zagreb
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zagreb.
- Food Tour with Tastings: $104
- Taste Zagreb Food Tour: $106
- Bite Back in Time: Zagreb's Food Tour Spiced with History : $131
- Zagreb Food Tour: Bite into Traditional Dishes and Flavors: $140
- Croatian cuisine cooking class with Dolac market tour: $155
- Zagreb Walking Food Tour - Sightseeing - Dolac market visit: $161
- Authentic Market Tour and Cooking Class in the Heart of Zagreb: $184
- PRIVATE Half-Day Food Tour: The 10 Tastings of Zagreb With Locals: $201
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zagreb €12Machu Picchu €66
Tours and Activities in Zagreb
Here are a few actual costs in Zagreb for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4 Day Private Istria Tour from Explore & Enjoy: $1,662
- Archaeological Tour of Zagreb: $52
- Back to Socialism Bike Tour: $49
- Baroque Varaždin and Trakošćan Castle Private Tour: $215
- Beautiful Christmas in Zagreb – Private Walking Tour: $1,251
- Best Of Zagreb Walking Tour: $65
- Best of SLOVENIA - Bled + Postojna + Ljubljana - Day Tour from Zagreb: $237
- Best of Zagreb Walking Tour: $84
- Best of Zagreb! Self-guided Waking tour Sit&Meet Croatian greats!: $23
- Best of Zagreb! Walking Tour by Sit & Meet; Meet the Great Croats: $36
- Best of 4-Hour Cycling Tour: $94
- Big Zagreb Private Walking Tour: $117
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€2.44
Tours and Activities in Machu Picchu
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Machu Picchu.
- Private & Flexible 3-Hour Guided Tour of Machu Picchu: $60
- Private Tour Guide Service: $98
- Machu Picchu Morning Combo: Entrance Ticket, Bus and Guide: $196
- Machu Picchu Small-Group Combo: Entrance Ticket, Bus & Guide: $196
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZagreb €8.92Machu Picchu €6.20
Sample the Local Flavors in Zagreb
Also in Zagreb, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl, 1-Hour of Unlimited Drinks, & Club Entry: $34
- Zagreb Pub Crawl 1Hour of Unlimited Drinks Club Entry: $35
- Zagreb:Private Bar Crawling and Alcohol Testing with a Guide: $35
- Taste Zagreb Heritage Wine Tasting with Traditional Lunch: $106
- Hrastje Plešivičko Wine Tasting Day Trip: $176
- From Samobor Highlights & Wine Tasting in Plešivica: $183
- Castle & Wine Tasting - Private Day Trip from Zagreb: $274
- Private Wine Tour from Two Local Wineries & Samobor : $285
- Fairytale Castle & Wine Tasting & Lunch: $286
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zagreb and Machu Picchu, we can see that Machu Picchu is more expensive. And not only is Zagreb much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Zagreb is in Europe 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 Zagreb would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zagreb 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 Machu Picchu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Machu Picchu than you might in Zagreb.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zagreb 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.