Travel Budget for Cusco

Departamento de Cusco, Peru
South America / Peru /

How much does it cost to travel to Cusco?

How much money will you need for your trip to Cusco? You should plan to spend around S/.138 ($41) per day on your vacation in Cusco, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, S/.36 ($11) on meals for one day and S/.23 ($6.94) on local transportation. Also, the average hotel price in Cusco for a couple is S/.124 ($37). So, a trip to Cusco for two people for one week costs on average S/.1,930 ($581). All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    S/.138
  • One Week Per person
    S/.965
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    S/.1,930
  • One Month Per person
    S/.4,135
  • One Week For a couple
    S/.1,930
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    S/.3,859
  • One Month For a couple
    S/.8,270
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - Learn more about these numbers.
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A vacation to Cusco for one week usually costs around S/.965 for one person. So, a trip to Cusco for two people costs around S/.1,930 for one week. A trip for two weeks for two people costs S/.3,859 in Cusco. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Cusco can often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.



How expensive is Cusco?

How much does a trip to Cusco cost? Is Cusco expensive? The average Cusco trip cost is broken down by category here. All of these Cusco prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.

While meal prices in Cusco can vary, the average cost of food in Cusco is S/.36 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Cusco should cost around S/.15 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Cusco is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.

The cost of a taxi ride in Cusco is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent S/.23 per person, per day, on local transportation in Cusco.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    S/.62
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    S/.124
  • Food2 Meals for one day
    S/.36
  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    S/.4.43
  • Local Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    S/.23
  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    S/.81
  • Tips and Handouts1 For guides or service providers
    S/.11
  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    S/.15
Last Updated: Dec 13, 2019
Flights to Cusco

How much does it cost to go to Cusco? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend SkyScanner because they can find the best deals across all of the airlines.




How much money do I need for Cusco?

Typical travel prices in Cusco are listed below. These actual costs can give you an idea of the price of travel in Cusco. Please keep in mind that the cost of travel in Cusco can vary depending on your specific style of travel.


  • Taxi Ride
    S/.4.00
  • Bottled Water
    S/.5.00
  • Laundry
    S/.18
  • Sandwich
    S/.8.00
  • Mango
    S/.2.00
  • Salsa Class
    S/.10
  • Bottled Water
    S/.2.00


Typical tour prices for Cusco

How much do tours to Cusco cost? Multi-day tours can often be an effecient way to see the highlights of a country or region.

  • Contiki Tours for 18-35 year olds
    11 days
    $ 1725
    ($157/day)
  • G Adventures Adventure and cultural tours
    11 days
    $ 1700
    ($155/day)
  • Intrepid Small group tours for everyone
    6 days
    $ 925
    ($154/day)
  • Trafalgar Award-winning tours
    7 days
    $ 1225
    ($175/day)
Find a hostel, guesthouse, or B&B in Cusco
Cusco


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Cusco On a Budget
Cusco The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin, Plaza del Armas, Cusco, Peru
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. (Read this advice about managing the altitude in Cusco and Machu Picchu.)

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.
Sights
As a historically famous city, Cusco has plenty of beautiful colonial architecture as well as lingering remnants from the days of the Inca Empire. Interspersed with this historic culture is the modern amenities and nightlife that caters to the modern tourist.

Popular sights around town worth seeing include the Museo Municipal de Arte Contemporaneo, Museo Historico Regional, Santa Catalina Convent, Qoricancha, and Monumento Pachacuteq.

In the nearby area you will find a lot of ruins, with some of the most impressive being Sacsayhuanman. On this site was the 1536 battle between Pizarro's army and the Inca army.
Neighborhoods
There are several neighborhoods of interest for tourists in Cusco. Plaza de Armas is the city's main square and also the center for tourist activity. There are many shops, bars, and restaurants in the area and there is a large fountain at the center of the neighborhood. There are also many tour companies here.

San Blas is the home of many artists and craftsmen. There are also excellent views and some great places to grab a bite to eat. It has a quieter nightlife than Plaza de Arma and has a few hotels where you can stay.

Plaza de las Nazarenas is a quiet area with several museums and sights that appeal to visitors.

Plaza San Francisco has many market stalls, the Museo y Convento de San Francisco, and several historic churches.

Plaza Regocijo is just a block from Plaza de Armas. This is a garden square and originally hosted many dance festivals.

Zona Avenida Sol has many artisan shops between the Plaza de Armas and the Inca sun temple at Korikancha.

Activities
If you're looking to get outdoors and see the surrounding areas, some fun activities that are nearby include white water rafting, mountain biking, and canoeing. Alternatively there are a handful of tours that you can book to help you explore the surrounding areas. There are countless archaeological sites in the area (not just Machu Picchu) and it's worth choosing at least a few to visit.
Food and Dining
Plenty of good cheap food options can be found around town as well as some great local specialties. If you're on a budget, pizza is always a safe option, but if you're more adventurous consider trying some of the delicious local specialties that are rich in flavor and usually cheaper than western food.

Alpaca steak is worth trying. A traditional Peruvian dish is lomo saltado, which is beef tips that are stir-fried with tomatoes, onions, and spices. It's served with french fries and rice. Papa rellena is a stuffed potato that is filled with beef, olives, hard-boiled eggs, and vegetables.

The cheapest place to grab food is San Pedro. This market is just to the east of the train station for Machu Picchu.

Transportation
Cusco Car Rental Prices
Compare prices across all major rental companies:
Most people choose to arrive in Cusco by plane. There are daily flights between Cusco and Lima that are convenient and reasonably priced. Alternatively, there are buses that connect Cusco to Lima or Arequipa. These buses can be slow and tedious, but the views along the route make the trip well worth it.

Once in Cusco, you can walk around the city center quite easily, but there is no shortage of taxis as well. If you're out late at night then it is best to take a taxi instead of walking, particularly if you're traveling alone.
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1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase.

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Cusco Travel Cost - Average Price of a Vacation to Cusco: Food & Meal Budget, Daily & Weekly Expenses | BudgetYourTrip.com

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