Which place is cheaper, Puerto Vallarta or Cusco?
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 Cusco or Puerto Vallarta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cusco or Puerto Vallarta, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Cusco or Puerto Vallarta?
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.
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta remains a popular tourist destination with Americans, particularly during spring break when students flock to the area. The area is quite beautiful and has many gorgeous beaches, interesting jungles and waterfalls nearby, and no shortage of luxury resorts and four star restaurants. Many of the locals speak English and are friendly and open to helping tourists with directions or general information. Puerto Vallarta's popularity means that its prices are some of the highest in Mexico, particularly during holidays when the area can get quite crowded.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico, and The Best Luxury Tours to Mexico.
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Cusco Prices
Peru PricesPuerto Vallarta Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCusco $64Puerto Vallarta $128
The average daily cost (per person) in Cusco is $64, while the average daily cost in Puerto Vallarta is $128. 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 Cusco and Puerto Vallarta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCusco $24Puerto Vallarta $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCusco $48Puerto Vallarta $114
Compare Hotels in Cusco and Puerto Vallarta
Looking for a hotel in Cusco or Puerto Vallarta? 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: Cusco Hotel Prices and Puerto Vallarta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cusco $11Puerto Vallarta $17
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$1.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- One-Way Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $7.00
- One-Way Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $7.00
- One-Way Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $9.00
- Cusco Airport Pickup and Transfer: $9.00
- Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $9.18
- Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $9.50
- Pickup from Cusco airport and transfer to your hotel in Private vehicle: $9.52
- Private transfers from Cuzco Airport to Hotels and Sacred Valley: $10
- Private Shuttle Transfer from Cusco Airport (CUZ) to Hotels in Cusco: $10
- Peru Cusco Airport (CUZ) Private Transfer to Cusco City: $10
- Private Transfer from Airport to Hotel in the City of Cusco: $12
- One-way transfer from the Airport to the Hotel - Cusco: $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Vallarta:
- Puerto Vallarta Roundtrip Shuttle Airport Transfer: $32
- Shared transfer from PVR airport to Downtown: $43
- PVR VIP Round trip transfers - Airport - Marina hotels - Airport: $49
- PVR VIP Round trip transfers - Airport - Zona Hotelera - Airport: $54
- Private Transfer from Puerto Vallarta to Puerto Vallarta Port: $56
- PVR VIP Roundtrip Transfer from Airport - Nuevo Nayarit - Airport: $64
- Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) to Puerto Vallarta - Arrival Private Transfer: $69
- Puerto Vallarta Cruise Port to Puerto Vallarta hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $72
- Puerto Vallarta hotels to Puerto Vallarta Cruise Port-Departure Private Transfer: $72
- Private Transfer from Puerto Vallarta Airport(PVR) to Cruise Port: $72
- PVR VIP Round trip transfers Airport Conchas Chinas Airport: $74
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR): $83
Is it cheaper to fly into Cusco or Puerto Vallarta?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Vallarta and Cusco 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 dayCusco $24Puerto Vallarta $58
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.29
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Mango$0.57
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Cooking Class Lomo Saltado Pisco Sour y Papa a la Huancaina: $40
- Pete's Peruvian Cooking Class: $52
- Cusco Cooking Classes and San Pedro Market Tour: $55
- Hands-on High End Peruvian Cooking Class & San Pedro Market Visit: $57
- Peruvian Cooking Class in Sacred Valley: $59
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market in Cusco: $59
- Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market in Cusco: $59
- Cooking Class in Ollantaytambo: $68
- Best Cusco walking tour: dinner street food tasting: $74
- Curious Monkey Cusco- Market and Streets, Walking Food Tour: $75
- The 10 Tastings of Cusco With Locals: Private Food Tour : $90
- Cusco Cooking Class with San Pedro Market Tour: $92
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Vallarta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Puerto Vallarta.
- Taco Adventure Evening Food Tour with Vallarta Food Tours: $55
- Seafood Lover's Tour with Vallarta Food Tours : $59
- Winner 2025 Downtown Vallarta Food Tour with Vallarta Food Tours: $59
- Mexican Cooking Class, Tequila Tasting & Unlimited Margaritas: $89
- Mexican Cooking Class and Tequila Tasting: $95
- Sayulita Tacos and Tequila Food Tour : $99
- Market Visit and Mexican Cooking Class: $106
- Private Mexican Cooking Class & Tequila Cocktail at Tanya’s Home: $108
- Authentic Cooking Class in Puerto Vallarta with Local Chef, Manu: $119
- Puerto Vallarta- Market tour and Cooking Experience : $134
- Rhythms of the night, sunset cruise, open bar & oceanfront dinner: $159
- Night Rhythms - Alma - Show and Dinner in Puerto Vallarta: $209
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cusco $31Puerto Vallarta $17
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$2.87
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- Cusco Walking tour and Koricancha Temple of the inkas tour: $10
- Cultural & Historic Walking Tour with Local Drinks: $10
- City Tour Cusco: $12
- City Tour - Lugares destacado en Cusco + Experiencia Fotográfica: $12
- From City Tour Including Sacsayhuamán and Tambomachay: $14
- City tour in Cusco.: $14
- City Tour Half Day Templo of the Sun, Sacsayhuaman y Qenqo: $14
- From Half Day City Tour : $15
- City Tour Cusco in Panoramic Bus Daily Departures: $15
- Half-Day City Tour with Sacsayhuaman and Qenqo: $15
- City Tour Half Day Tour with Sacsayhuaman and Q’enqo: $15
- Half-Day City Tour of Cusco Including Tambomachay: $15
Tours and Activities in Puerto Vallarta
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Vallarta are as follows:
- Tequila Tasting Tour in Nuevo Vallarta: $5.00
- Puerto Vallarta City Tour: $20
- Butterfly Experience Nature Park Admission : $22
- City tour express; butterfly, tequila, and beach an ecological day: $22
- Private Bike City Tour with Photo Session in Puerto Vallarta: $22
- Hop On Hop Off Tour with Free Stops in Puerto Vallarta: $25
- Butterfly Sanctuary Guided Tour in Puerto Vallarta: $27
- Historic Downtown Ghost Walking Tour: $28
- Full-Day Puerto Vallarta City Highlights Tour: $29
- Puerto Vallarta City Tour: $29
- EcoHike experience through the jungle, mountains and hidden beach: $30
- Puerto Vallarta VIP Promotional Tour: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCusco $10Puerto Vallarta $22
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 : $19
- Cusco Pub Crawl: Bar Tour, Drinks And Club with no waiting lines: $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Puerto Vallarta
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Puerto Vallarta:
- Premium Tequila Tasting Puerto Vallarta Distillery: $18
- Puerto Vallarta Pub Crawl: $22
- Mexican Wine Tasting Experience: $38
- Secret Agave Bar Crawl in Vallarta: $98
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cusco and Puerto Vallarta, we can see that Puerto Vallarta is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cusco is in South America and Puerto Vallarta is in North 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 Puerto Vallarta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Vallarta 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 Cusco Expensive? and Is Puerto Vallarta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cusco or Puerto Vallarta?
Cusco has a larger population, and is about 67% larger than the population of Puerto Vallarta. When comparing the sizes of Cusco and Puerto Vallarta, 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.