Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu or Paris?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Paris or Machu Picchu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Paris or Machu Picchu? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Paris or Machu Picchu?
Paris
Paris is a dream destination for many people. It's location on the river Seine contributes to its stunning beauty and you can spend many days wandering through its wonderfully diverse neighborhoods. It's known as a city of culture, fashion, food and fun. There is never a shortage of entertainment and activities around town and a highlight of many people's trips to Paris is to explore the city at night, when it truly comes to life. It is not hard to see why this city has received the nickname as the "City of Lights."
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 Historical Tours in France, The Best 10-Day Tours in France, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
-
Paris Prices
France PricesMachu Picchu Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayParis €265Machu Picchu €104
The average daily cost (per person) in Paris is €265, 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 Paris and Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personParis €153Machu Picchu €38
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomParis €306Machu Picchu €76
Compare Hotels in Paris and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in Paris 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: Paris Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Paris €21Machu Picchu €27
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Paris
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:
-
Metro€6.40
-
Train from Airport€9.00
-
Metro tickets€6.80
-
Train€20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paris
Also for Paris, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Paris : Transfer to/from Reims or Champagne region: $646
- Louvre Museum with Private Transfers: $300
- Transfer from Paris to Airport: CDG, Orly, Beauvais: $300
- Private Disneyland Return Transfer Up to 6 People : $298
- Private Transfer from Paris to CDG Airport: $298
- Private Mercedes luxury transfer from PARIS to => DISNEYLAND Paris with Cab-Bel-Air: $295
- Private transfer from Beauvais airport to Paris or back: $292
- Private direct transfer from Paris to Brussels: $292
- Private Direct Transfer From Paris to Reims: $286
- Transfer Charles de Gaulle Airport CDG to Paris: $280
- Louvre Museum Ticket with Audio Guide and Paris Hotel Transfers: $280
- Transfer by luxury Mercedes from PARIS to => AIRPORT from PARIS with Cab-Bel-Air: $280
Is it cheaper to fly into Paris or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu and Paris 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
-
Food Meals for one dayParis €72Machu Picchu €30
Typical Food Prices in Paris
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:
-
Ice Cream€8.00
-
Breakfast€7.00
-
Breakfast for 2€30
-
Dinner on River Cruise€86
-
Dinner€57
-
Cheese€13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paris
For Paris, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Indian Dinner in Paris : $65
- Paris Capitaine Fracasse 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $68
- Paris Seine River dinner cruise from Alexandre III bridge: $70
- Paris Prestige Dinner Cruise from Eiffel Tower Area: $74
- Paris en Scene 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $77
- Paris Vegan Street Food Tour: $77
- Paris Food Tour: $82
- Seine River Sightseeing Cruise and Dinner at Le Bistro Parisien: $84
- #1 Montmartre Pastries & Chocolate Food Tour with 6+ Tastings: $89
- Champagne & Oysters Paris Food Tour: $96
- Dinner Paris by Night EN Bus Panoramic: $101
- Amazing Sweet Crêpe Cooking Class Paris: $105
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Paris €76Machu Picchu €66
Typical Entertainment Prices in Paris
For Paris, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Louvre Entry for Two€18
-
Admission to Pantheon€5.00
-
Catacombs (2)€23
Tours and Activities in Paris
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Paris.
- A Day at Parc Saint-Paul Ticket and Transport Included: $226
- Area ,Opera, Jewellery,Fashion,Palais Royal walking tour : $74
- Audio-Guided Montparnasse Tower Tour with Priority Admission: $42
- Bruges Guided Day Trip with Canal Cruise Option and Hotel Pickup: $270
- Guided Tour to Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur Chronicles: $36
- Half Day Giverny Monet's Gardens Tour : $172
- Louvre Evening Escape: Avoid the Crowds - Exclusive Guided Tour : $150
- Musée d'Orsay Rebels Passion Colour. A Private Guided Tour: $144
- Notre-Dame Exterior & Sainte-Chapelle Medieval Paris Tour : $70
- Père Lachaise Cemetery Walking Tour - Semi-Private 12ppl Max: $62
- Paris City Center Self-Guided Walking Tour : $12
- Paris Entrance Ticket to the Aura Invalides Immersive Show: $33
Typical Entertainment Prices in Machu Picchu
For Machu Picchu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
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.
- Machu Picchu Morning Combo: Entrance Ticket, Bus and Guide: $196
- Machu Picchu Small-Group Combo: Entrance Ticket, Bus & Guide: $196
- Private Tour Guide Service: $98
- Private & Flexible 3-Hour Guided Tour of Machu Picchu: $60
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayParis €24Machu Picchu €6.20
Typical Alcohol Prices in Paris
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:
-
Wine€14
Sample the Local Flavors in Paris
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:
- Original Paris Pub Crawl : $24
- Paris Nation wine tasting: $46
- Paris St Germain Wine Tasting: $46
- Vegan Wine Tasting in Paris right next to Père Lachaise: $54
- Wine Tasting in Paris right next to Père Lachaise & l'Atelier des lumières: $54
- Wine tasting Paris Saint Germain des Pres: $56
- Cheese and Wine Tasting in the Latin Quarter with Chef Alex: $58
- Natural Wine Tasting with Cheese Pairings in Paris: $72
- French Wine Tasting and Pairing Experience in Montmartre: $90
- The only Paris Wine Tasting experience you need to do - 2 hours : $95
- Left Bank Gastronomy & Wine tour with a Culinary School : $113
- Walk & Wine Tour in the Latin Quarter: $118
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Paris and Machu Picchu, we can see that Paris is more expensive. And not only is Machu Picchu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Paris 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 Machu Picchu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Machu Picchu 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 Paris would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paris than you might in Machu Picchu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Paris 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.