Peru Travel Budget: How Much Does Peru Actually Cost?
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Peru occupies an interesting position in global travel costs — basic travel is very affordable, but the country’s headline experiences (Machu Picchu entry, the Inca Trail, Lima’s best restaurants) can cost as much as Europe. Planning around this spectrum is the key to a great trip at the right budget.
Quick Summary
| Style | Daily Budget (per person) |
|---|---|
| Budget backpacker | €30–50/day |
| Mid-range traveller | €70–120/day |
| Comfort traveller | €150–250/day |
Accommodation
Hostels: €8–18/night in dorms; €25–50 for private rooms. Lima (Miraflores, Barranco), Cusco, and Aguas Calientes all have good hostel options.
Guesthouses: €25–55/night for a double. Cusco’s San Blas neighbourhood has excellent family-run guesthouses in colonial buildings.
Mid-range hotels: €60–120/night. Comfortable hotels in Cusco, Lima’s Miraflores, and the Sacred Valley.
Boutique/luxury: €150–350/night. Cusco has genuinely excellent boutique hotels in restored Inca-walled colonial buildings. Aguas Calientes (base for Machu Picchu) is more expensive due to captive location — budget €80–200/night.
Amazon lodges: €80–300/night all-inclusive (including meals, guides, and boat transfers). The better lodges (Tambopata Research Center, Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica) are expensive but extraordinary.
Food
Street food: €1–3 per item. Anticuchos, ceviche from market stalls, picarones, empanadas. Lima’s Mercado de Surquillo and Cusco’s San Pedro Market are the best.
Menu del día (set lunch): €3–6 in local Peruvian restaurants. The best value meal in Peru — starter (soup), main (rice, meat/fish, salad), and sometimes dessert.
Mid-range restaurant: €10–25/person. Both cities have excellent mid-range restaurants serving Peruvian cuisine, ceviche, and regional specialties.
Lima fine dining: €60–150/person at world-class restaurants. Central runs €120–150/person for the tasting menu. Maido and Astrid y Gastón are €70–100. These are world-famous restaurants at roughly half the price of equivalents in London or New York.
Pisco sour: €3–5 at a bar or restaurant.
Beer (Cristal or Cusqueña): €2–4.
Transport
Lima airport to Miraflores: Official taxi (fixed rate from booth, €12–18), Uber (€8–12). Never use unofficial taxis.
Lima to Cusco (flight): LATAM, Sky Airlines, and other carriers. Book 4–8 weeks ahead: €60–150 one-way. Last-minute prices can be €200+.
Cusco to Machu Picchu (train): Peru Rail or Inca Rail from Cusco or Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. Expedition class €60–80 round-trip; Vistadome (panoramic windows) €90–120; Hiram Bingham (luxury train) €400+ round-trip.
Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (bus): €14 round-trip (official Consettur buses). Runs constantly from 5:30am.
Machu Picchu entry ticket: €40–50 depending on circuit chosen. Combined with Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain: €60–70.
Inca Trail (4 days): €500–650/person all-inclusive through a licensed operator (entry permit, guide, cook, porters). Non-negotiable price set partly by government permit costs.
Lima city taxi: €3–8 per trip (Uber/Cabify). Never hail street taxis.
Cusco city taxi: €1.50–4 per trip (agree price in advance or use InDriver app).
Key Attractions
| Attraction | Price |
|---|---|
| Machu Picchu (Circuit 1–4) | €40–50 |
| Machu Picchu + Huayna Picchu | €60–70 |
| Cusco Boleto Turístico (16 sites) | €35 (full) or €18 (partial) |
| Sacsayhuamán | Included in Boleto Turístico |
| Larco Museum (Lima) | €15 |
| MATE Museum (Lima) | €8 |
| Huaca Pucllana (Lima) | €6 |
| Ballestas Islands boat | €15–20 |
| Nazca Lines overflight | €80–150 depending on operator |
| Uros Floating Islands (Titicaca) | €10–15 |
Sample 7-Day Budget (Lima + Cusco + Machu Picchu)
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | €175 | €490 | €840 |
| Food | €140 | €280 | €490 |
| Flights (LIM–CUZ) | €80 | €100 | €130 |
| Trains (Cusco–Machu Picchu) | €75 | €100 | €150 |
| Machu Picchu entry | €45 | €60 | €70 |
| Other attractions | €35 | €60 | €80 |
| Extras | €60 | €120 | €200 |
| Total (per person) | €610 | €1,210 | €1,960 |
Money-Saving Tips
- Menú del día — the set lunch available at local restaurants for €3–6 is Peru’s greatest travel bargain
- Book Machu Picchu entry early — prices haven’t increased but slots sell out, especially peak months
- Lima restaurants: A world-class meal at a top-tier restaurant (Central, Maido) costs €100–150 — still far cheaper than equivalents in European capitals
- Cusco Boleto Turístico: Covers 16 sites — buy the full version if you plan to visit Sacsayhuamán and other surrounding ruins
- Train vs bus: The train to Aguas Calientes is scenic and comfortable; the bus via Santa María–Santa Teresa (3 buses + a taxi) takes much longer but costs €15–20 vs €60–80 for the train
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