Cusco on a budget: saving on accommodation, food, transport and Machu Picchu

Cusco can be as expensive or as cheap as you like. The city has luxury hotels and chef-driven restaurants, but also simple hostels, markets with home cooking at local prices and loads of free things to do. The big expense is usually Machu Picchu, and there are ways to save there too if you have time and flexibility. This guide gathers the most useful strategies for enjoying Cusco without emptying your wallet. All figures are approximate and change over time and by season.

Start here: Cusco tips · things to do in Cusco

Indicative daily budget

A backpacker in dorms, eating set lunches and using public transport can spend roughly US$35–55 a day in Cusco, excluding Machu Picchu and big tours. With a simple private room and the odd restaurant, it rises to roughly US$60–90. Add the Tourist Ticket, Machu Picchu and whichever excursions you choose.

• Hostels in Cusco: areas, what to check before booking and backpacker tips

Cheap accommodation

• Hostel dorms: the cheapest option, often with breakfast and a sociable vibe.
• Private rooms in hostels or family guesthouses: good value, especially just outside the immediate centre.
• Neighbourhoods: San Blas and the streets around San Pedro and San Francisco have budget options within walking distance of the Plaza de Armas.
• Low season: roughly November to March, prices drop.
• Shared kitchen: a hostel kitchen lets you save on some meals.

• Hostels in Cusco: areas, what to check before booking and backpacker tips
• Where to stay in Cusco: best areas for your trip and budget
• San Blas, Cusco's artisan quarter: what to see, viewpoints and tips

Eating cheaply

• Menú del día: at lunchtime many local restaurants offer a starter or soup, main and drink very cheaply. The cheapest way to eat well.
• San Pedro market: fresh juices, soups, home-style dishes and fruit at local prices.
• Bakeries and street stalls: pan chuta, tamales, empanadas and corn with cheese are cheap and delicious.
• Skip the restaurants under the Plaza de Armas arcades if you're saving.
• Water: buy big bottles or use a filter; many hostels have refill water.

• San Pedro Market in Cusco: what to eat, what to buy, opening hours and tips
• What and where to eat in Cusco: typical dishes, markets and tips
• Vegan and vegetarian food in Cusco: Andean dishes, markets and useful phrases

Local transport

• Walk: the historic centre is compact.
• City buses and colectivos: very cheap for neighbourhoods, the bus terminal or the Sacred Valley.
• Taxis: use apps or agree the fare first; short rides in the centre are cheap.
• Airport to centre: an app taxi or city bus is cheaper than a hotel transfer.

• Getting around Cusco: taxis, ride apps, city buses and colectivos
• Cusco airport to the city centre: taxi, ride apps, transfers and approximate prices

The Tourist Ticket

The Cusco Tourist Ticket bundles many archaeological sites and museums. The general ticket pays off if you'll visit several sites on different days; partial tickets are cheaper if you only want one circuit. Students with a valid international card may get a discount. Work out what you'll visit before buying.

• Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico): what's included and is it worth it

Cheaper Machu Picchu

• Hidroeléctrica route: instead of the train from Cusco or Ollantaytambo, go by bus or colectivo to Hidroeléctrica and walk 2.5–3 hours to Aguas Calientes. Much cheaper, but slower.
• Walk up from Aguas Calientes: skip the bus up in exchange for about 90 minutes of stairs.
• Tickets: buy on the official website or well ahead; student prices are lower with a valid card.
• Combined tours: some 2-day Hidroeléctrica packages include transport, a night in Aguas Calientes, meals and a guide at a good price.

• Machu Picchu via Hidroeléctrica and Santa Teresa: the budget route step by step
• Machu Picchu tickets: how to buy them on the official site and not miss out
• Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town): getting there, things to do and where to stay

Free or nearly free

• A free walking tour of the centre (tip at the end).
• Climb to Cristo Blanco and the San Blas and San Cristóbal viewpoints.
• Wander the Inca streets of Hatun Rumiyoc and Loreto.
• Visit San Pedro market.
• Catch parades and festivals on the Plaza de Armas, especially in June.
• Walk from Tambomachay back to Cusco (with the Tourist Ticket to enter the sites).

• Free walking tour in Cusco: how it works, tipping and what to expect
• Cristo Blanco in Cusco: how to walk up, best time for views and safety
• Free things to do in Cusco: 15 plans that cost nothing (or almost)

Mistakes that cost money

• Buying tours from street touts without comparing.
• Changing money at the airport or with street changers.
• Not booking Machu Picchu early and ending up paying for a pricey package.
• Doing too many pre-dawn trips in a row and getting altitude sick.
• Making lots of withdrawals at high-fee ATMs.

• How to choose a tour agency in Cusco: a checklist to get it right
• Money in Cusco: soles, ATMs, exchange offices and cards
• Altitude sickness in Cusco: how to prevent it and what to do

Before you go

eSIM for Peru

Land connected: install an Airalo data eSIM before you travel and switch it on when you land. Check first that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked.

Get online in Peru →

Airport transfer

Book a private Welcome Pickups transfer from Cusco airport to your hotel before you land, with your driver waiting in arrivals. Check the price and cancellation terms when booking.

Book your airport transfer →

Notice: This guide shares advice and recommendations based on research and local experience. Prices, opening hours and rules may change: always check with official sources and operators. Cusco Tips is not responsible for third-party services, bookings or decisions made using these guides; some links are affiliate links (see our affiliate policy).