Cusco on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, Cusco is very good for budget travellers apart from Machu Picchu itself. Allow about S/ 210 a day per person in Cusco, plus roughly US$200–350 for the Machu Picchu trip.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | S/60 | S/200 | S/800 |
| Food & drink | S/50 | S/120 | S/300 |
| Sights & tickets | S/80 | S/200 | S/450 |
| Local transport | S/20 | S/80 | S/250 |
| Per person, per day | S/210 | S/600 | S/1,800 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Cusco day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Plaza de Armas and the arcades around it
- The San Blas neighbourhood's cobbled streets and viewpoints
- Twelve-Angled Stone on Hatun Rumiyoc street
- San Pedro Market (free to browse)
- The Cristo Blanco viewpoint above the city
- Inti Raymi crowds and parades on 24 June (paid seats only at Sacsayhuamán)
Cheap eats
- Menú del día: about S/ 12–20
- Adobo cusqueño on Sunday morning: roughly S/ 15–25
- Chicharrón cusqueño: roughly S/ 25–45
- Fresh juice at San Pedro Market: about S/ 6–10
- Empanadas and street snacks: about S/ 3–6
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels around San Blas, Calle Plateros and San Cristóbal, with dorm beds from roughly S/ 30–60 and simple doubles from S/ 80–150.
Getting around cheaply
Walk the centre. Colectivos to Pisac, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo leave from Calle Puputi and Pavitos for a few soles. From the airport, an official taxi costs roughly S/ 20–30. The cheapest route to Machu Picchu is the long road route via Hidroeléctrica, but it takes most of a day each way.
A sample budget day
- Morning: San Blas and the Plaza de Armas (free)
- Lunch: menú del día, about S/ 15
- Afternoon: Sacsayhuamán on the boleto turístico (about S/ 130, covers several days)
- Evening: chicharrón or a market dinner, about S/ 30
- Total: about S/ 210 including a hostel bed and the sights share
More ways to save
- Walk up to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes (about 1.5 hours) to save the bus fare.
- Consider the Hidroeléctrica route and train combination only if you have extra time.
- Buy a partial boleto turístico if you only want one area.
- Shop for snacks and fruit at the market rather than in tourist shops.
- Travel in April or October–November for lower prices without heavy rain.
- Join free walking tours (tip-based) to learn the city's history.
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Common questions
How much do I need per day in Cusco?
About S/ 210 per person: S/ 60 for a bed, S/ 50 for food, S/ 80 for sights (shared over days of the boleto turístico) and S/ 20 for transport.
Can I get to Machu Picchu cheaply?
The cheapest way is via Hidroeléctrica by bus, then walking about 2–3 hours along the railway to Aguas Calientes. It saves money but takes most of a day.
Where do budget travellers stay in Cusco?
In hostels around San Blas, Calle Plateros and San Cristóbal, close to the centre.