Is Peru expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Peru is good value for food, buses and hotels, but Machu Picchu logistics make it pricier than neighbouring Bolivia. A budget day is about S/ 150 per person (roughly US$40), mid-range about S/ 400 and comfort about S/ 970, plus flights and the Machu Picchu train. The train, the entry ticket and the bus up to the ruins are the big costs.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | S/50 | S/140 | S/400 |
| Food & drink | S/45 | S/100 | S/220 |
| Sights & tickets | S/40 | S/120 | S/250 |
| Local transport | S/15 | S/40 | S/100 |
| Per person, per day | S/150 | S/400 | S/970 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Peru day-cost table.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Ceviche lunch at a cevichería | S/ 35-70 |
| Anticuchos from a street stall | S/ 10-15 |
| Boleto turístico (Cusco and Sacred Valley sites) | about S/ 130, valid 10 days |
| Machu Picchu entry | about S/ 150-200 for foreigners |
| Train Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes | roughly US$70-150 one way |
| Consettur bus up to Machu Picchu | around US$12 each way |
| Rainbow Mountain day tour | about S/ 100-180 plus S/ 25 entry |
| Budget room in San Blas or Miraflores | S/ 80-150 |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
The Machu Picchu visit alone (train, bus, entry and often a night in Aguas Calientes) can cost more than several days elsewhere. Domestic flights between Lima, Cusco and Juliaca are the next big item. Sights and tickets take a large share of a budget day, while food is excellent value, from set lunches at markets to world-class ceviche.
When it is cheaper
The rainy months, November to March, bring lower hotel and tour prices, and February is quietest (the Inca Trail closes). June to August, the dry high season, is the most expensive, especially around Inti Raymi in Cusco in late June.
How to spend less
- Eat the menú (set lunch) in local restaurants and markets, about S/ 10-20 with soup and a main.
- Buy the boleto turístico if you visit several Sacred Valley and Cusco ruins.
- Book Machu Picchu and train tickets early; the cheaper train classes sell out first.
- Take a taxi for a half-day Sacred Valley circuit instead of a big group tour.
- Ask hotels for the IGV exemption by showing your passport and entry record.
- Use comfortable first-class buses rather than flights where time allows, for example Cusco to Puno.
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Common questions
How much does a day in Peru cost?
About S/ 150 per person on a budget, S/ 400 mid-range and S/ 970 for comfort, plus flights and the Machu Picchu train.
How much does Machu Picchu cost?
Entry is about S/ 150-200 for foreigners, the train roughly US$70-150 each way and the bus around US$12 each way.
Do tourists pay the 18% hotel tax in Peru?
Foreign tourists are exempt from the IGV hotel tax if they show their passport and entry record.