Peru Trip Cost: Complete Budget Guide 2026
Complete Peru trip cost breakdown. Daily budgets, accommodation, food, transportation, activities, and total costs for budget, mid-range, and luxury travelers.
Planning a Peru trip requires understanding costs for flights, accommodation, food, transportation, and activities. This comprehensive guide breaks down all expenses so you can budget accurately for your dream Peru adventure.
Peru Trip Cost Summary
Budget Traveler
$40-$60
per day
$800-$1,200
10-day trip total
- • Hostels/budget hotels
- • Local food/street food
- • Public buses
- • Free/cheap activities
- • Budget Machu Picchu
Mid-Range Traveler
$80-$140
per day
$1,800-$2,800
10-day trip total
- • Mid-range hotels
- • Restaurant meals
- • Comfortable buses/trains
- • Guided tours
- • Standard Machu Picchu
Luxury Traveler
$200-$400+
per day
$4,000-$7,000+
10-day trip total
- • Luxury hotels
- • Fine dining
- • Private transfers
- • Premium tours
- • Luxury Machu Picchu
Detailed Cost Breakdown by Category
1. International Flights to Peru
From USA
- Miami/Houston/LA to Lima: $300-$600 round-trip
- New York to Lima: $400-$700 round-trip
- Book 2-3 months ahead for best prices
From Europe
- Madrid/Amsterdam to Lima: $500-$900 round-trip
- London to Lima: $600-$1,000 round-trip
- Often requires connection
From Australia/Asia
- Sydney to Lima: $1,200-$2,000 round-trip
- Usually 2+ connections
Tip: Use Google Flights or Skyscanner to find best deals. Fly Tuesday-Thursday for cheaper fares.
2. Accommodation Costs
| Type | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lima | $15-$30 | $50-$100 | $150-$400 |
| Cusco | $12-$25 | $40-$80 | $120-$300 |
| Aguas Calientes | $20-$35 | $60-$120 | $200-$1,000 |
| Arequipa | $10-$25 | $35-$70 | $100-$250 |
| Puno | $10-$20 | $30-$60 | $80-$200 |
Note: Prices per night. Budget = hostels/basic hotels, Mid-range = 3-star hotels, Luxury = 4-5 star hotels.
3. Food & Dining Costs
Budget Eating ($10-$20/day)
- Breakfast: $2-$4 (bread, coffee, fruit)
- Lunch: $3-$5 (menu del dia - daily menu)
- Dinner: $5-$8 (local restaurant)
- Snacks/drinks: $2-$3
Mid-Range Eating ($25-$40/day)
- Breakfast: $5-$8 (cafe or hotel)
- Lunch: $10-$15 (tourist restaurant)
- Dinner: $15-$25 (nice restaurant)
- Snacks/drinks: $5-$8
Luxury Eating ($60-$100+/day)
- Breakfast: $15-$25 (hotel buffet)
- Lunch: $25-$40 (upscale restaurant)
- Dinner: $40-$80 (fine dining)
- Drinks/wine: $20-$40
Tip: Menu del dia (daily set menu) offers excellent value at $3-$5 for soup, main, drink, and dessert.
4. Domestic Transportation
Flights Within Peru
- Lima to Cusco: $50-$150 one-way
- Lima to Arequipa: $60-$120 one-way
- Cusco to Puerto Maldonado: $80-$150 one-way
Long-Distance Buses
- Lima to Cusco: $30-$80 (20-22 hours)
- Lima to Arequipa: $25-$60 (15-16 hours)
- Cusco to Puno: $15-$30 (6-7 hours)
- Cruz del Sur/Oltursa recommended
Trains
- To Machu Picchu: $60-$200 round-trip
- Puno to Cusco (luxury): $200-$400
Local Transport
- City buses: $0.50-$1
- Taxis: $3-$10 per ride
- Uber/Cabify: $2-$15 per ride
5. Activities & Entrance Fees
Major Attractions
- Machu Picchu entrance: $40-$53
- Cusco Tourist Ticket: $47 (multiple sites)
- Rainbow Mountain tour: $30-$60
- Sacred Valley tour: $30-$80
- Lake Titicaca tour: $25-$60
- Nazca Lines flight: $80-$150
- Colca Canyon tour: $40-$100
Multi-Day Treks
- Inca Trail (4 days): $500-$800
- Salkantay Trek (5 days): $300-$500
- Lares Trek (4 days): $400-$600
Free Activities
- Walking tours in Lima/Cusco
- San Pedro Market, Cusco
- Miraflores boardwalk, Lima
- Plaza de Armas (main squares)
6. Additional Costs
- Travel insurance: $30-$80 for 2 weeks
- Visa: $0 (free 90-day tourist visa for most countries)
- Vaccinations: $0-$200 (yellow fever, hepatitis recommended)
- SIM card: $10-$20 (tourist data plan)
- Altitude medication: $20-$40 (Diamox)
- Souvenirs: $20-$100+
- Tips: $50-$150 total trip
- Laundry: $3-$8 per load
Sample 10-Day Peru Itinerary Costs
Budget: $800-$1,200 Total
Day 1-2: Lima - Hostel ($30), food ($30), activities ($10) = $70
Day 3-5: Cusco - Hostel ($75), food ($45), tours ($60) = $180
Day 6: Machu Picchu - Budget train/ticket/hostel ($180) = $180
Day 7-8: Sacred Valley - Hostel ($40), food ($30), tours ($40) = $110
Day 9-10: Puno - Hostel ($30), food ($30), Lake Titicaca ($30) = $90
Transportation: Buses ($80), local transport ($30) = $110
Flights: International ($500), domestic ($0) = $500
Total: $1,230
Mid-Range: $1,800-$2,800 Total
Day 1-2: Lima - Hotel ($140), food ($80), activities ($40) = $260
Day 3-5: Cusco - Hotel ($210), food ($120), tours ($150) = $480
Day 6: Machu Picchu - Mid train/ticket/hotel ($400) = $400
Day 7-8: Sacred Valley - Hotel ($120), food ($80), tours ($100) = $300
Day 9-10: Puno - Hotel ($100), food ($80), tours ($80) = $260
Transportation: Trains/buses ($200), taxis ($80) = $280
Flights: International ($600), Lima-Cusco ($120) = $720
Total: $2,700
Luxury: $4,000-$7,000+ Total
Day 1-2: Lima - 5-star hotel ($600), fine dining ($300), tours ($150) = $1,050
Day 3-5: Cusco - Luxury hotel ($750), dining ($450), private tours ($450) = $1,650
Day 6: Machu Picchu - Hiram Bingham/Sanctuary Lodge ($1,500) = $1,500
Day 7-8: Sacred Valley - Luxury lodge ($600), dining ($300), tours ($300) = $1,200
Day 9-10: Puno - Luxury hotel ($400), dining ($250), private tours ($200) = $850
Transportation: Private transfers ($400), luxury train ($300) = $700
Flights: Business class international ($2,000), domestic ($300) = $2,300
Total: $9,250
Money-Saving Tips for Peru
- Travel low season (November-March): Save 30-50% on hotels and tours
- Book flights 2-3 months ahead: Save $100-$300 on international flights
- Eat menu del dia: Save $10-$15 per day on food
- Take buses instead of flights: Save $50-$100 per route (but takes longer)
- Stay in hostels: Save $20-$50 per night
- Book Machu Picchu yourself: Save $20-$50 vs agency fees
- Use local transport: Buses cost $0.50 vs $5-$10 taxis
- Join group tours: Save 40-60% vs private tours
- Buy water in bulk: $0.50 at stores vs $2 at tourist spots
- Get ISIC student card: 50% off Machu Picchu and many attractions
How Much Cash to Bring
Peru uses Peruvian Soles (PEN). Exchange rate: approximately 3.7 soles = $1 USD.
- Budget travelers: $300-$400 cash + credit card for emergencies
- Mid-range travelers: $500-$700 cash + credit card for hotels/tours
- Luxury travelers: $300-$500 cash (most places take cards)
- ATMs: Widely available in cities, withdraw as needed
- Credit cards: Accepted at hotels, restaurants, tour agencies
- Cash needed for: Markets, street food, small shops, tips, buses
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a trip to Peru cost?
A 10-day Peru trip costs $800-$1,200 for budget travelers, $1,800-$2,800 for mid-range travelers, and $4,000-$7,000+ for luxury travelers. This includes flights, accommodation, food, transportation, activities, and Machu Picchu visit.
How much money do I need per day in Peru?
Budget travelers need $40-$60 per day, mid-range travelers need $80-$140 per day, and luxury travelers need $200-$400+ per day. This covers accommodation, food, local transportation, and activities.
Is Peru expensive to travel?
Peru is affordable compared to Western countries. Budget travelers can travel comfortably for $40-$60/day. The most expensive part is Machu Picchu ($150-$400 total). Cities like Lima and Cusco offer excellent value for accommodation and food.
How much does food cost in Peru?
Budget meals cost $3-$8, mid-range restaurants $10-$20, and upscale dining $25-$50 per meal. Street food and menu del dia (daily menu) offer excellent value at $3-$5. Groceries are very affordable.