Group at Rainbow Mountain, Vinicunca, Peru

Peru Travel Guide

How much spending money for Peru?

Peru ranges from inexpensive market meals and local transport to world-class Lima restaurants and private Sacred Valley lodges. Here's an honest breakdown of what to expect at every level.

All prices are in USD. Accommodation, trains, and domestic flights are handled as part of your custom trip with us — the costs below cover food, drinks, activities, entrance fees, shopping, and tips.

Why Peru Is Different

Remarkable value — with a few costs to plan for.

Peru's day-to-day costs are genuinely low — a bowl of caldo de gallina from a market stall, a plate of lomo saltado at a local restaurant, a fresh ceviche lunch in Lima's Barranco. These are among the best meals you'll eat anywhere, and they cost almost nothing. The country rewards those who eat locally and move at a relaxed pace.

The one area that catches people off guard is Peru's major attraction costs. Machu Picchu requires a timed entry ticket, Inca Trail permits are strictly limited and book out months in advance, and the train to Aguas Calientes has set pricing. These aren't day-of decisions — we handle all of it when we plan your Peru trip, but it's worth knowing they sit outside your daily spending budget.

Lima is a world-class food city

Peru's capital is one of the great gastronomic destinations on earth. A bowl of ceviche at a local cevichería costs $8–15. A meal at one of Lima's celebrated restaurants (Central, Maido, Astrid y Gastón) runs $80–150+ per person — book well in advance.

Cusco and the highlands are very affordable

Local restaurants in Cusco and the Sacred Valley serve excellent Andean food for $6–15 per person. Even good restaurants with views are inexpensive by global standards. The altitude doesn't add to the cost.

Machu Picchu entry is a set cost

Machu Picchu requires a timed entry ticket ($45–60 USD depending on circuit and time slot) plus the bus up from Aguas Calientes ($24 return). These are fixed costs we book as part of your itinerary — not day-of expenses.

Cash is important in the highlands

Peruvian sol (PEN) is the currency. Cards work well in Lima and larger hotels, but local restaurants, markets, and smaller towns throughout the highlands are predominantly cash-based. ATMs are available in all major cities.

Daily Spending by Style

What does a day in Peru actually cost?

Realistic daily spending estimates per person — covering food, drinks, activities, tips, and incidentals. Machu Picchu entry, Inca Trail permits, and trains are booked separately as part of your trip.

Budget

Local Style

$45–70

per person / day

Market meals, local restaurants, self-guided exploring. Peru at this level is genuinely extraordinary — the food from a market stall in Cusco or a cevichería in Barranco is often the best thing you eat all trip, and it costs almost nothing.

Market meal / cevichería$5–12

Local restaurant dinner$12–20

Local beer / chicha morada$2–4

Museum / site entry$5–15

Coffee & snacks$4–8

Mid-Range

Comfortable

$100–160

per person / day

Where most of our clients land. Good restaurants in Lima and Cusco, a private guide for the major sites, cocktails in a colonial courtyard. Peru at this level exceeds almost every expectation and remains excellent value by global standards.

Lunch at a good restaurant$15–28

Dinner with wine$35–60

Cocktails / pisco sours$15–28

Private guide (half day)$30–60

Coffee, tips & incidentals$10–15

Higher End

Indulgent

$180–300+

per person / day

Lima's celebrated restaurants, private guides for every experience, luxury train options, spa evenings. Even at this level, Peru delivers extraordinary value — a meal at one of the world's best restaurants costs a fraction of what it would in New York or London.

Lima fine dining (pp)$80–150

Upscale dinner in Cusco$45–80

Premium wine & cocktails$30–55

Private guide (full day)$60–120

Spa, tips & incidentals$35–70

Spending by Category

What things actually cost in Peru.

Real prices across the most common spending categories. Budget / Mid / High columns show the range across spending styles.

Prices are estimates based on typical costs at time of writing and may vary by season, location, and operator.

Food & Drink

BudgetMidHigh

Market meal / ceviche lunch$5–12$5–12$5–12

Local restaurant dinner (pp)$10–18$25–50$55–100

Lima fine dining (pp)—$45–80$90–160

Local beer / chicha$2–4$4–7$7–12

Pisco sour / cocktail$5–8$8–14$14–22

Coffee$2–4$3–6$5–8

Market meal / ceviche lunch

Budget$5–12

Mid$5–12

High$5–12

Local restaurant dinner (pp)

Budget$10–18

Mid$25–50

High$55–100

Lima fine dining (pp)

Budget—

Mid$45–80

High$90–160

Local beer / chicha

Budget$2–4

Mid$4–7

High$7–12

Pisco sour / cocktail

Budget$5–8

Mid$8–14

High$14–22

Coffee

Budget$2–4

Mid$3–6

High$5–8

Activities & Experiences

BudgetMidHigh

Machu Picchu entry ticket$45–60$45–60$45–60

Cusco / Sacred Valley guide$20–35$40–80$80–150

Lake Titicaca boat tour$20–35$35–65$65–120

Colca Canyon tour (2 days)$50–80$80–140$140–250

Cooking class$25–40$40–70$70–130

Museum entry$5–15$5–15$5–15

Machu Picchu entry ticket

Budget$45–60

Mid$45–60

High$45–60

Cusco / Sacred Valley guide

Budget$20–35

Mid$40–80

High$80–150

Lake Titicaca boat tour

Budget$20–35

Mid$35–65

High$65–120

Colca Canyon tour (2 days)

Budget$50–80

Mid$80–140

High$140–250

Cooking class

Budget$25–40

Mid$40–70

High$70–130

Museum entry

Budget$5–15

Mid$5–15

High$5–15

Shopping

BudgetMidHigh

Alpaca scarf / hat$10–25$25–60$60–150

Alpaca sweater$30–60$60–130$130–300

Ceramics / pottery$10–30$30–80$80–250

Silver jewellery$15–40$40–120$120–400+

Market souvenirs$3–15$15–40$40–100

Alpaca scarf / hat

Budget$10–25

Mid$25–60

High$60–150

Alpaca sweater

Budget$30–60

Mid$60–130

High$130–300

Ceramics / pottery

Budget$10–30

Mid$30–80

High$80–250

Silver jewellery

Budget$15–40

Mid$40–120

High$120–400+

Market souvenirs

Budget$3–15

Mid$15–40

High$40–100

Good to Know

ItemNote

Tipping at restaurantsNot expected — 10% is generous and appreciated

Tipping guides$10–20 USD per day is standard

Local currencyPeruvian sol (PEN) — carry cash in the highlands

Lima vs. highlandsLima restaurants are pricier; Cusco and beyond very affordable

Altitude medicationDiamox available on prescription — ask us before you go

Tipping at restaurants

Not expected — 10% is generous and appreciated

Tipping guides

$10–20 USD per day is standard

Local currency

Peruvian sol (PEN) — carry cash in the highlands

Lima vs. highlands

Lima restaurants are pricier; Cusco and beyond very affordable

Altitude medication

Diamox available on prescription — ask us before you go

From Our Experience

How to make your money go further.

Eat where locals eat

The best food in Peru is often in a market or a small local restaurant with no English menu. A bowl of caldo de gallina, a plate of lomo saltado, a fresh ceviche with a cold Cristal — these cost almost nothing and are among the best meals you'll ever eat. We point you to the right places.

Book Lima's top restaurants in advance

If you want to eat at Central, Maido, or Astrid y Gastón — three of the world's best restaurants — book months ahead. They fill up quickly and the experience is extraordinary at a price that would be three times higher in London or New York. We handle the reservations as part of planning your trip.

Budget for Machu Picchu separately

Machu Picchu entry, the bus up from Aguas Calientes, and optionally Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain are fixed costs that sit outside your daily spending. Together they run $70–100 per person. We book all of this well in advance as timed slots sell out, especially in peak season.

Carry enough cash for the highlands

Cusco has good ATMs, but many local restaurants, markets, and transport options in the Sacred Valley and beyond are cash only. Withdraw enough in Cusco before heading out into the valley — and always carry smaller denomination soles for market purchases.

Alpaca shopping adds up fast

Cusco's markets are extraordinary for alpaca goods — scarves, sweaters, blankets, hats. The quality varies enormously. Budget separately for shopping and, if you want genuine baby alpaca rather than acrylic blends, we'll steer you to the right places where quality is real and prices are fair.

Ask us before you go

Peru's costs vary significantly between Lima, the highlands, and the specific experiences you're after. When we design your trip we'll give you a realistic picture of what to budget across each part of the journey — so you arrive prepared and can spend freely on the things that matter.

How much spending money for Peru?

Remarkable value — with a few costs to plan for.

Lima is a world-class food city

Cusco and the highlands are very affordable

Machu Picchu entry is a set cost

Cash is important in the highlands

What does a day in Peru actually cost?

Local Style

Comfortable

Indulgent

What things actually cost in Peru.

How to make your money go further.

Eat where locals eat

Book Lima's top restaurants in advance

Budget for Machu Picchu separately

Carry enough cash for the highlands

Alpaca shopping adds up fast

Ask us before you go

Let's build your Peru trip.