Peru is one of the best places I’ve ever been (and that’s saying something). I loved every moment (this post explains why in more detail). In addition to being incredible, it’s also an extremely affordable destination (provided you limit yourself to Lima’s food and guided walking tours).

If you’re heading to Peru and wondering how much it will cost, look no further. In this post, I’ll break down how much I spent, what went wrong, typical prices, and how to save money.

how much did i spend

During my sixteen days in Peru, I visited Lima, Arequipa, Cusco, and hiked in the Sacred Valley. I spent $4,992.63 per day, or $312. The details are as follows (in US dollars):

• stay: $1,246.51
• food: $795.96
• Guide Tips: $45.90
• Tours/Activities: $162
• transportation: $80.96
• Private tour (see below): $1,770
• Domestic flights: $480.06
• travel insurance: $73.92
• gear: $337.32

now i spent a lot of More than you can do in the same amount of time. There are several reasons for this:

First of all, Lima is one of the gastronomic centers with some of the best restaurants in the world. I ended up eating a lot at these places which increased my food costs.

Secondly, I did a guided walking tour in Cusco due to work commitments, which really added to my costs (you’re unlikely to pay for a private guide when traveling). Without these trips, my rates would drop to $200 per day!

Third, given my limited time in the country and how much I needed to cover, I also flew between most destinations rather than taking long overnight buses. Also, I had to change some flights at the last minute because of work again, so I had to pay change fees.

I ended up spending a few nights in a very upscale hotel in Cusco, which actually accounted for 50% of my stay. Yo lo!

So, if you want to visit Peru, how much do you need to budget as a regular traveler? Well, certainly not as much as me! Here are some more reasonable suggested budgets for Peru:

backpacker budget
If you want to backpack Peru, I would plan to spend $50-80 per day (185-300 PEN). On this budget you will stay in hotel dormitories, eat in typical hole-in-the-wall restaurants and cafes, limit alcohol consumption, take public transportation and night buses, and do some paid activities and excursions. If you party regularly, you’ll be on the higher end of the range.

medium budget
If you want to basically follow what I did (minus the private tour), you’ll need $150-200 per day (560-750 PEN). This will provide you with a private room in a hotel or two- or three-star hotel, some of the high-end meals the country is famous for, all the drinks you want, domestic flights, and any tours and activities you want.

On top of that, you can add or subtract $30-$50 per day, depending on whether you stay at a brand-name hotel (or not), take a domestic flight (or not), or hang out at parties (or not).

You can use the price list below to help create your own budget.

General price

How much does something in Peru cost? Here are some typical prices (listed in Peruvian Sols, abbreviated as PEN). The high-end numbers are what you’d pay (and sometimes more) at more upscale, top-tier restaurants. Most other places in Peru are on the lower end.

• dormitory dormitory: 40–100 PEN per night
• hotel private room: 100–250 PEN per night
• Budget hotel: 110–300 PEN per night
• Global hotel chain: +375 PEN per night
• Appetizers: 20–30 transactions
• Ceviche: 40–60 pens
• Main course dishes: 40–60 pens
• Cuy (guinea pig, a delicacy):55 pens
• hamburger: 20–28 strokes
• sandwich: 12–15 strokes
• Quick meal mix:15-20 pens
• pizza:25–60 pens
• dessert: 20–40 pens
• water (In the restaurant): 4-10 PEN
• soda: 4–7 strokes
• coffee: 5–10 pens
• iced coffee: 13–15 strokes
• Tea: 5–12 strokes
• beer: 15 pens
• wine: 29–45 pens
• cocktail: 25 pens
• Museum entrance:10–20 pens
• Uber:10–20 pens
• taxi: 15–30 pens
• Domestic flights:150–300 items
• Guided Machu Picchu Hike/Tour: 3,000–6,000 PEN

Budget Saving Tips

It’s easy to avoid spending a lot of money in Peru. Your biggest expenses will be accommodation, domestic flights, multi-day guided tours and food. If you limit any of these, you’ll be fine because public transportation is cheap, Uber is super cheap, and Peruvian restaurants are super affordable.

Here are some things you can do to lower costs and save money in Peru without limiting your experience:

Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is not safe to drink, so bring a reusable water bottle with a filter to save money and reduce plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand because its bottles come with a built-in filter to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Off season travel – The cheapest time to visit Peru is during the shoulder months of January to April or November and December, as prices are generally lower in these months.

take collective – These are cheap shared minivans and a ride costs around 10 PEN. They depart when fully loaded and are a low-cost way to get from the city to nearby cities (considered in the two-hour range).

Use Uber – Uber is available in all major cities across the country and is very cheap. It only costs a few dollars per trip and is often cheaper than a taxi.

Book a tour last minute – If you want to visit the Inca Trail and have some extra time to wait for a deal, showing up in Cusco and booking a last-minute tour can save you a lot of money. (But I wouldn’t recommend this if you don’t have time, as you may have to wait a few days for a spot to become available.)

Take a free walking tour – This is a great way to learn about the history behind the places you visit and avoid missing out on any must-see attractions. Free Walking Tours Peru has very good tours in all major cities.

Get student discount – If you are a student, be sure to bring your student card with you to enjoy significant discounts (up to 50% off) at archaeological sites and museums in Cusco and the surrounding area.

Limit your food – Peru is one of the gastronomic centers of the world, with some of the best restaurants in the world (in fact, the world’s number one restaurant, Central, is located here). Going to a restaurant is usually one of the things people do. But meals usually cost $100 or more (375 PEN), so avoid this if you want to save money.

Use the New Zealand website to book LATAM flights – Prices in Latin America are cheaper if you use the New Zealand version of the site (instead of the US site). This is a fluke of the system. Even if you are not a New Zealand resident, you can book through this website without any problems.

Take Peruvian Hops – Peru Hop is a backpacker hop-on hop-off bus that travels on fixed routes throughout the country. There are lots of activities included and the tour guides are great. Plus, unlike most regular buses, they run on time and offer free Wi-Fi. A lot of locals love them too because they are great value for money.

enjoy happy hour – In all major destinations you can find buy two get one free happy hours as well as food specials and other discounts. Check with your hotel or restaurant or Google for the latest information on which places are currently offering special deals.

Peru has something to suit any budget. There are some of the world’s best restaurants, upscale resorts, privately guided treks, and upscale bush lodges to save on your budget. But there’s also incredible local transportation, affordable hotels and restaurants, and cheap group tours. Hopefully this article will help you make the most of your visit, no matter where your budget falls.

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