Which place is cheaper, Lima or Arusha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Arusha or Lima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Arusha and Lima can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Arusha or Lima?
Arusha
Arusha is a city in East Africa's Tanzania, located at the base of volcanic Mt. Meru. It’s a gateway to safari destinations and to Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, lying some 100 kilometers northeast. To the west lies Serengeti National Park, home to wildlife including lions, rhinoceros, giraffes and leopards. Annual migrations feature huge herds of wildebeests crossing its plains. Arusha is Tanzania’s gateway to the northern circuit of stellar national parks and the starting point of many a memorable safari. It’s also a large, sprawling city which offers a nice break from the rigors of life on the African road – it has excellent places to stay and eat and, for the most part, it’s lush and green and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. Arusha is a great destination, and you're sure to enjoy your time here, no matter what your interests are.
Lima
Lima, the capital city of Peru, is likely to be your point of entry for the country. Lima was founded in 1535 and was the seat of the Spanish rule for 300 years. It's a surprisingly modern city despite its rich history, but many beautiful churches and colonial architecture remain today. There are also large slum areas that highlight the poverty that exists in the city. The city and its surrounding metropolitan area have a population of about 8.5 million people, many of whom came from the Andes Mountains in search of work. Unfortunately the work opportunities are limited and the poverty is obvious as you arrive in Lima.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
-
Arusha Prices
Tanzania PricesLima Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayArusha $188Lima $98
The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $188, while the average daily cost in Lima is $98. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Arusha and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personArusha $125Lima $54
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomArusha $250Lima $108
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Lima? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Arusha Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Arusha $13Lima $6.25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha
Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arusha Airport and Hotel Transfer: $35
- Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
- Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha City Private Transfer: $120
- Moshi - Arusha Transfer: $149
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
-
Taxi Ride$5.92
-
Taxi Ride$5.92
-
Short Taxi Ride$4.44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Transfer in Private Van from the Airport to Hotels in Lima: $60
- Transfer from the Airport to Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco: $21
- Transfer from Lima city to the airport: $20
- Transfer from Lima Airport to your hotel and vice versa: $175
- Transfer from Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco to Airport: $21
- Transfer by car from the airport to the hotel: $60
- Tour Night Magic Water Park and Ravine with Transfer: $49
- Tour Magic Water Park in Lima with Small Group Transfer: $38
- SHARED AIRPORT TRANSFER - From or To Lima Airport: $11
- QuickLlama: Transfer from Miraflores Kennedy Park to Lima Airport: $5.95
- Private taxi transfer: Lima Jorge Chávez Airport – Safe: $16
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $198
Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Arusha change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
-
Food Meals for one dayArusha $40Lima $33
Typical Food Prices in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
A Quick Lunch (for 2)$2.08
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional Tanzania Cooking Class & Food Market Tour: $45
- Local Tanzanian Food Cooking Class by Kingstone Asilia (Arusha): $75
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
-
Lunch for Two$4.74
-
Ice cream$3.85
-
Coffee$3.26
-
Donut$1.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Food Tours on the Forbidden Side of Lima with Elite DRONE FOOTAGE: $2.50
- Local Food Tour at an Iconic Market!!: $24
- Private Churros Cooking Class, Miraflores & Hotel Pickup: $43
- Lima Street Food Tour: Taste Authentic Peruvian Delights: $45
- Miraflores Cooking Class Ceviche, Tartar & Pisco Sour: $45
- Dinner with Folkloric Show at Casa Tambo Restaurant: $46
- #1 Rated Lima Cooking Class: Make Ceviche, Causa & Pisco Sours!: $49
- Lima Street Food Tour : Try the best Peruvian street food: $49
- Lima Food Tour & Market Experience: 13 Peruvian Bites: $50
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $50
- Andean Breads Cooking Class in Lima: $55
- Limeno Bites Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Arusha $44Lima $9.44
Tours and Activities in Arusha
For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Best Arusha City Tour: $15
- Guided Arusha town tour with market visit,shopping, and city walk: $17
- Arusha Guided Tour: Culture, History, Markets&Hidden Gems+pickup: $19
- Arusha Guided City Tour &Hotel Pickup (History, Culture &Market: $21
- Arusha Town Tour: $30
- Arusha City Tour: Where Continents Collide & Cultures Dance: $30
- Sunset Tour in Arusha with Scenic Views of Mountain: $35
- Hidden Arusha Waterfall, Village & Coffee Tour (All-Inclusive): $36
- Arusha City Culture and Historical Walking Tour: $40
- Street Food and Community Walking Tour: $45
- Arusha Bike Town Tour Experience: $55
- Private Walking Tour with Giraffes: $55
Typical Entertainment Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lima are as follows:
-
Entrance to Museo Larco (for 2)$18
-
Movie Tickets$2.52
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- 1 Day Tour to Huacachina from Lima (Dunebuggy + Vineyards): $225
- 1 day tour in Ica Peru: $200
- 2 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $265
- 2 Day Tour from Paracas, Ballestas Island and Huacachina: $134
- 2 Day Tour from Paracas, Huacachina, Tunnels & Vineyard: $134
- 2D Tour from Lima Paracas and Huacachina with Night in Huacachina: $230
- 3 Day Tour From Paracas, Huacachina Oasis & Pisco Vineyard: $159
- 3 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $289
- 3 Days Tour of Paracas Huacachina and Nazca: $275
- 3 Hour Private Electric Scooter Tour of Lima: $75
- 3 Hours Walking Tour of Lima Old Town and Catacumbs: $59
- 3-Day Tour Discover Paracas and Huacachina from Lima: $260
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayArusha $10Lima $6.14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Lima are as follows:
-
Bottle of Wine$7.96
-
Beer$4.44
-
Cocktail$3.55
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Free Pub Crawl: $5.00
- Discover Barranco's Nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $20
- Discover Miraflores nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $24
- Gin and Rum Distillery Tour: $24
- Lima Nightlife Tour & Society – Cultural Pub Crawl: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Lima, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Arusha is in Africa and Lima is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Lima would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lima and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Arusha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arusha than you might in Lima.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arusha Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Arusha or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Lima, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.