Which place is cheaper, Lima or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Athens or Lima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Athens and Lima. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Athens or Lima?
Athens
Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.
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 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAthens €127Lima €71
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €127, while the average daily cost in Lima is €71. 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 Athens and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAthens €63Lima €45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAthens €126Lima €90
Compare Hotels in Athens and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Athens 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: Athens Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Athens €27Lima €5.27
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
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Airport Bus for Two€6.40
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Metro€1.50
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Metro€2.00
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Metro from Airport to City Center€8.00
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Taxi from Airport€35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bus Transfer to/from Argos: $14
- Athens Hotels To Piraeus Port-Hotels Luxury Transfer Services: $22
- Private transfer between Athens hotels and Piraeus Port: $23
- From Athens Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Rafina Port: $24
- Athens Private Transfer: Central Athens to Piraeus Cruise Port: $24
- Mercedes Private Transfer Athens - Piraeus: $24
- Athens Private Transfer Service: Athens Hotel To / From Piraeus Port : $25
- Piraeus Port: Private One-Way Transfer to Athens City Center: $26
- Athens hotels to Piraeus port Private departure transfer: $27
- Piraeus Port Private First Class Vehicle Transfer: $27
- Airport Transfer/ Athens Greece: $28
- The Best Welcome Transfer Airport Services : $28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride€4.99
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Taxi Ride€4.99
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Short Taxi Ride€3.74
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Private Transfer From Lima To Huacachina With 2 Stops: $198
- Private Transfer From Lima To Paracas With 2 Stops : $176
- Premium Peruvian Horse Show with Lunch & Transfers: $150
- Larco Museum Tour & Gastronomic Experience with rountrip transfer: $134
- Round-Trip Transfer in Private Minivan from-to Lima Airport (LIM) in Lima City: $122
- Palomino Islands Excursion & Swimming with Sea Lions with Hotel Transfers: $119
- Airport Transfer Service in Lima: $95
- Private Transfer from Callao Cruise Port to Lima city hotels: $87
- Private Transfer from Lima city hotels to Callao Cruise Port: $87
- Private Transfer from Lima hotels to Pisco Cruise Port: $87
- Lima Airport Arrival Transfer for small groups: $79
- Private Transfer from Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Pisco Port : $79
Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Athens 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
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Food Meals for one dayAthens €37Lima €16
Typical Food Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
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Ice cream€3.00
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Souvlaki€2.20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Athens
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $24
- Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Lunch or Dinner: $26
- Street Food Tour Market & City Centre: $42
- Foodies’ Favorite Food tour: $46
- Greek Street Food Tour: $52
- Athens Street Food Tour: Explore City's Iconic Eateries: $52
- Street Food Tour with Local Guide and 7 Tastings: $57
- Koukaki Food Tour with a Local Friend: $60
- Traditional Greek Cooking Class and Organic Lunch on Poros: $60
- Greek Spirits & Meze, Food Tour in Athens: $62
- Greek Traditional Vegan Cooking Class with Meal: $64
- Alternative, truly authentic food tour in secret Athens: $64
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two€3.99
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Ice cream€3.24
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Coffee€2.74
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Donut€0.87
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Lima Market Food Tour: $33
- Lima Market Food Tour: $34
- Peruvian Food Tour Through Local Markets: $40
- Ceviche Cooking Class Including Pisco Sour Lesson: $40
- Lima Street Food Tour: $40
- Lima Street Food Tour: $45
- Lima Food Tour: $45
- Street Food Tour in Miraflores District: $45
- Cooking Workshop and Water Circuit Tour: $45
- Barranco Tour with Dinner: $47
- Bohemian tour of Barranco with Dinner: $47
- Private Cooking Class With a Local Family in Lima: $48
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Athens €36Lima €7.96
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
- Self-guided First Discovery Walk and Reading Tour: $3.23
- Self Guided Tour In Athens With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.26
- Exclusive Self-Guided Audio Tour into Byzantine Gems: $4.63
- Acropolis Highlights Self-Guided Audio Tour: $4.70
- 360 Virtual tour of Ancient Athens: $6.00
- Herakleidon Museum of Ancient Greek Technology: Entry Ticket: $6.46
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Athens: $6.54
- Ancient Agora of Athens Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Ancient Agora of A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Ancient Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $7.00
- South Slope of the Acropolis audiovisual self-guided tour: $7.52
- Ancient Agora: Audiovisual self-guided tour with 3D models: $7.52
Typical Entertainment Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lima are as follows:
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Entrance to Museo Larco (for 2)€15
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Movie Tickets€2.12
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Lima bike and 5 Step Food Tasting Experience: $92
- The best of Lima walking tour: $198
- Cultural Tour of the city of Lima & Gastronomic: $62
- 2 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $279
- 2 Day Tour from Paracas, Ballestas Island and Huacachina: $149
- 2 Day Tour from Paracas, Huacachina, and Pisco Vineyard: $149
- 2d/1n Tour: Flight to the Nazca, Paracas and Huacachina Lines: $289
- 3 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $289
- 3 Day Tour to Paracas, Huacachina, and Pisco Vineyard: $159
- 3-Day Trip to Lima Tour Package: $150
- 3-Hour Private Scooter Tour through Miraflores with Guide: $50
- 360° Panoramic bus - Sightseeing Tour: $27
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAthens €23Lima €5.17
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
- Liquer tasting in Polykala's Distillery Show Room in Athens: $17
- Greek Wine Tasting: $23
- Premium Wine Tastings: $36
- Greek Wine Tasting Experience with a Sommelier: $43
- 1 Hour Private Four Greek Wine Tasting and Food Pairing in Athens: $44
- Old Town Athens Wine Tasting: $53
- Best rated Acropolis Wine Tasting : $54
- Greek food and wine tasting: $54
- 2 Hours Wine Tasting Odyssey in Athens: $54
- Rare Greek Wine Tasting w/Sommelier by the Acropolis: $59
- Acropolis Private Wine Tasting @ Finewine store : $61
- Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $79
Typical Alcohol Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Lima are as follows:
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Bottle of Wine€6.71
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Beer€3.74
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Cocktail€2.99
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Gin and Rum Distillery Tour: $12
- Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $18
- Exclusive Pub Crawl with 10+ benefits: $18
- Party Tour in Miraflores with Bar Crawl and Drinks: $18
- Pub Crawl in Lima: $25
- Local Wine Tour : $39
- Local Wine Tour: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Lima, we can see that Athens is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Athens is in Europe 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 Athens would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Athens 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 Athens Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Athens or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Athens. When comparing the sizes of Athens 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.
When is the best time to visit Athens or Lima?
Athens has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Lima experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Athens or Lima in the Summer?
Both Lima and Athens during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Athens because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
In the summer, Athens is much warmer than Lima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Athens in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Lima averages at about 18°C (64°F).
It's quite sunny in Athens. In the summer, Athens often gets more sunshine than Lima. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets less rain in July than Lima. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Lima receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAthens 27°C (81°F)Lima 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Athens or Lima in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Lima. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Athens is generally around the same temperature as Lima. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 19°C (67°F), and Lima fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Lima during autumn. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 60 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Athens usually receives more rain than Lima. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Lima receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAthens 19°C (67°F)Lima 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Athens or Lima in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Athens as well as Lima. Many travelers come to Athens for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
Athens is much colder than Lima in the winter. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 10°C (51°F) in January, and Lima fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
In the winter, Athens often gets less sunshine than Lima. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 185 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets more rain in January than Lima. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Lima receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAthens 10°C (51°F)Lima 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Athens or Lima in the Spring?
Both Lima and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Athens in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Athens is cooler than Lima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Athens in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Lima averages at about 22°C (72°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Lima during spring. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Athens usually receives more rain than Lima. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Lima receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAthens 16°C (60°F)Lima 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Lima and Athens
| Athens | Lima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (60°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
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.