Which place is cheaper, Lima or Bilbao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bilbao 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 Bilbao 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: Bilbao or Lima?
Bilbao
The industrial city of Bilbao is located on a port of the Nervión River in northern Spain, an important location of Basque country. While the downtown is filled with skyscrapers and innovative architecture, it sits between a river and mountains of natural allure. A city of hard-workers to the core, Bilbao displays remnants of its industrial past, though in more recent years it has transformed into a center for art. It is now a popular location for visitors looking to experience art galleries and museums.
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 Spain, The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid, 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 dayBilbao €137Lima €71
The average daily cost (per person) in Bilbao is €137, 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 Bilbao and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBilbao €72Lima €45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBilbao €144Lima €90
Compare Hotels in Bilbao and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Bilbao 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: Bilbao Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bilbao €26Lima €5.27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bilbao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bilbao:
- Private One way Airport Transfer Bilbao Airport to from Bilbao: $33
- Private transfer from Bilbao City Center to Bilbao Airport (BIO): $33
- Private transfer from Bilbao Airport (BIO) to Bilbao City Center: $33
- Bilbao Airport Private Arrival Transfer to Various Cities : $45
- Bilbao city to Bilbao Airport (BIO) - Departure Private Transfer: $49
- Bilbao Airport Transfers : Bilbao City to Bilbao Airport BIO in Business Car: $50
- Departure Private Transfers: Bilbao City to Bilbao Airport BIO in Business Car: $50
- Arrival Private Transfer from Bilbao airport BIO to Bilbao City by Business Car: $60
- Bilbao Airport Transfers : Bilbao City to Bilbao Airport BIO in Luxury Van: $66
- Departure Private Transfers: Bilbao City to Bilbao Airport BIO in Luxury Van: $66
- Private one way arrival OR departure transfer in Bilbao from/to airport: $67
- Private Transfer on arrival and departure in Bilbao: $72
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:
- Airport Transfer Service in Lima: $95
- Assistance /Transfer Hotel - Airport Lima Airport : $40
- Deluxe Car Lima Transfer - Private Service: $29
- From The Larco Museum Complete Tour with transfers: $56
- J.Chavez Airport to Miraflores City Hotels- Round Trip Transfer: $41
- Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Arrival Private Transfer : $31
- Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $61
- Jorge Chavez International Airport: Private Transfer: $25
- LIMA AIRPORT SHUTTLE - Shared Transfer: $13
- Larco Museum Tour & Gastronomic Experience with rountrip transfer: $134
- Lima : Private transfer between airport to your destination: $29
- Lima Airport (LIM) to Miraflores - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
Is it cheaper to fly into Bilbao or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Bilbao 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 dayBilbao €45Lima €16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bilbao
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bilbao.
- Basque Food Tour with Guide: $86
- The Original Bilbao Food Tour with Wine Pairings: $102
- Pintxos and Tapas Cooking Class in Bilbao : $109
- Basque Pintxos and Tapas Cooking Class with Open Bar: $113
- Basque Pintxos and Tapas Cooking Class in Bilbao: $115
- The Original Bilbao Food Tour with Wine Pairing: $115
- The High End Food Tour of Bilbao with a Local: $120
- Paella Cooking Class with Sangria in Bilbao: $135
- Private Food Tour, Food Lovers with Tastings: $135
- Paella Cooking Class (with Basque Sangria) in Bilbao: $142
- Traditional Basque Cooking Class with Wine Tasting: $156
- Guggenheim Museum Visit & Private Walking Food Tour: $198
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.Bilbao €29Lima €7.96
Tours and Activities in Bilbao
Here are a few actual costs in Bilbao for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bilbao´s Old Town Responsible Free Walking Tour: $1.94
- Bilbao Cathedral and San Anton Church Entry Ticket: $4.31
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.45
- Panoramic boat tour through the bay of Abra: $6.46
- Bilbao Self-Guided Historical Walking Tour: $7.52
- VITORIA DE LEGEND night tour: $11
- Bilbao Confidential Tour: Crime and Punishment: $13
- 1- or 2-Hour Sightseeing Boat Tour: $15
- Tour of the Great Villas in Getxo and Hanging Bridge: $16
- Bilbao tour: $18
- San Mamés Museum and Stadium Tour: $18
- Bilbao Estuary and Abra Bay Boat Tour: $20
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:
- Free Walking Tour of Lima: $2.00
- Peru's Best Bike Experience since 2014 - 4 Hours Hire: $9.90
- Customize your trip to Peru with Lima Experience: $12
- bike tour: $12
- Skip the Line: Larco Museum Admission Ticket: $13
- Beach tour and surfboards for rent in Lima, Peru: $14
- Barranco Street Art Tour: $17
- Party tour Fridays Barranco / Saturdays Miraflores: $18
- Private Beach Guided Bike Tour in Lima : $19
- Private Tour with guide in Museo de Arte de Lima - MALI: $20
- Guided Walking Tour in Barranco: $20
- Lima Downtown Tour from Miraflores in 3 hrs: $21
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBilbao €21Lima €5.17
Sample the Local Flavors in Bilbao
Also in Bilbao, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Bilbao: $25
- Immersive Evening Spanish Wine Tasting w/ Sommelier: $53
- Spanish Wine Tasting with Sommelier (close to Guggenheim museum): $54
- Pintxos and Wine Tasting Tour with Local Guide: $80
- Txakoli, Gaztelugatxe, & Urdaibai with wine tasting: $81
- Guided tour of Txakoli wine tasting and tasting of wine and typical products: $148
- Bilbao Txakoli Wine Tour: $178
- Guided Txacoli Wine Tasting: $188
- Rioja Wine Tour: Winery & Traditional Lunch From Bilbao: $201
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Bilbao: $217
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Vitoria: $241
- From Rioja Architecture and Wine Tour: $242
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 Bilbao and Lima, we can see that Bilbao is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bilbao 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 Bilbao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bilbao 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 Bilbao Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bilbao or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Bilbao 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 Bilbao or Lima?
Bilbao 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 Bilbao or Lima in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bilbao and Lima. The summer months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Bilbao is generally a little warmer than Lima. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 20°C (68°F), and Lima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
Bilbao usually receives more sunshine than Lima during summer. Bilbao gets 188 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Lima. Bilbao gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Lima receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBilbao 20°C (68°F)Lima 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Bilbao or Lima in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Bilbao as well as Lima. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
Bilbao is cooler than Lima in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 16°C (62°F) in October, and Lima fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
In the autumn, Bilbao often gets more sunshine than Lima. Bilbao gets 125 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 60 hours of full sun.
Bilbao receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Bilbao usually gets more rain in October than Lima. Bilbao gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Lima receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBilbao 16°C (62°F)Lima 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Bilbao or Lima in the Winter?
Both Lima and Bilbao are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Bilbao for the museums and the shopping scene. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the winter, Bilbao is much colder than Lima. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bilbao in January average around 9°C (48°F), and Lima averages at about 23°C (73°F).
Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Lima during winter. Bilbao gets 77 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 185 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Bilbao. In January, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Lima. Bilbao gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Lima receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBilbao 9°C (48°F)Lima 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Bilbao or Lima in the Spring?
Both Lima and Bilbao during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Bilbao in the spring for the activities around the city. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
In April, Bilbao is generally much colder than Lima. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 12°C (54°F), and Lima fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
In the spring, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Lima. Bilbao gets 117 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. Bilbao usually gets more rain in April than Lima. Bilbao gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Lima receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBilbao 12°C (54°F)Lima 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Lima and Bilbao
| Bilbao | Lima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 9°C (48°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (51°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (68°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 19°C (66°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (62°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (50°F) | 135 mm (5.3 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.