Which place is cheaper, Lima or Bucharest?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bucharest 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 Bucharest 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: Bucharest or Lima?
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital and largest city in the country of Romania. With about 2 million residents living in the city and about 2.4 million in the surrounding urban area, it is also one of the largest cities in Southeastern Europe. As such, it is the economic, industrial and commercial center for the country. As a visitor, you will likely enter Romania by arriving in Bucharest. The city continues to grow and change, and there are ongoing infrastructure projects that continue to modernize the city. It is not uncommon to find historic churches on the same block as modern office buildings and Communist style apartment buildings. There are also many sights around town and the city continues to grow as a trendy and fascinating city.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bucharest, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Romania, 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 dayBucharest $139Lima $76
The average daily cost (per person) in Bucharest is $139, while the average daily cost in Lima is $76. 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 Bucharest and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBucharest $63Lima $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBucharest $126Lima $98
Compare Hotels in Bucharest and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Bucharest 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: Bucharest Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bucharest $26Lima $5.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bucharest
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bucharest:
- Therme Bucharest Express Shuttle Transfer: $7.68
- Bucharest Airport Transfer: $11
- Bucuresti: Transfer Therme Bucuresti different hours: $12
- Therme Bucuresti Transfer with Optional Ticket: $13
- Bucharest Transfer Service: $17
- Airport Transfer - Bucharest Otopeni Henri Coandă Airport : $18
- Bucharest Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Tecuci: $22
- Airport Transfer: $22
- Bucharest Private Airport Transfer from or to City Center Hotel: $22
- Private Bucharest Otopeni Airport (OTP) Transfer: $22
- Bucharest Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Barlad: $24
- Bucharest Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Vaslui OMV: $26
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.37
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Taxi Ride$5.37
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Short Taxi Ride$4.03
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 Bucharest or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Bucharest 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 dayBucharest $59Lima $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bucharest
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bucharest.
- Dinner at the Museum of Communism - Traditional Food Tour: $54
- Bohemian Bucharest Markets and Mahallas Traditional Food Tour: $60
- Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner: $64
- Cooking Class traditional food: $66
- Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $74
- Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner - 3 hours: $87
- Private Walking Food Tour - Culture, History & Traditions: $99
- Discover Private Highlights and Traditional Food Tour: $109
- Private Bucharest Food Tour with a Local Foodie: $116
- Historical and Cultural Tour with Romanian Cuisine dinner: $142
- 4-Hour Walking Food Tour in the Old Town: $203
- Bucharest City Tour & Traditional Home-made Cooking Experience: $229
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.30
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Ice cream$3.49
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Coffee$2.95
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Donut$0.94
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.Bucharest $15Lima $8.57
Tours and Activities in Bucharest
Here are a few actual costs in Bucharest for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Buchaest: Peles Castle, Bran Castle, & Brasov Old Town Tour: $5.37
- Reptiland Bucharest Entry Ticket: $13
- A Tale of Bucharest Old Town Walking Tour: $16
- Communism Walking Tour from Lenin to Ceausescu in Bucharest: $16
- City Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $17
- Bucharest Highlights Walking Tour: $18
- Parliament Palace Skip-the-line Ticket: $20
- Palace of Parliament Bucharest 1 Hour Guided Tour: $21
- Virtual Reality Experience: $21
- Calea Victoriei and Old Town Highlights Tour: $22
- Guided Tour at museum Casa Storck: $22
- 2-Hour Private Walking Tour in Bucharest: $22
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)$16
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Movie Tickets$2.28
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 dayBucharest $9.28Lima $5.57
Sample the Local Flavors in Bucharest
Also in Bucharest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Weekend Pub Crawl: $24
- Bucharest Pub Crawl in the Old Town: $25
- From Romanian Wine Tasting Tour: $26
- Bachelors Party in Custom Bar Crawl: $38
- Private Bar Crawling in Bucharest Old City: $43
- Private Wine Tasting Experience: $43
- Pub Crawl in the Old CIty and Rooftop Hopping in Bucharest: $47
- Private Romanian Wine Tasting in Urlați: $52
- Guided Pub Crawl in Bucharest: $56
- Bucharest Old Town Pub and Bar Crawl with Guide: $57
- Bucharest VIP Bar Crawl in Lipscani 'Old Town': $59
- Bucharest City Tour and Wine Tasting: $85
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$7.23
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Beer$4.03
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Cocktail$3.22
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 Bucharest and Lima, we can see that Bucharest is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bucharest 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 Bucharest would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bucharest 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 Bucharest Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bucharest or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Bucharest. When comparing the sizes of Bucharest 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 Bucharest or Lima?
Bucharest 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 Bucharest or Lima in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bucharest and Lima. The summer months attract visitors to Bucharest because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Bucharest is generally a little warmer than Lima. Daily temperatures in Bucharest average around 23°C (73°F), and Lima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
In Bucharest, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bucharest usually receives more sunshine than Lima during summer. Bucharest gets 289 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Bucharest usually receives more rain than Lima. Bucharest gets 64 mm (2.5 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 JulyBucharest 23°C (73°F)Lima 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Bucharest or Lima in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Bucharest as well as Lima. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Bucharest this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
Bucharest is much colder than Lima in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bucharest averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Lima fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
In the autumn, Bucharest often gets more sunshine than Lima. Bucharest gets 177 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 60 hours of full sun.
Bucharest usually gets more rain in October than Lima. Bucharest gets 32 mm (1.3 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 OctoberBucharest 13°C (55°F)Lima 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Bucharest or Lima in the Winter?
Both Lima and Bucharest are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Bucharest for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Bucharest. In the winter, Bucharest is much colder than Lima. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bucharest in January average around -1°C (29°F), and Lima averages at about 23°C (73°F).
Bucharest usually receives less sunshine than Lima during winter. Bucharest gets 71 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 185 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Bucharest usually receives more rain than Lima. Bucharest gets 40 mm (1.6 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 JanuaryBucharest -1°C (29°F)Lima 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Bucharest or Lima in the Spring?
Both Lima and Bucharest during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Bucharest in the spring for the activities around the city. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
In April, Bucharest is generally much colder than Lima. Daily temperatures in Bucharest average around 12°C (54°F), and Lima fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
In the spring, Bucharest often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Lima. Bucharest gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun.
Bucharest usually gets more rain in April than Lima. Bucharest gets 46 mm (1.8 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 AprilBucharest 12°C (54°F)Lima 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Lima and Bucharest
| Bucharest | Lima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -1°C (29°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 1°C (34°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (44°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 1°C (34°F) | 43 mm (1.7 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.