Which place is cheaper, Lima or Cairns?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Cairns or Lima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cairns or Lima? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Cairns or Lima?
Cairns
Most travelers go to Cairns specifically to visit Great Barrier Reef. The city itself is surprisingly large and cosmopolitan with a population of approximately 140,000. The city's economy is almost exclusively based on tourism, although you will find some jobs centered around agriculture, or more specifically sugar cane, bananas, coffee, tea, wine, and some tropical fruits. The city itself is surrounded by rainforest and makes a great base for exploring Kuranda, with the Barron Gorge National Park and the Daintree offering a quieter tropical getaway than Cairns.
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 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Australia, The Best Budget Tours to Australia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
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Cairns Prices
Australia PricesLima Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairns $127Lima $98
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairns is $127, 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 Cairns and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairns $47Lima $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairns $94Lima $108
Compare Hotels in Cairns and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Cairns 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: Cairns Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairns $13Lima $6.29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairns
Also for Cairns, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Airport Transfer to/from City and Beaches: $15
- Cairns Airport: Shared Transfer: $15
- Airport Transfer Cairns Hotels to Cairns Airport: $22
- Airport Transfer Palm Cove Hotels to Cairns Airport: $31
- Hotel Transfers from Cairns to Palm Cove or Port Douglas: $35
- Hotel Transfers from Palm Cove to Cairns: $35
- Hotel Transfers from Palm Cove to Port Douglas: $38
- Cairns airport to cairns city private Transfers ( one way ): $40
- CNS Airport to Cairns City Centre Private Transfer: $47
- Cairns Airport (CNS) to Cairns hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $51
- Cairns hotels to Cairns Airport(CNS) - Departure Private Transfer: $51
- Cairns Airport Private Transfer: Door-to-Door to/from City Hotels: $55
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.96
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Taxi Ride$5.96
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Short Taxi Ride$4.47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Transfer: Lima City Center to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $14
- Transfer: Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima City Center: $15
- Transfer in Private Van from the Airport to Hotels in Lima: $60
- Transfer from the Airport to hotels in Lima: $30
- Transfer from the Airport to Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco: $21
- Transfer from Lima Airport to your hotel and vice versa: $175
- Transfer by official taxi from Jorge Chávez Lima Airport: $35
- Transfer To Lima Airport: $20
- Tour Night Magic Water Park and Ravine with Transfer: $49
- QuickLlama: Door-to-door transfer from Miraflores to Lima Airport: $5.95
- Private taxi transfer: Lima Jorge Chávez Airport – Safe: $16
- Private Transfers from/to Lima Airport (Price per Vehicle): $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairns or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Cairns 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 dayCairns $53Lima $33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairns
For Cairns, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dinner Cruise Experience: $92
- Night at the Aquarium Guided Tour & 2 Course Dinner: $96
- Cairns Catamaran Harbour and Dinner Cruise: $106
- Night at the Aquarium Tour & 2 Course Dinner: $111
- Aquarium Guided Twilight Tour with 3-Course Dinner: $118
- Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour with 3 Course Dinner in Cairns: $124
- Ancient Egypt Night Tour with 2 Course Dinner in Cairns: $124
- Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour and 3 Course Dinner: $146
- City Sights Tour with Evening Dinner Cruise: $171
- Paronella Park Rainforest Full-Day Tour with Dinner: $66,130
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.77
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Ice cream$3.87
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Coffee$3.28
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Donut$1.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Dinner at Café del Museo Larco restaurant: $30
- Lima Street Food Tour: Taste Authentic Peruvian Delights: $45
- Lima Food Tour with Ceviche, Pisco, and Grilled Chicken: $45
- Miraflores Cooking Class Ceviche, Tartar & Pisco Sour: $48
- Dinner at Mangos Larcomar Restaurant: $48
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $50
- Private Churros Cooking Class, Miraflores & Hotel Pickup: $50
- Private Cooking Class in Causa & Lomo Saltado: $55
- Miraflores Food Tour, eat like a local: $57
- #1 Rated Lima Cooking Class: Make Ceviche, Causa & Pisco Sours!: $59
- Dinner at the Cala Restaurant in Lima: $63
- Dinner at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant: $67
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairns $41Lima $9.51
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairns
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cairns's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Scuba Diving$40
Tours and Activities in Cairns
For Cairns, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Skip the Line: Cairns Museum Single Admission Ticket: $11
- Skip the Line: Cairns Museum Admission Ticket: $11
- Cairns City Self Guided Walking Tour with an APP: $12
- Koalas and Creatures Entry Ticket: $13
- Kuranda Koala Gardens General Entry Ticket: $18
- Birdworld Kuranda Entry Ticket: $18
- Kuranda: Riverboat Tour: $20
- Secrets of Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $24
- Cairns Outdoor Escape Game: Self-Guided City Adventure: $24
- Kuranda Koala Gardens and Birdworld Admission Tickets: $31
- Tomb of the Pharaohs Entry Ticket: $32
- Entry Ticket at Historic Village Herberton: $34
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)$18
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Movie Tickets$2.53
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
- 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, Tunnels & Vineyard: $149
- 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 Hour Private Electric Scooter Tour of Lima: $75
- 4 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $299
- 8-Hour Private Tour Lima Viceroyalty and Gold Museum with Lunch: $120
- A Half Day Lima City Tour: $45
- A Journey Through Time: Lima's Historic Center & Catacombs Tour: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCairns $15Lima $6.18
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairns
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cairns:
- Cairns Party Bus Pub Crawl Night Out Experience: $48
- From Atherton Tablelands Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $169
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$8.01
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Beer$4.47
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Cocktail$3.58
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Discover Barranco's Nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $24
- Lima Nightlife Tour & Society – Cultural Pub Crawl: $50
- Local Wine Tour: $77
- From Lima Paracas and Huacachina Oasis Dunes and Wine Tour: $89
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairns and Lima, we can see that Cairns is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cairns is in Pacific 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 Cairns would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cairns 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 Cairns Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairns or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Cairns. When comparing the sizes of Cairns 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 Cairns or Lima?
Cairns 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 Cairns or Lima in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cairns as well as Lima. Most visitors come to Cairns for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
In the summer, Cairns is much warmer than Lima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cairns in January average around 29°C (84°F), and Lima averages at about 18°C (64°F)in July.
Cairns receives a lot of rain in the summer. Cairns usually gets more rain in January than Limain July. Cairns gets 429 mm (16.9 in) of rain, while Lima receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year. November to March in Cairns is the rainy season.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyCairns 29°C (84°F)Lima 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Cairns or Lima in the Autumn?
Both Lima and Cairns are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Cairns because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Cairns is generally a little warmer than Limain October. Daily temperatures in Cairns average around 27°C (80°F), and Lima fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
It's quite rainy in Cairns. In April, Cairns usually receives more rain than Limain October. Cairns gets 273 mm (10.8 in) of rain, while Lima receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Cairns is April to October.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberCairns 27°C (80°F)Lima 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Cairns or Lima in the Winter?
Both Lima and Cairns during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Cairns this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
Cairns is around the same temperature as Lima in the winter. The daily temperature in Cairns averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Lima fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in January.
Cairns usually gets more rain in July than Limain January. Cairns gets 35 mm (1.4 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 July and JanuaryCairns 23°C (73°F)Lima 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Cairns or Lima in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cairns and Lima. Many travelers come to Cairns for the beaches. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Cairns is a little warmer than Lima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cairns in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Lima averages at about 22°C (72°F)in April.
In October, Cairns usually receives more rain than Limain April. Cairns gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Lima receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. April to October in Cairns is the dry season. Also, November to March is the rainy season in Cairns.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilCairns 27°C (80°F)Lima 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Lima and Cairns
| Cairns | Lima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 29°C (84°F) | 429 mm (16.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 29°C (83°F) | 469 mm (18.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 471 mm (18.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 273 mm (10.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 25°C (78°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (74°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 29°C (83°F) | 211 mm (8.3 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.