Which place is cheaper, Lima or Cajamarca?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cajamarca or Lima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Cajamarca and Lima can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cajamarca or Lima?
Cajamarca
Located in the northern highlands of Peru, Cajamarca is a town of about 100,000 people. The city's mild weather and fertile soil is ideal for agriculture, which is a major industry in the area. The city is also well known for its cheeses and dairy products. Cajamarca is the site of the Battle of Cajamarca which led to the execution of the Inca emperor Atahualpa and the end of the infamous Inca empire. Today, the area is appealing to visitors in part because of its lovely churches, nice hot springs, and interesting Inca Baths.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Peru, The Best 10-Day Tours in Peru, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Peru, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCajamarca $67Lima $75
The average daily cost (per person) in Cajamarca is $67, while the average daily cost in Lima is $75. 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 Cajamarca and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCajamarca $24Lima $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCajamarca $48Lima $96
Compare Hotels in Cajamarca and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Cajamarca 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: Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cajamarca $16Lima $5.56
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.27
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Taxi Ride$5.27
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Short Taxi Ride$3.95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- QuickLlama: Transfer from Lima Airport to Miraflores Kennedy Park: $5.50
- Lima Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Miraflores: $5.63
- Lima Airport: BUS Transfer to/from Lima city center: $6.00
- SHARED AIRPORT TRANSFER - From or To Lima Airport: $11
- Transfer: Lima City Center to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) : $14
- Transfer: Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima City Center: $15
- Private Transfer from Jorge Chavez Airport to Hotels in Lima: $16
- Private transfers from Lima Airport or to Lima Airport: $17
- Transfer from Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco to Airport: $18
- Transfer from the Airport to Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco: $18
- Airport to Hotel Transfer: $18
- Lima Airport Departure Transfer: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Cajamarca or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Cajamarca 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 dayCajamarca $27Lima $17
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.21
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Ice cream$3.42
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Coffee$2.90
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Donut$0.92
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Peruvian Cooking Class with a native Chef Exploring Local Markets: $38
- Ceviche Cooking Class Including Pisco Sour Lesson: $40
- Cooking Workshop and Water Circuit Tour: $45
- Barranco Tour with Dinner: $47
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $49
- Best Cooking Classes and Local Market Visit in Miraflores: $50
- Airbnb Delivery | Private Cooking Class | (Veg) Peruvian Food: $55
- Food History & Local Markets (Food Tour): $56
- Lima's Food Tour through Local Markets & Barranco Visit: $57
- Peruvian Cooking Class: $59
- Lima Market Food Tour: $59
- Lima Market Food Tour: $59
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cajamarca $26Lima $8.40
Tours and Activities in Cajamarca
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cajamarca are as follows:
- From City Tour Cajamarca: $21
- From Porcón Farm and Huambocancha Workshops Tour: $26
- Entrance fee and Tour to Cumbemayo: $29
- Tour to the baths of the Inca and the Colpa hacienda: $30
- Tour to the Ventanillas of Otuzco and the Tres Molinos Farm: $35
- Cajamarca | Porcón and Otuzco Farm Adventures |: $39
- || Tour of the Cajamarca Valley - San Nicolás lagoon ||: $40
- Tour to The Cajamarca Valley and The San Nicolás Lagoon: $45
- Half-Day Private Cajamarca City Tour: $54
- Sulluscocha Extreme Adventure |Atv, Canopy, Rock Climbing|: $65
- Sulluscocha Extreme Adventure |Atv, Canopy, Climbing|: $65
- Sulluscocha Extreme Adventure: ATV, canopy, climbing: $65
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$2.24
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Best of Downtown A Self-Guided Audio Tours in English: $8.15
- Lima Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Peru's Best Bike Experience since 2014 - 4 Hours Hire: $9.90
- bike tour: $12
- Skip the Line: Peruvian Regional Dances Ticket: $14
- Lima City Tour: History & Controversy: $15
- Peruvian Coffee Tasting Experience in Lima: $15
- Peruvian Craft Coffee Tasting Experience - 1 hr: $15
- Lima Historic Center Walking Tour: $15
- Party tour Fridays Barranco / Saturdays Miraflores: $19
- Private Guided Tour in Miraflores at Night: $19
- Private Beach Guided Bike Tour in Lima : $19
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCajamarca $16Lima $5.46
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$7.08
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Beer$3.95
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Cocktail$3.16
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Lima Free Walking Tour, Central Market & Pisco and Wine Tasting: $2.50
- Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $18
- Party tour in Miraflores with Bar Crawl Lima: $23
- Party Tour in Miraflores with Bar Crawl and Drinks: $23
- Gin and Rum Distillery Tour: $24
- Pub Crawl in Lima: $36
- Local Wine Tour: $50
- Local Wine Tour : $60
When comparing the travel costs between Cajamarca and Lima, we can see that Lima is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cajamarca Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cajamarca or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Cajamarca. When comparing the sizes of Cajamarca 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.