Which place is cheaper, Lima or Cajamarca?
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 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 Sightseeing Tours in Peru, The Best Cultural Tours in Peru, The Best Photography Tours in Peru, and The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru.
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Cajamarca Prices
Peru PricesLima Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCajamarca $97Lima $97
The average daily cost (per person) in Cajamarca is $97, while the average daily cost in Lima is $97. 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 $26Lima $53
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCajamarca $52Lima $106
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: Cajamarca Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cajamarca $18Lima $6.21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.88
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Taxi Ride$5.88
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Short Taxi Ride$4.41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- QuickLlama: Transfer from Miraflores Kennedy Park to Lima Airport: $5.95
- mc luxury transfer: $10
- Lima Airport One Way Private Transfer LIM to Lima City Center: $12
- Transfer from the Airport to the Hotel or Hotel-Airport!!: $15
- Transfer: Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima City Center: $15
- Private Jorge Chávez Airport Transfer – Safe & Reliable Service: $16
- Private Executive Transfers in Lima: $16
- Private Transfer from Jorge Chavez Airport to Hotels in Lima: $16
- Private Transfer from Lima Airport (LIM) to Callao Port: $16
- Private Transfer from Lima Airport (LIM): $17
- Private Transfer from Callao Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $18
- Private Transfer from Callao Cruise Port to Lima city hotels: $18
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 $53Lima $33
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.71
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Ice cream$3.82
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Coffee$3.23
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Donut$1.03
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Food tours on the forbidden side of Lima (Min. 3 Guests – Max. 6): $5.00
- Local Food Tour at an Iconic Market!!: $24
- Lima Food Tour with Ceviche, Pisco, and Grilled Chicken: $45
- Dinner at Mangos Larcomar Restaurant: $48
- #1 Rated Lima Cooking Class: Make Ceviche, Causa & Pisco Sours!: $49
- Lima Street Food Tour : Try the best Peruvian street food: $49
- Private Cooking Class in Causa & Lomo Saltado: $50
- Private Churros Cooking Class, Miraflores & Hotel Pickup: $50
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $50
- 4h Cooking Class in Iconic Dishes & Bottomless Drinks: $55
- Andean Breads Cooking Class in Lima: $55
- Lima Market Tour & Ceviche Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $59
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cajamarca $29Lima $9.38
Tours and Activities in Cajamarca
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cajamarca are as follows:
- Half-Day Private Cajamarca City Tour: $57
- Half-Day Private Tour to Cumbemayo, The Stone Forest: $82
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$2.50
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Lima Cathedral Museum Entrance Ticket: $10
- Beach tour and surfboards for rent in Lima, Peru: $14
- Private Bike Tour in Lima: $19
- Miraflores and Barranco Private Bike Tour: $19
- Historic Lima & Catacombs Tour with Optional Pickup: $19
- Tour in Lima with Visit to the Catacombs of San Francisco: $20
- Colorful Barranco Tour and Street Art: $20
- Private Tour with guide in Museo de Arte de Lima - MALI: $20
- A Journey Through Time: Lima's Historic Center & Catacombs Tour: $20
- Skip the Line: Larco Museum Admission Ticket: $21
- City Tour in Lima: $23
- Barranco Street Art Tour - Unmasked: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCajamarca $18Lima $6.10
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$7.91
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Beer$4.41
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Cocktail$3.53
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Free Pub Crawl: $5.00
- Discover Barranco's Nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $20
- Discover Miraflores nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $24
- Bar Crawl Night Tour in Miraflores: $38
- Lima Nightlife Tour & Society – Cultural Pub Crawl: $50
When comparing the travel costs between Cajamarca and Lima, we can see that Cajamarca 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.