Which city is cheaper, Lima or Cajamarca?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Peru Cajamarca vs. Lima for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCajamarca $52Lima $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Cajamarca is $52, while the average daily cost in Lima is $58. 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 city. 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 $18Lima $37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCajamarca $36Lima $74
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cajamarca $13Lima $4.32
Typical Local Transportation prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.11
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Taxi Ride$5.11
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Short Taxi Ride$3.83
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- QuickLlama: Door-to-door transfer from Miraflores to Lima Airport: $6.00
- Transfer from the Airport to Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco: $13
- Transfer from Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco to Airport: $13
- One-way Transfer Between Airport And City Centre Hotel Cusco: $15
- Private Airport Transfer: Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM) to Lima: $16
- Private Airport Transfer: from Lima to Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM): $16
- Transfer from Lima city to the airport: $20
- Transfer from lima airport: $20
- Airport transfer Lima / English speaking driver: $20
- Private Arrival Transfer from Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima City Center: $21
- Private Departure Transfer from Lima City Center to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $21
- Lima Airport Arrival Transfer: $24
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 $21Lima $13
Typical Food prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.09
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Ice cream$3.32
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Coffee$2.81
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Donut$0.89
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Virtual Peruvian Cooking Class "Lomo Saltado": $18
- Cooking Workshop and Water Circuit Tour: $45
- #1 Lima Food Tour and Local Markets (Small Group): $46
- #1 Peruvian Food Tour through Local Markets (Small Group): $46
- Delicious Food Tour through Local Markets: $46
- #1 Dancing Horse Show & Dinner Buffet & Barranco Night Tour: $46
- Dancing Horse Show & Dinner Buffet & Barranco Night Tour: $46
- Dinner at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant: $49
- Private Cooking Class With a Local Family in Lima: $52
- Half-Day Fountains Tour with Dinner & Folklore Show: $53
- Peruvian Food Tour Through Local Markets: $55
- Dinner Show and Exhibition of Peruvian Horse including Pick up & drop off: $55
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cajamarca $20Lima $6.53
Tours and Activities in Cajamarca
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cajamarca are as follows:
- Cajamarca city tour - Private tour: $47
- Inca's Bath - Private tour: $52
- Ventanillas de Otuzco - private tour: $53
- From Chachapoyas: Full-Day Tour of Kuelap Fortress: $60
- Tour of the Port of Callao and fort Real Felipe: $60
- Cumbemayo, the stone forest - Private tour: $75
- Porcón farm - Private tour: $76
- 3-Day Guided Cultural Tour of Cajamarca with Transportation: $189
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$2.17
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- MATE Admission Ticket: $4.00
- Cathedral of Lima Admission Ticket: $6.35
- Skip the Line: Peruvian Regional Dances Ticket: $8.99
- Skip the Line: Larco Museum Admission Ticket: $10
- Museo del Oro and Armas del Mundo Admission Tickets from Lima: $11
- Half Day Panoramic City Tour Lima III: $15
- Live online experience: Prepare cocktails with a Peruvian bartender: $19
- Panoramic City Tour of Lima: $25
- Half-Day Colonial and Modern Lima Tour: $25
- Half Day City Tour: $27
- Half Day Panoramic City Tour Lima II: $27
- Barranco Walking tour - Art & Culture: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCajamarca $12Lima $4.24
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$6.88
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Beer$3.83
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Cocktail$3.07
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Ballestas Islands + Huacachina Oasis + Wine Tour (Unique Experience): $226
- Mysterious Nazca Lines, Overflight from Ica, Huacachina Oasis & Wine Tour!: $490
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.
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