Which place is cheaper, Lima or Cali?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cali or Lima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cali and Lima can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Cali or Lima?
Cali
Cali is Colombia's third largest city. Founded in 1536, can be explored on foot: walk under the shade of trees along the riverbank, admire the architecture of churches and other national monuments, and visit the city's many museums. Being the salsa capital of the world, Cali is primarily a destination for salsa and party but it also offers some great days out in the nearby natural surroundings. In Cali, travelers can enjoy music festivals, learn about sugarcane farming, and take in the mountainous landscapes.
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 Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Colombia, The Best Cultural Tours in Peru, and The Best Jungle Trekking Tours in Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCali $24Lima $75
The average daily cost (per person) in Cali is $24, 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 Cali and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCali $5.76Lima $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCali $12Lima $96
Compare Hotels in Cali and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Cali 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: Cali Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cali $5.38Lima $5.58
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cali
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cali:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cali
Also for Cali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport : $20
- Transfer in Private Car from Cali Airport (CLO) -Cali City: $22
- Cali/Palmira to Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) - Private Transfer: $24
- Alfonso Aragon Airport CLO to Cali Palmira Arrival Transfer: $24
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Cali City- Cali Airport (CLO): $25
- Airport Transfers Cali (per way): $33
- Transfer from Cali Airport to Cali Hotel Zone: $39
- Transfer from Hotel Zone to Cali Airport: $39
- Alfonso B.Aragon Airport (CLO) to Cali/Palmira-RoundTrip Transfer: $49
- RoundTrip Transfer in Private Minivan Cali Airport (CLO) - Cali City: $51
- From Cali Airport: One-way Privater Transfer to Cali: $58
- Cali to or from Buenaventura Private Transfer: $86
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.29
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Taxi Ride$5.29
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Short Taxi Ride$3.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Lima APT-HTL (LIM) : $34
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Lima City to Airport: $40
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Lima Jorge Chávez Airport to Lima City: $61
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Lima City - Lima Airport (LIM): $61
- Transfer from the Airport to the Hotel or Hotel-Airport!!: $25
- Transfer from Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco to Airport: $18
- Transfer To Lima Airport: $18
- The Larco Museum Complete Tour with transfers: $52
- Tegucigalpa to Tegucigalpa Toncontin Airport (TGU) - Departure Private Transfer: $30
- SHARED AIRPORT TRANSFER - From or To Lima Airport: $11
- Round-Trip Transfer in Private Vehicle from-to Lima Jorge Chávez Airport in Lima: $47
- Round-Trip Transfer in Private Minivan from-to Lima Airport (LIM) in Lima City: $122
Is it cheaper to fly into Cali or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Cali 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 dayCali $8.20Lima $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cali
For Cali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Street Food Tour: $21
- Alameda Market Food Tour: $55
- Flavors of Food tour at the local market: $59
- Patio Santo Style Rumba Dinner: $168
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.23
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Ice cream$3.44
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Coffee$2.91
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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.
- Lima Market Food Tour: $35
- Ceviche Cooking Class Including Pisco Sour Lesson: $40
- Lima Street Food Tour: $40
- Lima Market Food Tour: $43
- Lima Street Food Tour: $45
- Lima Food Tour: $45
- Cooking Workshop and Water Circuit Tour: $45
- Barranco Tour with Dinner: $47
- Bohemian tour of Barranco with Dinner: $47
- Lima Night Food Tour: $48
- Private Guided Walking Street Food Tour in Lima: $55
- Bohemian tour of Barranco with dinner: $55
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cali $10Lima $8.43
Tours and Activities in Cali
For Cali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Shared Tour of the Historical and Cultural Center of Cali: $13
- Gastronomic Tour at the Alameda Market Shared: $13
- Cultural and heritage Cali tour: $15
- Ceramic Workshop for Tourists: $17
- Weed Tour: Cali's Cannabis culture and smoke spots: $30
- The Cali Street Food Walking Tour: $30
- RiCo Salsa Tour: Cali Real: $32
- Coffee Tasting Experience in Cali Colombia : $35
- Medicinal Plant Private Tour in La Galeria Alameda of Cali: $35
- Walking tour of the historic center: $37
- Afro Walking Tour. THE COLORS OF CALI.: $39
- Craft beer tour in Cali: $41
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$2.25
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Lima in 1 Day! - City Tour + Miraflores, Barranco & San Isidro: $85
- Private Classic City Tour Experience of Lima: $65
- 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, and Pisco Vineyard: $149
- 2-Hour Private Tour of Miraflores with Drone Video Included: $39
- 2d/1n Tour: Flight to the Nazca, Paracas and Huacachina Lines: $289
- 3 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $289
- 3 Day Tour to Paracas, Huacachina, and Pisco Vineyard: $159
- 3-Hour Private Scooter Tour through Miraflores with Guide: $50
- 3-Hour Walking Tour Discovering the History of Lima : $16
- 360° Panoramic bus - Sightseeing Tour: $27
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCali $8.12Lima $5.48
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$7.11
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Beer$3.96
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Cocktail$3.17
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Gin and Rum Distillery Tour: $12
- Party Tour in Miraflores with Bar Crawl and Drinks: $20
- Pub Crawl in Lima: $25
- Local Wine Tour: $50
- Local Wine Tour : $65
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cali and Lima, we can see that Lima is more expensive. And not only is Cali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cali 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 Lima would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lima than you might in Cali.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cali Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cali or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cali. When comparing the sizes of Cali 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.