Which place is cheaper, Lima or Helsinki?
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 Helsinki 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 Helsinki 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: Helsinki or Lima?
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital of Finland and dates back to 1550. Helsinki is an international metropolis with a diverse population, but also a small town vibe. The city itself has a population of just over 600,000 but the metropolitan area, including Espoo and Vantaa, has a population of more than 1.3 million. There are many outdoor bars and cafes that take advantage of the warmer summer months. During this time there are long days, and the population floods into the street after a long and cold winter, so visiting during the summer is a fun and lively experience.
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 10-Day Tours in Finland, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Finland, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
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Helsinki Prices
Finland PricesLima Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHelsinki €164Lima €81
The average daily cost (per person) in Helsinki is €164, while the average daily cost in Lima is €81. 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 Helsinki and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHelsinki €73Lima €44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHelsinki €146Lima €88
Compare Hotels in Helsinki and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Helsinki 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: Helsinki Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Helsinki €22Lima €5.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki
Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki - Arrival Private Transfer: $70
- Helsinki Hotels to West Harbour Cruise Terminal - Deparure Private Transfer: $70
- Private Transfer from Helsinki Hotels to Helsinki Cruise Terminal: $70
- Private Transfer from Helsinki Cruise Terminal to Helsinki hotels: $70
- Private Transfer from Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki Port : $70
- Helsinki West Harbour Terminal to Helsinki hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $70
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki - Arrival Private Transfer : $70
- Minivan Departure Transfer Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL: $79
- Private VIP Transfer in Helsinki: $82
- Private VIP Transfer from or to Helsinki Airport: $84
- Helsinki Private Airport & City Transfer: $90
- Private Transfer: Helsinki City to Cruise Port by Luxury Van: $102
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride€4.88
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Taxi Ride€4.88
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Short Taxi Ride€3.66
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: Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima City Center: $16
- Transfer from Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco to Airport: $18
- Transfer To Lima Airport: $20
- Tour Magic Water Park in Lima with Small Group Transfer: $38
- Round Trip Transfer from and to the Airport in Miraflores/Barranco/Sani : $33
- QuickLlama: Transfer from Miraflores Kennedy Park to Lima Airport: $5.95
- QuickLlama: Door-to-door transfer from Miraflores to Lima Airport: $5.95
- Private Transfers from/to Lima Airport (Price per Vehicle): $29
- Private Transfer to Lima Airport (LIM): $13
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $201
- Private Transfer from Lima hotels to Callao Cruise Port: $18
Is it cheaper to fly into Helsinki or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Helsinki 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 dayHelsinki €59Lima €27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- FOOD Tour with Roof Top Bar in Helsinki: $119
- Helsinki Food Tour: A Culinary Experience with a Local: $275
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two€3.91
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Ice cream€3.17
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Coffee€2.69
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Donut€0.85
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Lima Food Tour with Ceviche, Pisco, and Grilled Chicken: $32
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $40
- Lima Food Tour - Prepare your Anticuchos and Pisco Sour : $48
- #1 Reviewed Lima Cooking Class: $49
- Dinner at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant: $55
- Private Guided Walking Street Food Tour in Lima: $55
- Peru’s Most Beloved Recipes Cooking Class: $58
- Lima Market Tour & Ceviche Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $59
- Lima Night: Cooking Experience with locals: $65
- Peruvian Cooking Class, Local Market Tour & Exotic Fruit Tasting: $65
- Vegan Peruvian Food Cooking Class | Ceviche + Pisco Sour: $69
- 4 iconic restaurants of Lima / 3-hour guided food tour: $69
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Helsinki €27Lima €7.79
Tours and Activities in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tip-based Tour of Helsinki - RED UMBRELLA - 2025: $3.61
- Tove Jansson's Helsinki Self Guided Tour: $11
- Helsinki Historical Highlights Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour : $11
- Capital of Contrasts: A Self Guided Audio Tour in Helsinki: $15
- A Finntastic Walking Tour in Helsinki: $24
- Sightseeing Cruise in Archipelago of Helsinki: $32
- Helsinki Canal Cruise: $33
- Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour: $42
- City Sightseeing Helsinki Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $42
- Helsinki Panorama Sightseeing Audio-Guided Bus Tour: $43
- Adventure Day: $48
- Explore Tallinn: Self-Guided Day Cruise from Helsinki: $49
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€2.07
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Ballestas Islands + Huacachina Tour From Lima (Private Group): $190
- Cycling Tour Miraflores - Barranco - Chorrillos: $30
- Lima bike and 5 Step Food Tasting Experience: $92
- Private Classic City Tour Experience of Lima: $65
- Private Stopover Tour of Lima from the Airport: $150
- Sunset in Huacachina and Tacama: Private Tour from Lima: $220
- #1 Full Day Tour From Paracas and Huacachina Oasis: $59
- 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, and Pisco Vineyard: $149
- 2 Days 1 Night Paracas Ica Tour from Lima: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHelsinki €16Lima €5.07
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€6.57
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Beer€3.66
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Cocktail€2.93
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $19
- Bar Crawl Night Tour in Miraflores: $30
- Local Wine Tour : $55
- From Paracas & Huacachina & Wine Tasting: $135
- Full Day Paracas, Huacachina and Wine Tasting from Lima : $138
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Helsinki and Lima, we can see that Helsinki is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Helsinki is in Europe 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 Helsinki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Helsinki 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 Helsinki Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Helsinki or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Helsinki. When comparing the sizes of Helsinki 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 Helsinki or Lima?
Helsinki 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 Helsinki or Lima in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Helsinki as well as Lima. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Helsinki this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
In July, Helsinki is generally around the same temperature as Lima. Daily temperatures in Helsinki average around 17°C (62°F), and Lima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Helsinki this time of the year. In the summer, Helsinki often gets more sunshine than Lima. Helsinki gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun.
Helsinki usually gets more rain in July than Lima. Helsinki gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Lima receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHelsinki 17°C (62°F)Lima 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Helsinki or Lima in the Autumn?
Both Lima and Helsinki are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Helsinki for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Helsinki is much colder than Lima in the autumn. The daily temperature in Helsinki averages around 6°C (42°F) in October, and Lima fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
Helsinki usually receives more sunshine than Lima during autumn. Helsinki gets 90 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 60 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Helsinki usually receives more rain than Lima. Helsinki gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Lima receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHelsinki 6°C (42°F)Lima 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Helsinki or Lima in the Winter?
Both Lima and Helsinki during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Helsinki in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
Helsinki can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Helsinki is much colder than Lima. Typically, the winter temperatures in Helsinki in January average around -6°C (21°F), and Lima averages at about 23°C (73°F).
In the winter, Helsinki often gets less sunshine than Lima. Helsinki gets 39 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 185 hours of full sun.
Helsinki usually gets more rain in January than Lima. Helsinki gets 40 mm (1.6 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 JanuaryHelsinki -6°C (21°F)Lima 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Helsinki or Lima in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Helsinki and Lima. Most visitors come to Helsinki for the natural beauty during these months. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Helsinki can be very cold during spring. In April, Helsinki is generally much colder than Lima. Daily temperatures in Helsinki average around 3°C (37°F), and Lima fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
Helsinki usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Lima during spring. Helsinki gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Helsinki usually receives more rain than Lima. Helsinki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Lima receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHelsinki 3°C (37°F)Lima 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Lima and Helsinki
| Helsinki | Lima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -6°C (21°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | -3°C (27°F) | 34 mm (1.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 3°C (37°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 9°C (49°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (60°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (51°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (33°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | -4°C (26°F) | 58 mm (2.3 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.