Which place is cheaper, Lima or Helsinki?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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 Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Finland, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHelsinki €139Lima €71
The average daily cost (per person) in Helsinki is €139, while the average daily cost in Lima is €71. 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 €45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHelsinki €146Lima €90
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 €5.27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki
Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Helsinki West Harbour Terminal to Helsinki hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $32
- Private Transfer from Helsinki Cruise Terminal to Helsinki hotels: $32
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki City hotels - Arrival Transfer: $41
- Helsinki West Harbour Terminal to Helsinki hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $63
- Departure Private Transfer Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL by business car: $64
- Arrival Private Transfer from Helsinki airport HEL to Helsinki by luxury van: $76
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki West Terminal - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $81
- Helsinki Private Airport & City Transfer: $82
- Vantaa Airport(HEL) to Helsinki hotels-RoundTrip Private Transfer: $83
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki City hotel Round-Trip Transfer: $83
- Private Transfer: Cruise Port to Helsinki in Business Car: $92
- Private Transfer: Helsinki City to Cruise Port in Luxury Van: $93
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride€4.99
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Taxi Ride€4.99
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Short Taxi Ride€3.74
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 HTL-APT (LIM): $34
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Lima APT-HTL (LIM) : $34
- Transfers from / to Lima airport: $43
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Lima Jorge Chávez Airport to Lima City: $40
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Lima City to Airport: $40
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Lima City - Lima Airport (LIM): $61
- Transfer from Lima city to the airport: $18
- Transfer from Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco to Airport: $18
- The Larco Museum Complete Tour with transfers: $52
- Tegucigalpa to Tegucigalpa Toncontin Airport (TGU) - Departure Private Transfer: $29
- Taxi transfers from and to the Lima Airport and Paracas Ica: $20
- Round-Trip Transfer in Private Minivan from-to Lima Airport (LIM) in Lima City: $122
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 €34Lima €16
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 Rooftop Bar Visit in Helsinki: $107
- FOOD Tour with Roof Top Bar in Helsinki: $108
- Helsinki Food Tour Including Tastings: $164
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two€3.99
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Ice cream€3.24
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Coffee€2.74
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Donut€0.87
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: $33
- Lima Market Food Tour: $34
- Peruvian Food Tour Through Local Markets: $40
- Ceviche Cooking Class Including Pisco Sour Lesson: $40
- Lima Street Food Tour: $40
- Lima Street Food Tour: $45
- Lima Food Tour: $45
- Street Food Tour in Miraflores District: $45
- Cooking Workshop and Water Circuit Tour: $45
- Barranco Tour with Dinner: $47
- Bohemian tour of Barranco with Dinner: $47
- Private Cooking Class With a Local Family in Lima: $48
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Helsinki €27Lima €7.96
Tours and Activities in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tip-Based City Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $2.15
- Free Evening Helsinki Tour - A Walk through Centuries: $2.61
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Tip-based Free Walking Tour Helsinki - RED UMBRELLA TOURS: $5.13
- Escape Game and Tour: $7.00
- Helsinki Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and City Tour: $7.00
- A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Helsinki's Historical Highlights: $7.99
- Temppeliaukio Church Entrance Ticket: $8.61
- From Round-Trip Ferry Ticket to Suomenlinna: $8.70
- Helsinki Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Suomenlinna: Museum Ticket: $9.69
- Historical Highlights Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
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€2.12
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Lima bike and 5 Step Food Tasting Experience: $92
- The best of Lima walking tour: $198
- Cultural Tour of the city of Lima & Gastronomic: $62
- 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
- 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-Day Trip to Lima Tour Package: $150
- 3-Hour Private Scooter Tour through Miraflores with Guide: $50
- 360° Panoramic bus - Sightseeing Tour: $27
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHelsinki €16Lima €5.17
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€6.71
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Beer€3.74
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Cocktail€2.99
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Gin and Rum Distillery Tour: $12
- Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $18
- Exclusive Pub Crawl with 10+ benefits: $18
- Party Tour in Miraflores with Bar Crawl and Drinks: $18
- Pub Crawl in Lima: $25
- Local Wine Tour : $39
- Local Wine Tour: $50
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.