Which place is cheaper, Lima or Huaraz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Huaraz 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 Huaraz and Lima can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Huaraz or Lima?
Huaraz
Huaraz is a large town in the Cordillera Blanca region of Peru's Central Sierra. Huaraz stands tall at 3100m; travellers from Lima might need a day or two to acclimatize to the change in atmosphere. Nearly wiped out by the earthquake of 1970, the town of 100,000 blends a mix of modern and native culture. Huarez is first and foremost a trekking metropolis. During high season the streets buzz with hundreds of backpackers and adventurers freshly returned from arduous hikes or planning their next expedition. The town has many markets, shops, quality restaurants and hopping bars catering to tourist and local needs. Mountain adventures in the off-season can be equally rewarding, but the vibe is calmer and some places go into hibernation once the rains set in.
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 Luxury Tours to Peru, The Best Budget Tours to Peru, The Best G Adventures Tours to Peru, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lima.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHuaraz $49Lima $75
The average daily cost (per person) in Huaraz is $49, 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 Huaraz and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHuaraz $20Lima $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHuaraz $40Lima $96
Compare Hotels in Huaraz and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Huaraz 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: Huaraz Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Huaraz $9.92Lima $5.58
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huaraz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Huaraz are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$2.11
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:
- 3-Day Trip to Lima Tour Package, hotels & transfers: $150
- Direct Private Transfer From Lima to Paracas, English Speaking Driver: $166
- From The Larco Museum Complete Tour with transfers: $50
- J.Chavez Airport to Miraflores City Hotels- Round Trip Transfer: $42
- LIMA|| Private transfers by minibus from airport to hotel: $70
- Larco Museum Tour & Gastronomic Experience with rountrip transfer: $134
- Lima : Private transfer between airport to your destination: $29
- Lima Airport (LIM) to Miraflores - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
- Lima Airport Arrival Transfer: $20
- Lima Airport Arrival Transfer: $27
- Lima Airport Arrival Transfer for small groups: $79
- Lima Airport Departure Transfer: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Huaraz or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Huaraz 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 dayHuaraz $17Lima $17
Typical Food Prices in Huaraz
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Huaraz:
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Lunch$5.81
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Chips$1.45
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
- Cooking Workshop and Water Circuit Tour: $45
- Lima Street Food Tour: $45
- Lima Food Tour: $45
- Barranco Tour with Dinner: $47
- Bohemian tour of Barranco with Dinner: $47
- Lima Night Food Tour: $48
- Best Cooking Classes and Local Market Visit in Miraflores: $50
- Private Guided Walking Street Food Tour in Lima: $55
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Huaraz $19Lima $8.43
Typical Entertainment Prices in Huaraz
Here are a few typical costs in Huaraz for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Climbing Gear$16
Tours and Activities in Huaraz
Here are a few actual costs in Huaraz for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Traditional Picante de Cuy Gastronomy Tour in Huaraz: $15
- 69 Lake Tour of Peru: $26
- Glacier Pastoruri and Puya Raimondi Full Day Tour: $28
- Lake 69 Trek Day Tour - White Mountain Range: $30
- From Tour to Llanganuco Lakes (Chinancocha Lake): $35
- From Tour to Llanganuco Lakes (Chinancocha Lake): $35
- From Tour to Llanganuco Lakes (Chinancocha Lake): $35
- From Huaraz || Tour to Llanganuco Lakes || Full Day: $35
- Huaraz : Adventure in Snowy Pastouri + Puyas Raymondi Forest: $35
- From Ancash: Chavin de Huantar Tour: $35
- From Tour to Archeological Complex of Chavin: $36
- From Tour to the Pastoruri Glacier and Puya Raimondi: $36
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:
- Best of Downtown A Self-Guided Audio Tours in English: $7.98
- Lima Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Peru's Best Bike Experience since 2014 - 4 Hours Hire: $9.90
- Skip the Line: Larco Museum Admission Ticket: $13
- Skip the Line: Peruvian Regional Dances Ticket: $14
- Private City Kickstart Tour: Lima: $14
- Peruvian Craft Coffee Tasting Experience - 1 hr: $15
- Party tour Fridays Barranco / Saturdays Miraflores: $19
- Private Guided Tour in Miraflores at Night: $19
- Private Bike Tour in Lima: $19
- Guided and Private Bike Tour of Lima: $20
- Private Tour with guide in Museo de Arte de Lima - MALI: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHuaraz $15Lima $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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Huaraz and Lima, we can see that Lima is more expensive. And not only is Huaraz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Huaraz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Huaraz 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 Huaraz.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Huaraz Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Huaraz or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Huaraz. When comparing the sizes of Huaraz 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 Huaraz or Lima?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Huaraz or Lima in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Huaraz and Lima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Huaraz year-round. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Huaraz usually receives more rain than Lima. Huaraz gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Lima receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Huaraz can get quite cold in the summer. Huaraz is much colder than Lima in the summer. The daily temperature in Huaraz averages around 3°C (37°F) in July, and Lima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHuaraz 3°C (37°F)Lima 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Huaraz or Lima in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Huaraz as well as Lima. Huaraz attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
Huaraz usually gets more rain in October than Lima. Huaraz gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Lima receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
Huaraz can be very cold during autumn. In the autumn, Huaraz is much colder than Lima. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Huaraz in October average around 4°C (39°F), and Lima averages at about 19°C (66°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHuaraz 4°C (39°F)Lima 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Huaraz or Lima in the Winter?
Both Lima and Huaraz are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Huaraz throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Huaraz. In January, Huaraz usually receives more rain than Lima. Huaraz gets 122 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Lima receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In January, Huaraz is generally much colder than Lima. Daily temperatures in Huaraz average around 7°C (45°F), and Lima fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHuaraz 7°C (45°F)Lima 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Huaraz or Lima in the Spring?
Both Lima and Huaraz during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Huaraz because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
Huaraz usually gets more rain in April than Lima. Huaraz gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Lima receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
Huaraz is much colder than Lima in the spring. The daily temperature in Huaraz averages around 6°C (43°F) in April, and Lima fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHuaraz 6°C (43°F)Lima 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Lima and Huaraz
| Huaraz | Lima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 7°C (45°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 8°C (46°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (45°F) | 126 mm (5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 6°C (43°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 5°C (41°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 4°C (39°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 3°C (37°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 3°C (37°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 3°C (37°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Oct | 4°C (39°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 6°C (43°F) | 112 mm (4.4 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.