A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Leiden vs. Lima for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Leiden 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 Leiden and Lima can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Leiden or Lima?

Leiden

Leiden is a city in the province of South Holland. It is south of the Netherlands capital, Amsterdam, and has a population of about 190,000. It is known for its university, museums, markets, and of course, canals. Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands and is a sister school of Oxford, which is England's oldest university.

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 from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Lima or Leiden?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Leiden is €161, 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 Leiden and Lima in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Leiden 78
    Lima 44
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Leiden 156
    Lima 88
Compare Hotels in Leiden and Lima

Looking for a hotel in Leiden 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.

Hotels in Leiden


Hotels in Lima


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: Leiden Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Leiden 26
    Lima 5.16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leiden

Also for Leiden, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Premium electric transfer from Leiden Area to the Airport: $101
  • Private Tour of The Hague and Leiden including Transfer: $251
  • Historical Private Tour of Delft and Leiden including Transfer: $262

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    4.88
  • Taxi Ride
    4.88
  • 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 Leiden or Lima?

Prices for flights to both Lima and Leiden 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Leiden 67
    Lima 27

Typical Food Prices in Lima

Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:


  • Lunch for Two
    3.91
  • Ice cream
    3.17
  • Coffee
    2.69
  • 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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Leiden 17
    Lima 7.79

Tours and Activities in Leiden

For Leiden, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Pilgrims and Painters of Leiden A Self Guided Walking Tour: $6.94
  • Discover Leiden's Highlights: Your Self-Guided GPS Tour: $8.29
  • Pub Trail an adventure full of surprises: $13
  • Hortus Botanicus Entry Ticket: $14
  • Cruise through the Historic City Center with Guide: $15
  • Guided City Canal Cruise: $15
  • The Best of A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
  • Self-Guided City Trail Kids Tour in Noordwijk (4-8 years): $23
  • Windmill cruise through Warmond: $23
  • 90 minutes Self-Guided Walking tour with puzzles in Leiden: $23
  • historical and entertaining city tour in German: $24
  • Escape Tour Leiden -selfguided citygame- find the secret exit!: $24

Typical Entertainment Prices in Lima

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lima are as follows:


  • Entrance to Museo Larco (for 2)
    15
  • 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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Leiden 26
    Lima 5.07

Typical Alcohol Prices in Lima

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Lima are as follows:


  • Bottle of Wine
    6.57
  • Beer
    3.66
  • 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 Leiden and Lima, we can see that Leiden is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Leiden 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 Leiden would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Leiden 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 Leiden Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Leiden or Lima?

Lima has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of Leiden 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 Leiden or Lima?

Leiden 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 Leiden or Lima in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Leiden as well as Lima. Many visitors come to Leiden in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.

In the summer, Leiden is around the same temperature as Lima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Leiden in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Lima averages at about 18°C (64°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Leiden this time of the year. In the summer, Leiden often gets more sunshine than Lima. Leiden gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun.

Leiden usually gets more rain in July than Lima. Leiden gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Lima receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Leiden 17°C (62°F) 
    Lima 18°C (64°F)

Should I visit Leiden or Lima in the Autumn?

Both Lima and Leiden are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Leiden for the shopping scene during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In October, Leiden is generally much colder than Lima. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 11°C (51°F), and Lima fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

Leiden usually receives more sunshine than Lima during autumn. Leiden gets 99 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 60 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Leiden usually receives more rain than Lima. Leiden gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Lima receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Leiden 11°C (51°F) 
    Lima 19°C (66°F)

Should I visit Leiden or Lima in the Winter?

Both Lima and Leiden during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Leiden because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.

The weather in Leiden can be very cold. Leiden is much colder than Lima in the winter. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 2°C (36°F) in January, and Lima fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

In the winter, Leiden often gets less sunshine than Lima. Leiden gets 46 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 185 hours of full sun.

Leiden usually gets more rain in January than Lima. Leiden gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Lima receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Leiden 2°C (36°F) 
    Lima 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Leiden or Lima in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Leiden and Lima. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the spring, Leiden is much colder than Lima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Leiden in April average around 8°C (46°F), and Lima averages at about 22°C (72°F).

Leiden usually receives less sunshine than Lima during spring. Leiden gets 166 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Leiden usually receives more rain than Lima. Leiden gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Lima receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Leiden 8°C (46°F) 
    Lima 22°C (72°F)

Typical Weather for Lima and Leiden

Leiden Lima
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 2°C (36°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 23°C (73°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Feb 3°C (37°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 24°C (75°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
Mar 5°C (41°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 23°C (73°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
Apr 8°C (46°F) 52 mm (2 in) 22°C (72°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
May 12°C (54°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 20°C (68°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Jun 15°C (59°F) 68 mm (2.7 in) 19°C (66°F) 11 mm (0.4 in)
Jul 17°C (62°F) 75 mm (3 in) 18°C (64°F) 12 mm (0.5 in)
Aug 17°C (62°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 17°C (63°F) 15 mm (0.6 in)
Sep 14°C (57°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) 18°C (64°F) 13 mm (0.5 in)
Oct 11°C (51°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 19°C (66°F) 7 mm (0.3 in)
Nov 6°C (43°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 20°C (68°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Dec 3°C (38°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 22°C (72°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)