Which place is cheaper, Austin or Lima?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lima or Austin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Lima and Austin. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Lima or Austin?
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.
Austin
Located in the Texas Hill Country, Austin is the capital city of the state. It is a relatively small city with a compact downtown area and many sprawling suburbs stretching out along the interstate. Austin prides itself on its eclectic culture and alternative vibe which is epitomized by the city's unofficial slogan "Keep Austin Weird." The University of Texas at Austin is also located downtown. The school's large student population helps give the city a youthful feel with a lively nightlife and no shortage of activities on weekends. The city is also the self proclaimed live music capital of the country. As such, it has many music venues and bars, most of which are clustered around the 6th Street area downtown. There are also many free outdoor concerts, particularly during the summer months.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, The Best Adventure Tours to Peru, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLima $76Austin $142
The average daily cost (per person) in Lima is $76, while the average daily cost in Austin is $142. 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 Lima and Austin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLima $49Austin $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLima $98Austin $112
Compare Hotels in Lima and Austin
Looking for a hotel in Lima or Austin? 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: Lima Hotel Prices and Austin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lima $5.67Austin $47
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.37
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Taxi Ride$5.37
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Short Taxi Ride$4.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Airport Transfer Service in Lima: $95
- Assistance /Transfer Hotel - Airport Lima Airport : $40
- Deluxe Car Lima Transfer - Private Service: $29
- From The Larco Museum Complete Tour with transfers: $56
- J.Chavez Airport to Miraflores City Hotels- Round Trip Transfer: $41
- Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Arrival Private Transfer : $31
- Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $61
- Jorge Chavez International Airport: Private Transfer: $25
- LIMA AIRPORT SHUTTLE - Shared Transfer: $13
- 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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Austin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Austin:
- Private Transfer Between Airport and Hotels: $80
- Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) to Austin City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $96
- Austin Airport Group Pickup / Transfer up to 1 hour away.: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Lima or Austin?
Prices for flights to both Austin and Lima 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 dayLima $17Austin $35
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.30
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Ice cream$3.49
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Coffee$2.95
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Donut$0.94
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Austin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Austin.
- Famous Texas BBQ & Food Tour in Austin: $89
- Famous Texas BBQ & Food Tour in Austin: $89
- Austin South Congress Walking Food Tour for Small Groups: $95
- Secret Food Tour: $98
- Austin Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $99
- Secret Food Tour of South Congress: $108
- The Brunch Bus: Food Tour with a Live Band on Board the Bus!: $125
- Private Guided Food Tour of Austin Neighborhoods: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lima $8.57Austin $28
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$2.28
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Free Walking Tour of Lima: $2.00
- Peru's Best Bike Experience since 2014 - 4 Hours Hire: $9.90
- Customize your trip to Peru with Lima Experience: $12
- bike tour: $12
- Skip the Line: Larco Museum Admission Ticket: $13
- Beach tour and surfboards for rent in Lima, Peru: $14
- Barranco Street Art Tour: $17
- Party tour Fridays Barranco / Saturdays Miraflores: $18
- Private Beach Guided Bike Tour in Lima : $19
- Private Tour with guide in Museo de Arte de Lima - MALI: $20
- Guided Walking Tour in Barranco: $20
- Lima Downtown Tour from Miraflores in 3 hrs: $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Austin
Here are a few typical costs in Austin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Austin Duck Tour$31
Tours and Activities in Austin
Here are a few actual costs in Austin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Round Rock by Operation City Quest: $10
- Austin,TX: Murder Mystery Detective Experience: $15
- Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $15
- Austin Trails Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
- Downtown Austin Haunted History Tour: $24
- Family-Friendly Ghosts of Austin Tour: $25
- The Ghosts of Austin Walking Tour: $25
- Ha Ha Haunted Austin Walking Ghost Tour: $26
- Private 1 Hour Axe Throwing Experience in Texas: $27
- Haunted Austin Walking History Tour: $28
- City and Hill Country Non-Stop Tour in a Mercedes: $30
- Forest Mindfulness and Embodiment Experience: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLima $5.57Austin $28
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$7.23
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Beer$4.03
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Cocktail$3.22
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Austin
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Austin:
- Austin Bar Hunt: Sixth Street Spree: Austin Bar Crawl: $12
- Austin Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $30
- Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour: $30
- Downtown Austin Live Music Pub Crawl: $35
- Downtown Live Music Pub Crawl: $35
- Austin Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $44
- From Texas Hill Country Brewery & Distillery Shuttle: $65
- Private Austin Brewery Tour by Pedicab with All-Inclusive Beer Flight Option: $70
- 4-Hour Austin Signature Brewery Tour: $100
- The Brew Bus: Austin Brewery Tour with Live Band: $125
- Half-Day Private Texas Hill Country Wine Tour from Austin: $143
- Brewery 5K Fun Run, BBQ, and Texas History Museum in Austin : $175
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lima and Austin, we can see that Austin is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lima is in South America and Austin is in North 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 Austin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Austin 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 Lima Expensive? and Is Austin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lima or Austin?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Austin. When comparing the sizes of Lima and Austin, 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 Lima or Austin?
Austin 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 Lima or Austin in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Lima and Austin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Austin for the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Lima is much colder than Austin in the summer. The daily temperature in Lima averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Austin fluctuates around 87°F (30°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Austin this time of the year. Lima usually receives less sunshine than Austin during summer. Lima gets 36 hours of sunny skies, while Austin receives 318 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Lima usually receives less rain than Austin. Lima gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Austin receives 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLima 18°C (64°F)Austin 87°F (30°C)
Should I visit Lima or Austin in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Lima as well as Austin. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Austin because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Lima is cooler than Austin. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Lima in October average around 19°C (66°F), and Austin averages at about 73°F (23°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Austin. In the autumn, Lima often gets less sunshine than Austin. Lima gets 60 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Austin receives 214 hours of full sun.
Lima usually gets less rain in October than Austin. Lima gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Austin receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLima 19°C (66°F)Austin 73°F (23°C)
Should I visit Lima or Austin in the Winter?
Both Austin and Lima are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Austin this time of year.
In January, Lima is generally much warmer than Austin. Daily temperatures in Lima average around 23°C (73°F), and Austin fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).
Lima usually receives more sunshine than Austin during winter. Lima gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Austin receives 163 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Lima usually receives less rain than Austin. Lima gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Austin receives 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLima 23°C (73°F)Austin 51°F (11°C)
Should I visit Lima or Austin in the Spring?
Both Austin and Lima during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Austin for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Lima is around the same temperature as Austin in the spring. The daily temperature in Lima averages around 22°C (72°F) in April, and Austin fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).
In Austin, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Lima often gets less sunshine than Austin. Lima gets 182 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Austin receives 209 hours of full sun.
Lima usually gets less rain in April than Austin. Lima gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Austin receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLima 22°C (72°F)Austin 71°F (22°C)
Typical Weather for Austin and Lima
| Lima | Austin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 71°F (22°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 4 inches (101 mm) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 83°F (29°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 87°F (30°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) |
| Aug | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 87°F (31°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 2 inches (52 mm) |
| Dec | 22°C (72°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
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.