Which place is cheaper, Koh Pha Ngan or Lima?
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 Lima or Koh Pha Ngan?
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 Koh Pha Ngan. 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
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.
Koh Pha Ngan
Ko Phangan (or Pha Ngan) is best known for its full moon parties, attracting backpackers and budget travelers the world over for all-night parties on the beach. The clear, blue water, beautiful beaches, and tropical atmosphere bring the tourists to the island, and the low prices, diverse activities, and abundant amenities keep them here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, The Best Adventure Tours to Peru, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.
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Lima Prices
Peru PricesKoh Pha Ngan Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLima $95Koh Pha Ngan $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Lima is $95, while the average daily cost in Koh Pha Ngan is $61. 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 Koh Pha Ngan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLima $52Koh Pha Ngan $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLima $104Koh Pha Ngan $54
Compare Hotels in Lima and Koh Pha Ngan
Looking for a hotel in Lima or Koh Pha Ngan? 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 Koh Pha Ngan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lima $6.06Koh Pha Ngan $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.73
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Taxi Ride$5.73
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Short Taxi Ride$4.30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Assistance - Transfer Cusco Airport to Hotel & Viceversa: $40
- Deluxe Car Lima Transfer - Private Service: $29
- Direct Private Transfer From Lima to Paracas, English Speaking Driver: $269
- Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Arrival Private Transfer : $22
- Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $43
- LIMA AIRPORT SHUTTLE - Shared Transfer: $13
- Larco Museum Complete Guided Tour with Transfers (Small Group): $55
- Lima Airport (LIM) to Miraflores - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $48
- Lima Airport (LIM) to Miraflores city - Arrival Private Transfer: $24
- Lima Airport Arrival Transfer: $25
- Lima Airport Transfers by SUV/Van: $43
- Lima Bus Station Arrival Transfer: $28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$9.42
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Ferry Ride$16
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Gas for Scooter$3.45
Is it cheaper to fly into Lima or Koh Pha Ngan?
Prices for flights to both Koh Pha Ngan 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 $32Koh Pha Ngan $20
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.59
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Ice cream$3.73
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Coffee$3.15
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Donut$1.00
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
Typical Food Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Pha Ngan:
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Noodle Lunch (for One)$1.26
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$12
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Smoothies (for Two)$1.26
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Ice Cream$0.63
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Juice$1.88
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3 Spring Rolls$0.94
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2 Pancakes$1.88
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lima $9.15Koh Pha Ngan $19
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)$17
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Movie Tickets$2.44
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Beach tour and surfboards for rent in Lima, Peru: $14
- Lima City Tour with Baby Alpaca Class and Pisco Tasting: $16
- Skip the Line: Larco Museum Admission Ticket: $18
- Miraflores and Barranco Private Bike Tour: $19
- Private Bike Tour in Lima: $19
- Bike Tour Lima: $19
- Water Magic Circuit Lima Night Tour by Panoramic Bus: $20
- Tour in Lima with Visit to the Catacombs of San Francisco: $20
- Bohemian and artistic ravine walking tour: $22
- Lima Half-Day City Walking Tour (Small Groups): $24
- Pisco Sour experience with mini causitas at República del Pisco: $25
- Guided Walking Tour in Barranco: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLima $5.95Koh Pha Ngan $11
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$7.71
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Beer$4.30
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Cocktail$3.44
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Drinks at Irish Pub (for Two)$8.16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lima and Koh Pha Ngan, we can see that Lima is more expensive. And not only is Koh Pha Ngan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lima is in South America and Koh Pha Ngan is in Asia, 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 Koh Pha Ngan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lima Expensive? and Is Koh Pha Ngan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lima or Koh Pha Ngan?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 650 times larger than the population of Koh Pha Ngan. When comparing the sizes of Lima and Koh Pha Ngan, 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
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 Lima or Koh Pha Ngan in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Lima and Koh Pha Ngan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round. Koh Pha Ngan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Koh Pha Ngan receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Lima usually receives less rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Lima gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Lima is cooler than Koh Pha Ngan in the summer. The daily temperature in Lima averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLima 18°C (64°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Lima or Koh Pha Ngan in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Lima as well as Koh Pha Ngan. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Pha Ngan throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season. October and November in Koh Pha Ngan is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Koh Pha Ngan. Lima usually gets less rain in October than Koh Pha Ngan. Lima gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Lima is cooler than Koh Pha Ngan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Lima in October average around 19°C (66°F), and Koh Pha Ngan averages at about 24°C (75°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLima 19°C (66°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Lima or Koh Pha Ngan in the Winter?
Both Koh Pha Ngan and Lima are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Pha Ngan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Pha Ngan is December to March. In January, Lima usually receives less rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Lima gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In January, Lima is generally around the same temperature as Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Lima average around 23°C (73°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLima 23°C (73°F)Koh Pha Ngan 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Lima or Koh Pha Ngan in the Spring?
Both Koh Pha Ngan 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Pha Ngan year-round.
Lima usually gets less rain in April than Koh Pha Ngan. Lima gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Lima is around the same temperature as Koh Pha Ngan in the spring. The daily temperature in Lima averages around 22°C (72°F) in April, and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLima 22°C (72°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Pha Ngan and Lima
| Lima | Koh Pha Ngan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) |
| Dec | 22°C (72°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 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.