Which place is cheaper, Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles?
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 Los Angeles. 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 Los Angeles?
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.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California is probably one of the most well known cities in the United States. It is the second most populated metro area in the country with more than 17 million people. The city's diversity is wide reaching, giving it a character that is unique from any other place in the country. LA has many world famous sights and neighborhoods including Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, and Santa Monica, but there is really so much more to this city.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, The Best Adventure Tours to Peru, The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.
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Lima Prices
Peru PricesLos Angeles Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLima $96Los Angeles $299
The average daily cost (per person) in Lima is $96, while the average daily cost in Los Angeles is $299. 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 Los Angeles in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLima $52Los Angeles $138
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLima $104Los Angeles $276
Compare Hotels in Lima and Los Angeles
Looking for a hotel in Lima or Los Angeles? 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 Los Angeles Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lima $6.11Los Angeles $40
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.78
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Taxi Ride$5.78
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Short Taxi Ride$4.34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Transfer in Private Van from the Airport to Hotels in Lima: $60
- Transfer from the Airport to the Hotel or Hotel-Airport!!: $25
- Transfer from Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco to Airport: $21
- Taxi transfers from and to the Lima Airport and Paracas Ica: $15
- Roundtrip Private Transfer Lima Airport (LIM): $33
- Round Trip Transfer from and to the Airport in Miraflores/Barranco/Sani: $41
- QuickLlama: Transfer from Lima Airport to Miraflores Kennedy Park: $5.95
- QuickLlama: Door-to-door transfer from Lima Airport to Miraflores: $5.95
- Private Transfer from Lima Airport (LIM) to Callao Port: $16
- Private Transfer from Jorge Chavez Airport to Hotels in Lima: $16
- Private Transfer from Callao Cruise Port to Lima city hotels: $17
- Private Transfer Lima Airport (QuickLlama Airport Shuttle): $29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Los Angeles
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Los Angeles:
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Hotel Parking for a Day$22
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Taxi to Airport$55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Los Angeles
Also for Los Angeles, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Group Transfer From or To Los Angeles LAX Airport: $15
- Private Intercity Transfer from and to Los Angeles: $15
- LAX Airport Private Transfer to/from Downtown: $32
- Port Of Long Beach Cruiseport Private Hotel Transfer up to 5 PAX: $33
- Los Angeles:Private Airport Transfers to/from LA or Disney: $36
- Private Transfer Los Angeles Airport LAX From To LA: $36
- Private Transfer to/from Los Angeles LAX Airport: $36
- Los Angeles to Los Angeles Airport (LAX) - Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Private Departure Transfer to Los Angeles Airport LAX: $39
- John Wayne Airports Private Hotel Transfer up to 5 passengers: $40
- Private Departure Transfer to Burbank Airport (BUR): $40
- LAX Private Airport Transfer: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Lima or Los Angeles?
Prices for flights to both Los Angeles 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 $32Los Angeles $104
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.63
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Ice cream$3.76
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Coffee$3.18
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Donut$1.01
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Andean Breads Cooking Class in Lima: $44
- Lima Street Food Tour: Taste Authentic Peruvian Delights: $45
- Dinner with Folkloric Show at Casa Tambo Restaurant: $46
- Lima Food Tour with Ceviche, Pisco, and Grilled Chicken: $55
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $55
- #1 Rated Lima Cooking Class: Make Ceviche, Causa & Pisco Sours!: $59
- Lima Market Tour & Ceviche Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $59
- Dinner at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant: $67
- Peruvian Food Tour Through Local Markets: $69
- Peruvian Cooking Class, Local Market Tour & Exotic Fruit Tasting: $72
- Authentic 4-dish Peruvian Food Cooking Class in Lima + Pisco Sour: $75
- Peru Culinary Identity: 10+ Tastes with Sherpa Food Tours: $79
Typical Food Prices in Los Angeles
For Los Angeles, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Mexican Dinner (family of 4)$32
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Burritos for Two$15
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Coffee and Danish$7.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Los Angeles
For Los Angeles, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Silver Lake Food Tour with Comedian Foodie Guide!: $59
- Santa Monica Sweet Treats Food Tour: Donuts, Churros, and More: $70
- Japanese Gyoza Cooking Class at a Local Brewery in LA: $75
- Fun Gyoza Cooking Class With a Local Chef: $75
- Silverlake Food Tour with Comedian Guide: $85
- Los Angeles : Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $85
- Downtown Los Angeles Food Tour: $89
- LA Food Tour: 6 Iconic Downtown Tastings & Secret Dish: $92
- Los Angeles Downtown Authentic Food Tour with 5 Local Dishes: $93
- 6 Authentic Tastings of Venice Beach Food Tour: $99
- LA Chinatown & Olvera St. Food Tour with To Live and Dine in LA: $99
- The Immigrant & Historic Businesses of Silver Lake Food Tour: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lima $9.23Los Angeles $83
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$2.46
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- 1 Day Tour to Huacachina from Lima (Dunebuggy + Vineyards): $225
- 2 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $265
- 2 Day Tour from Paracas, Ballestas Island and Huacachina: $134
- 3 Day Tour From Paracas, Huacachina Oasis & Pisco Vineyard: $143
- 3 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $275
- 4-Hour Tasting Tour in Lima with Pickup: $85
- 8-Hour Private Tour Lima Viceroyalty and Gold Museum with Lunch: $120
- A Journey Through Time: Lima's Historic Center & Catacombs Tour: $20
- All-Inclusive Highlights of Lima Tour: $120
- Ballestas Islands and Huacachina Full Day Tour from Lima: $38
- Ballestas Islands, Paracas Reserve & Skulls Museum Private Tour: $270
- Barranco Bike Tour: From Pyramids to Bohemian Streets: $35
Typical Entertainment Prices in Los Angeles
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Los Angeles's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Santa Monica Pier Rides (family of 4)$37
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Bowling$13
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Hollywood Tour for Two$30
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Six Flags for 2$96
Tours and Activities in Los Angeles
For Los Angeles, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Self-Guided Walking Tour in Los Angeles' Best-Kept Secrets: $1.12
- Secrets of Venice Boardwalk: Self-Guided Puzzle Adventure in LA: $4.85
- Venice Beach: Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Griffith Park Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Pasadena Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.00
- Santa Monica: Self-guided Bike Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- Los Angeles Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.00
- West Hollywood Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $6.00
- Podcast Tour Venice Beach: Shadows of the Slum by the Sea: $6.85
- LA Little Tokyo to Olvera St Smartphone (App/GPS) Walking Tour: $7.50
- Los Angeles Getty Center Reserved Entry and Audio Tour: $8.10
- Gambling Built the Sunset Strip: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLima $6.00Los Angeles $15
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$7.78
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Beer$4.34
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Cocktail$3.47
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Free Pub Crawl: $5.00
- Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $22
- Barranco Bohemian Bar Crawl: 4 Bars & Live Music: $24
- Lima Anti Pub Crawl: $60
Sample the Local Flavors in Los Angeles
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Los Angeles:
- LA Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- Hollywood Distillery Tour and Tasting Experience: $30
- LA Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Hollywood Distillery Tour and Tasting: $30
- LA : Drag Highlights - Bar Crawl & Show – Drinks Included!: $50
- Santa Monica's Only Winery: Sommelier Guided Wine Tasting: $50
- 2 Hours Party Bike Pub Crawl Tour in Glendale California: $55
- Malibu: Vintage VW Sightseeing Tour and Wine Tasting: $195
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lima and Los Angeles, we can see that Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lima or Los Angeles?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Los Angeles. When comparing the sizes of Lima and Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles?
Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles in the Summer?
Both Los Angeles and Lima during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Los Angeles this time of year.
In July, Lima is generally cooler than Los Angeles. Daily temperatures in Lima average around 18°C (64°F), and Los Angeles fluctuates around 72°F (22°C).
Lima usually gets more rain in July than Los Angeles. Lima gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLima 18°C (64°F)Los Angeles 72°F (22°C)
Should I visit Lima or Los Angeles in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Lima and Los Angeles. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round. Also, many travelers come to Los Angeles for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
Lima is around the same temperature as Los Angeles in the autumn. The daily temperature in Lima averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Los Angeles fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).
In October, Lima usually receives less rain than Los Angeles. Lima gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 0.6 inches (15 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLima 19°C (66°F)Los Angeles 64°F (18°C)
Should I visit Lima or Los Angeles in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Lima as well as Los Angeles. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Los Angeles in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Lima is much warmer than Los Angeles. Typically, the winter temperatures in Lima in January average around 23°C (73°F), and Los Angeles averages at about 55°F (13°C).
Lima usually gets less rain in January than Los Angeles. Lima gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 3.1 inches (79 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLima 23°C (73°F)Los Angeles 55°F (13°C)
Should I visit Lima or Los Angeles in the Spring?
Both Los Angeles and Lima are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Los Angeles for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.
In April, Lima is generally a little warmer than Los Angeles. Daily temperatures in Lima average around 22°C (72°F), and Los Angeles fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).
In April, Lima usually receives less rain than Los Angeles. Lima gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Los Angeles receives 1 inches (25 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLima 22°C (72°F)Los Angeles 61°F (16°C)
Typical Weather for Los Angeles and Lima
| Lima | Los Angeles | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 61°F (16°C) | 1 inches (25 mm) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.4 inches (10 mm) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
| Aug | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 0 inches (0 mm) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 70°F (21°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.6 inches (15 mm) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
| Dec | 22°C (72°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.6 inches (66 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.