Which place is cheaper, New Orleans 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 New Orleans?
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 New Orleans. 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 New Orleans?
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.
New Orleans
New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, and it is a cultural city that is the home of jazz, unique cuisine, and Mardi Gras in the U.S. It was established in 1718 and is one of the oldest cities in the country. The culture of the city has a mix of French, Creole, African American, Caribbean, Irish, Haitian, German and Vietnamese. There's an energy and atmosphere that is unlike any place else.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, The Best Adventure Tours to Peru, The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, and The Best Photography Tours in United States of America.
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Lima Prices
Peru PricesNew Orleans Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLima $98New Orleans $270
The average daily cost (per person) in Lima is $98, while the average daily cost in New Orleans is $270. 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 New Orleans in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLima $54New Orleans $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLima $108New Orleans $248
Compare Hotels in Lima and New Orleans
Looking for a hotel in Lima or New Orleans? 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 New Orleans Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lima $6.29New Orleans $51
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.96
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Taxi Ride$5.96
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Short Taxi Ride$4.47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Transfer: Lima City Center to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $14
- Transfer in Private Van from the Airport to Hotels in Lima: $60
- Transfer from the Airport to Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco: $21
- Transfer by official taxi from Jorge Chávez Lima Airport: $35
- Tour Night Magic Water Park and Ravine with Transfer: $49
- Tour Magic Water Park in Lima with Small Group Transfer: $38
- SHARED AIRPORT TRANSFER - From or To Lima Airport: $11
- Roundtrip Private Transfer Lima Airport (LIM): $33
- Round Trip Transfer from and to the Airport in Miraflores/Barranco/Sani: $41
- QuickLlama: Transfer from Miraflores Kennedy Park to Lima Airport: $5.95
- Private transfers from Lima Airport or to Lima Airport: $21
- Private taxi transfer: Lima Jorge Chávez Airport – Safe: $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in New Orleans
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New Orleans are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New Orleans
Also for New Orleans, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from New Orleans city to New Orleans Port: $47
- New Orleans Airport(MSY) to Port of New Orleans- Private Transfer: $47
- Cruise Port Transfer New Orleans and Louis Armstrong Intl MSY: $50
- New Orleans L.Armstrong Airport (MSY) to New Orleans - Arrival Private Transfer: $52
- Private Hotel & Airport Transfers in New Orleans Area One Way: $58
- Private Transfer in New Orleans MSY/Home/Hotel/Work: $60
- New Orleans to New Orleans Airport (MSY) - Departure Transfer: $64
- New Orleans Airport (MSY) to New Orleans - Arrival Transfer: $64
- New Orleans port to New Orleans Airport (MSY) Private Transfer: $64
- New Orleans Airport (MSY) to New Orleans Port Private Transfer: $64
- Private Transfer in a Luxury Vehicle to and or from MSY Airport: $67
- Private Arrival Transfer from Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport: $67
Is it cheaper to fly into Lima or New Orleans?
Prices for flights to both New Orleans 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 $33New Orleans $77
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.77
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Ice cream$3.87
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Coffee$3.28
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Donut$1.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Private Churros Cooking Class, Miraflores & Hotel Pickup: $43
- Andean Breads Cooking Class in Lima: $44
- Miraflores Cooking Class Ceviche, Tartar & Pisco Sour: $48
- #1 Rated Lima Cooking Class: Make Ceviche, Causa & Pisco Sours!: $49
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $50
- Lima Food Tour & Market Experience: 13 Peruvian Bites: $50
- Lima Market Tour & Ceviche Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $59
- Dinner at the Cala Restaurant in Lima: $63
- Lima Market Food Tour: $65
- Dinner at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant: $67
- Limeno Bites Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $69
- Criollo Nights Lima Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $69
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New Orleans
For New Orleans, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- New Orleans Demonstration Cooking Class with Meal: $45
- New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option: $58
- Jazz Dinner Cruise aboard the Riverboat City of New Orleans: $60
- Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans: $60
- New Orleans Sweet Treats Food Tour: Beignets, Donuts, & Much More: $70
- New Orleans Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $74
- French Quarter Walking Food Tour: Signature Tastes of New Orleans: $80
- French Quarter Food Tour: $89
- Lower Garden District Food Tour: $89
- NOLA Carte Food Tour: 300 Years of Flavor in the French Quarter: $96
- New Orleans Cooking Class and Cocktail Walking Tour: $106
- New Orleans Small-Group Food Walking Tour and Cooking Class: $117
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lima $9.51New Orleans $55
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)$18
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Movie Tickets$2.53
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
- 1 day tour in Ica Peru: $200
- 2 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $265
- 2 Day Tour from Paracas, Ballestas Island and Huacachina: $134
- 2 Day Tour from Paracas, Huacachina, Tunnels & Vineyard: $134
- 2D Tour from Lima Paracas and Huacachina with Night in Huacachina: $230
- 3 Day Tour From Paracas, Huacachina Oasis & Pisco Vineyard: $159
- 3 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $289
- 3 Days Tour of Paracas Huacachina and Nazca: $275
- 3 Hour Private Electric Scooter Tour of Lima: $75
- 3-Day Tour Discover Paracas and Huacachina from Lima: $260
- 3-Hour Private Scooter Tour through Miraflores with Guide: $88
Typical Entertainment Prices in New Orleans
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New Orleans's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Zoo & Aquarium Tickets (2)$75
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Riverboat Cruise$70
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French Quarter City Tour$100
Tours and Activities in New Orleans
For New Orleans, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- French Quarter Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Ghosts of Self-Guided Haunted Audio Walking Tour: $6.75
- Bywater Stroll: Explore the Evolving Neighbourhood on a self-guided audio tour: $6.99
- New Orleans French Quarter: Stolen Art Puzzle Adventure: $7.11
- Self-Guided Walking Tour French Quarter In New Orleans: $8.99
- Metairie Cemetery Stories: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- A Walk in the Park: City Park New Orleans Audio Tour: $9.99
- New Orleans French Quarter Audio Tour: Iconic Sites & Hidden Gems: $9.99
- New Orleans Ghost Tour in 6 Languages (Self-Guided Audio Tour): $10
- New Orleans True Crime Walking Tour (Self-Guided Audio): $10
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in New Orleans by 3Quest Challenge: $10
- New Orleans Ghost and True Crime Audio Tour Bundle: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLima $6.18New Orleans $60
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$8.01
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Beer$4.47
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Cocktail$3.58
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Discover Barranco's Nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $20
- Discover Miraflores nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $24
- Bar Crawl Night Tour in Miraflores: $38
- Lima Nightlife Tour & Society – Cultural Pub Crawl: $50
- From Paracas & Huacachina & Wine Tasting: $135
Sample the Local Flavors in New Orleans
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New Orleans:
- Pub Crawl: French Quarter Haunted History Cocktail Tour: $15
- Pub Crawl: The Drunken Telling of New Orleans Tales: $18
- Ghost Tour and Haunted Pub Crawl Party with Free Shot: $21
- New Orleans Seafood Bar Crawl: $25
- Pub Crawl: New Orleans Ghosts, Boos, and Booze: $29
- New Orleans Original True Crime Pub Crawl: $30
- Pub Crawl: New Orleans Spooky Spirits Ghost Tour: $30
- Pub Crawl: New Orleans Cocktail and Ghost Tour: $30
- Pub Crawl: New Orleans Happy Hour Ghost Walking Tour: $33
- New Orleans Haunted Pub Crawl: Ghosts & French Quarter Nightlife: $35
- Haunted Pub Crawl in New Orleans: $37
- Pub Crawl: Haunted New Orleans Booze and Boos Ghost Walking Tour: $40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lima and New Orleans, we can see that New Orleans 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 New Orleans 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 New Orleans would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New Orleans 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 New Orleans Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lima or New Orleans?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of New Orleans. When comparing the sizes of Lima and New Orleans, 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 New Orleans?
New Orleans 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 New Orleans in the Summer?
Both New Orleans 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. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to New Orleans because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Lima is much colder than New Orleans in the summer. The daily temperature in Lima averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and New Orleans fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).
In New Orleans, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Lima often gets less sunshine than New Orleans. Lima gets 36 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while New Orleans receives 264 hours of full sun.
New Orleans gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Lima usually gets less rain in July than New Orleans. Lima gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLima 18°C (64°F)New Orleans 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit Lima or New Orleans in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Lima and New Orleans. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to New Orleans this time of year.
In the autumn, Lima is around the same temperature as New Orleans. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Lima in October average around 19°C (66°F), and New Orleans averages at about 69°F (21°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in New Orleans this time of the year. Lima usually receives less sunshine than New Orleans during autumn. Lima gets 60 hours of sunny skies, while New Orleans receives 240 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Lima usually receives less rain than New Orleans. Lima gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLima 19°C (66°F)New Orleans 69°F (21°C)
Should I visit Lima or New Orleans in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Lima as well as New Orleans. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to New Orleans for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
In January, Lima is generally much warmer than New Orleans. Daily temperatures in Lima average around 23°C (73°F), and New Orleans fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).
In the winter, Lima often gets more sunshine than New Orleans. Lima gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while New Orleans receives 158 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in New Orleans. Lima usually gets less rain in January than New Orleans. Lima gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLima 23°C (73°F)New Orleans 51°F (11°C)
Should I visit Lima or New Orleans in the Spring?
Both New Orleans 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, many visitors come to New Orleans in the spring for the activities around the city.
Lima is around the same temperature as New Orleans in the spring. The daily temperature in Lima averages around 22°C (72°F) in April, and New Orleans fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).
It's quite sunny in New Orleans. Lima usually receives less sunshine than New Orleans during spring. Lima gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while New Orleans receives 254 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. In April, Lima usually receives less rain than New Orleans. Lima gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while New Orleans receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLima 22°C (72°F)New Orleans 68°F (20°C)
Typical Weather for New Orleans and Lima
| Lima | New Orleans | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 5.2 inches (131 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 5.8 inches (147 mm) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 62°F (16°C) | 5 inches (126 mm) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 75°F (24°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 80°F (27°C) | 5.9 inches (151 mm) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 5.9 inches (149 mm) |
| Aug | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 6.2 inches (157 mm) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 5.5 inches (140 mm) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 69°F (21°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 61°F (16°C) | 4.8 inches (122 mm) |
| Dec | 22°C (72°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 5.7 inches (146 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.