Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Lima?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lima or Ottawa?
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 Ottawa. 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 Ottawa?
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.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada, located on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River. A city of many ethnic populations, Ottawa is uniquely bilingual with English as the first language of the population's majority and French as a close second. It is best known as the nation's capital, which is centered on Parliament Hill, an architectural landmark as well as the seat of government.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, The Best Adventure Tours to Peru, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLima $76Ottawa $123
The average daily cost (per person) in Lima is $76, while the average daily cost in Ottawa is $123. 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 Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLima $49Ottawa $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLima $98Ottawa $36
Compare Hotels in Lima and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Lima or Ottawa? 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 Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lima $5.67Ottawa $7.27
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:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Lima HTL-APT (LIM): $34
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Lima APT-HTL (LIM) : $34
- Transfers from / to Lima airport: $43
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Lima Jorge Chávez Airport to Lima City: $40
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Lima City to Airport: $40
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Lima City - Lima Airport (LIM): $61
- Transfer from Lima city to the airport: $18
- Transfer from Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco to Airport: $18
- The Larco Museum Complete Tour with transfers: $52
- Tegucigalpa to Tegucigalpa Toncontin Airport (TGU) - Departure Private Transfer: $29
- Taxi transfers from and to the Lima Airport and Paracas Ica: $20
- Round-Trip Transfer in Private Minivan from-to Lima Airport (LIM) in Lima City: $122
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ottawa
Also for Ottawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW: $40
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW Private Arrival/Departure Shuttle Transfer : $52
- Ottawa to Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier Airport (YOW) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Lima or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa 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 $17Ottawa $17
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 Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Oh Canada Eh!? Dinner Musical : $71
- Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $79
- Evening Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $82
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lima $8.57Ottawa $40
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:
- Lima bike and 5 Step Food Tasting Experience: $92
- The best of Lima walking tour: $198
- Cultural Tour of the city of Lima & Gastronomic: $62
- 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
- 2d/1n Tour: Flight to the Nazca, Paracas and Huacachina Lines: $289
- 3 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $289
- 3 Day Tour to Paracas, Huacachina, and Pisco Vineyard: $159
- 3-Day Trip to Lima Tour Package: $150
- 3-Hour Private Scooter Tour through Miraflores with Guide: $50
- 360° Panoramic bus - Sightseeing Tour: $27
Tours and Activities in Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.46
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $6.46
- Ottawa Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Explore Canada Through Ottawa's Eyes with Walking Tours Through The City: $6.68
- Ottawa's Hidden History: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- A Self Guided Audio Tour of Ottawa's Hidden History: $6.99
- Ottawa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Wacky Walks: $10
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Ottawa by Operation City Quest: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Crazy Dash: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLima $5.57Ottawa $18
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 Ottawa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ottawa:
- Epic Ottawa Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lima and Ottawa, we can see that Ottawa 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 Ottawa 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 Ottawa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ottawa 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 Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lima or Ottawa?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ottawa. When comparing the sizes of Lima and Ottawa, 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 Ottawa?
Ottawa 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 Ottawa in the Summer?
Both Ottawa 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.
In July, Lima is generally cooler than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Lima average around 18°C (64°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).
In Ottawa, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Lima often gets less sunshine than Ottawa. Lima gets 36 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.
Lima usually gets less rain in July than Ottawa. Lima gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLima 18°C (64°F)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Lima or Ottawa in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Lima and Ottawa. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
Lima is much warmer than Ottawa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Lima averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
Lima usually receives less sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Lima gets 60 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Lima usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Lima gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLima 19°C (66°F)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Lima or Ottawa in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Lima as well as Ottawa. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Ottawa can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Lima is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Lima in January average around 23°C (73°F), and Ottawa averages at about -10°C (14°F).
In the winter, Lima often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Lima gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.
Lima usually gets less rain in January than Ottawa. Lima gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLima 23°C (73°F)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Lima or Ottawa in the Spring?
Both Ottawa and Lima are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
In April, Lima is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Lima average around 22°C (72°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).
Lima usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ottawa during spring. Lima gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Lima usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Lima gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLima 22°C (72°F)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Lima
| Lima | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 22°C (72°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 73 mm (2.9 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.