Which place is cheaper, Ponce 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 Ponce?
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 Ponce. 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 Ponce?
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.
Ponce
Ponce is on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It's the second largest city on the island and has been around since 1692 when it was originally founded by Ponce de Leon's grandson Juan Ponce de Leon y Loayza. The city has several nicknames, including La Perla del Sur (The Pearl of the South), La Ciudad Senorial (The Noble, or Lordly, City), and La Ciudad de las Quenepas (Genip City).
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
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Lima Prices
Peru PricesPonce Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLima $98Ponce $230
The average daily cost (per person) in Lima is $98, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $230. 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 Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLima $54Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLima $108Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Lima and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Lima or Ponce? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lima $6.24Ponce $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.91
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Taxi Ride$5.91
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Short Taxi Ride$4.43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Lima Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Miraflores: $5.90
- QuickLlama: Transfer from Miraflores Kennedy Park to Lima Airport: $5.95
- QuickLlama: Door-to-door transfer from Miraflores to Lima Airport: $5.95
- Lima Airport: BUS Transfer to/from Lima city center: $7.04
- LIM Airport Private Transfer to/from Lima City Center: $10
- Lima Airport : Bus transfer to/from Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco: $11
- Lima Airport One Way Private Transfer LIM to Lima City Center: $12
- LIMA AIRPORT SHUTTLE - Shared Transfer: $13
- Transfer: Lima City Center to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $14
- Transfer from the Airport to the Hotel or Hotel-Airport!!: $15
- Taxi transfers from and to the Lima Airport and Paracas Ica: $15
- Lima Airport Transfer Service Available 24 7: $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
Is it cheaper to fly into Lima or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce 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 $33Ponce $61
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.73
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Ice cream$3.84
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Coffee$3.25
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Donut$1.03
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Dinner at Café del Museo Larco restaurant: $30
- Lima : Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $36
- Culinary Experience with Pizzas - Barranco: $39
- #1 Rated Cooking Class with Best Dishes & Pisco Sour: $44
- Lima Street Food Tour: Taste Authentic Peruvian Delights: $45
- Dinner with Folkloric Show at Casa Tambo Restaurant: $46
- Miraflores: Amazing Peruvian Cooking Class – Ceviche, Seafood, and Pisco Sour: $47
- Market Tour and Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $47
- Lima Central Market Food Tour with Tastings: $48
- Dinner at Mangos Larcomar Restaurant: $48
- Dinner at Mangos Larcomar Restaurant: $48
- 4h Cooking Class in Iconic Dishes & Bottomless Drinks: $50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
- Latin Night with Dinner and Local Music with Transportation: $59
- Puerto Rico Art and Wine Dinner with One Way Transportation: $89
- Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
- Private Half-Day Island Authentic Food Tour : $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lima $9.43Ponce $56
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$2.51
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Miraflores: Local Walking Tour & Free eBook: $1.10
- Historical Center Guided Walking Tour for Tips: $1.14
- Historic Center Walking Tour with Guide: $2.00
- Tour a pie con Guía Local por el Centro Histórico: $2.00
- Barranco Walking Tour – Street Art & Photo Stops: $2.00
- Barranco Tour: Street Art and Hot Spots: $10
- Lima Cathedral Museum Entrance Ticket: $10
- Catch, Review, Improve: Lima Surf Coaching Experience: $13
- Beach tour and surfboards for rent in Lima, Peru: $14
- Miraflores and Barranco Walking Tour with Beer: $15
- Walking Tour in the Historical Centre and China Town: $18
- Private Bike Tour in Lima: $19
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Private Sunset Walking Tour in San Juan: $25
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Guided Walking Tour in Ponce: $30
- Prive Tours in Puerto Rico: $40
- Walking Guided Tour of History and Myths of Old San Juan : $60
- Half-Day Small-Group River Experience in El Yunque with Local : $68
- Explore El Yunque and Historic Castle in Old San Juan Tour: $69
- Island Escape Rainforest to Castles Tour: $70
- Arecibo Triple Tour Indian Caves Waterfalls and Nature : $71
- Party Bus Experience in San Juan, Puerto Rico: $79
- Puerto Rico Countryside Tour with Visit to Waterfall: $79
- Caves Coastlines and Beach; Cueva del Indio, Arecibo Adventure: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLima $6.13Ponce $16
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$7.95
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Beer$4.43
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Cocktail$3.55
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Pub Crawl with Free Shots and Club Entry: $5.00
- Free Pub Crawl: $5.00
- Pub Crawl Social Drinks in Barranco & Miraflores: $18
- Barranco's Nightlife Tour with Bar Crawl & Free Shots: $20
- Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $22
- Miraflores Nightlife Tour with Bar Crawl & Free Shots: $24
- Bar Crawl Night Tour in Miraflores: $38
- Bar Crawl Night Tour in Miraflores: $38
- Lima Nightlife Tour & Society – Cultural Pub Crawl: $50
- Peruvian Wine Tasting in an Exclusive Setting: $94
- From Huacachina Sandboarding and Wine Tasting Day Trip: $105
- From Huacachina Sandboarding and Wine Tasting Tour: $105
Sample the Local Flavors in Ponce
Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Artisan Puertorrican Winery and Distillery Tour: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lima and Ponce, we can see that Ponce 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 Ponce is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Ponce would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ponce 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 Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lima or Ponce?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Ponce. When comparing the sizes of Lima and Ponce, 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 Ponce?
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 Ponce in the Summer?
Both Ponce and Lima are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Lima usually receives less rain than Ponce. Lima gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
It's quite sunny in Ponce. Lima usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during summer. Lima gets 36 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Lima is much colder than Ponce. Typically, the summer temperatures in Lima in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Ponce averages at about 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLima 18°C (64°F)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Lima or Ponce in the Autumn?
Both Ponce and Lima during the autumn 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 Ponce year-round.
Ponce gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Lima usually gets less rain in October than Ponce. Lima gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Lima often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Lima gets 60 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun.
In October, Lima is generally cooler than Ponce. Daily temperatures in Lima average around 19°C (66°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLima 19°C (66°F)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Lima or Ponce in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Lima and Ponce. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Lima usually receives less rain than Ponce. Lima gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. Lima usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during winter. Lima gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
Lima is around the same temperature as Ponce in the winter. The daily temperature in Lima averages around 23°C (73°F) in January, and Ponce fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLima 23°C (73°F)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Lima or Ponce in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Lima as well as Ponce. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
Lima usually gets less rain in April than Ponce. Lima gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. In the spring, Lima often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Lima gets 182 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Lima is cooler than Ponce. Typically, the spring temperatures in Lima in April average around 22°C (72°F), and Ponce averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLima 22°C (72°F)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Lima
| Lima | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 22°C (72°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 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.