Which place is cheaper, Portland 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 Portland?
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 Portland. 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 Portland?
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.
Portland
Referred to as "The City of Roses", Portland is the largest city in Oregon. It sits on the banks of the Columbia River and offers breathtaking views of Mount Hood when the weather allows. Portland is famous for its alternative vibe, live music scene, and popular microbreweries. It's also a mecca for environmentally conscious urban planning. The downtown area is quite compact and walkable. While the city itself may be smaller than you expect, it is still the largest metropolitan area between San Francisco and Seattle.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, The Best Adventure Tours to Peru, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, and The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America.
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Lima Prices
Peru PricesPortland Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLima $95Portland $211
The average daily cost (per person) in Lima is $95, while the average daily cost in Portland is $211. 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 Portland in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLima $52Portland $97
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLima $104Portland $194
Compare Hotels in Lima and Portland
Looking for a hotel in Lima or Portland? 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 Portland Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lima $6.06Portland $28
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:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Lima APT-HTL (LIM) : $34
- Transfer: Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima City Center: $16
- Transfer from Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco to Airport: $18
- Transfer To Lima Airport: $20
- Tour Magic Water Park in Lima with Small Group Transfer: $38
- Round Trip Transfer from and to the Airport in Miraflores/Barranco/Sani : $33
- QuickLlama: Transfer from Miraflores Kennedy Park to Lima Airport: $5.95
- QuickLlama: Door-to-door transfer from Miraflores to Lima Airport: $5.95
- Private Transfers from/to Lima Airport (Price per Vehicle): $29
- Private Transfer to Lima Airport (LIM): $13
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $201
- Private Transfer from Lima hotels to Callao Cruise Port: $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Portland
Also for Portland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Portland Airport PDX: $40
- Private Departure Transfer to Portland Airport (PDX): $40
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Beaverton hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Beaverton hotel to Portland Airport (PDX) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Tigard hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Tigard hotel or address to Portland Airport (PDX) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Lake Oswego - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Lake Oswego to Portland Airport (PDX) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Portland downtown - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $91
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Beaverton hotel - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $91
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Tigard hotel or address - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $91
- Portland Airport (PDX) to Lake Oswego - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $91
Is it cheaper to fly into Lima or Portland?
Prices for flights to both Portland 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 $32Portland $74
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 Portland
For Portland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Afternoon Drinks (for 2)$9.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Portland
For Portland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Walking Food Tour – Warm Donuts & History: $57
- Walking Pizza Tour: $75
- Pasta Making Cooking Class at a Local Brewery: $75
- Westside Food Tour Like a Local: $90
- Secret Food Tour with Local Guide: $102
- Portland Downtown Food Tour: 6 Tastings of Local & Global Flavors: $109
- Alphabet District Food Tour: $119
- 2.5-hour Dinner Cruise on Willamette River: $127
- Willamette River 2.5-hour Dinner Cruise: $127
- All-Inclusive Downtown Portland Food Tour: $128
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lima $9.15Portland $25
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:
- Ballestas Islands + Huacachina Tour From Lima (Private Group): $190
- Cycling Tour Miraflores - Barranco - Chorrillos: $30
- Lima bike and 5 Step Food Tasting Experience: $92
- Private Classic City Tour Experience of Lima: $65
- Private Stopover Tour of Lima from the Airport: $150
- Sunset in Huacachina and Tacama: Private Tour from Lima: $220
- #1 Full Day Tour From Paracas and Huacachina Oasis: $59
- 1 Day Tour to Huacachina from Lima (Dunebuggy + Vineyards): $225
- 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
- 2 Days 1 Night Paracas Ica Tour from Lima: $150
Tours and Activities in Portland
For Portland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Downtown Portland's Outdoor Sculptures: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
- Portland (Downtown) Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Tour: $7.69
- Portland Oregon Ghost Tour Paranormal Portland Ghost Tour: $15
- Lan Su Chinese Garden General Admission Ticket: $16
- Mount Hood Loop Scenic Drive Self Guided Audio Tour: $17
- Hopscotch Portland Immersive Art Experience: $24
- Portland Ghost Tours: Punishment, Penance & Poltergeists: $24
- Portland Party Bike Tours: The Classic Crawl - Public: $25
- Intro to Portland Small Group Walking Tour: $29
- Portland, Oregon: Soul of the City Walking Tour: $29
- Ultimate Dead of Night Walking Ghost Tour: $30
- Phantoms, Penance, and Poltergeists: Portland Ghost Tour: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLima $5.95Portland $17
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Portland
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Portland:
- Power Through Portland Bar Crawl: $12
- Private or Shared Party Bike Pub Crawl: $25
- Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Oregon Priority Wine Tasting Pass: $40
- Haunted Underground Shanghai Tunnel Tour with Brewery Tastings: $48
- Guided Bike Tour with Brewery Visits: $65
- Fun Pasta Making Class at a Local Brewery in Portland: $75
- Fun Sushi Making Class at a Local Brewery in Portland: $75
- Sushi Making Class at a Local Brewery: $75
- Portland, Maine: Old Port Brewery & Pub Walking Tour: $99
- Portland, Maine: Local Brewery & Spirits Bus Tour: $99
- Urban Wine Tasting Tour: $139
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lima and Portland, we can see that Portland 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 Portland 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 Portland would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Portland 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 Portland Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lima or Portland?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Portland. When comparing the sizes of Lima and Portland, 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 Portland?
Portland 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 Portland in the Summer?
Both Portland 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 summer months attract visitors to Portland because of the hiking, the small town charm, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Lima is cooler than Portland in the summer. The daily temperature in Lima averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Portland fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).
In Portland, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Lima often gets less sunshine than Portland. Lima gets 36 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Portland receives 338 hours of full sun.
Lima usually gets less rain in July than Portland. Lima gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Portland receives 0.7 inches (18 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLima 18°C (64°F)Portland 68°F (20°C)
Should I visit Lima or Portland in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Lima and Portland. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Portland this time of year.
In the autumn, Lima is much warmer than Portland. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Lima in October average around 19°C (66°F), and Portland averages at about 55°F (13°C).
Lima usually receives less sunshine than Portland during autumn. Lima gets 60 hours of sunny skies, while Portland receives 155 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Lima usually receives less rain than Portland. Lima gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Portland receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLima 19°C (66°F)Portland 55°F (13°C)
Should I visit Lima or Portland in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Lima as well as Portland. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Portland for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Portland. In January, Lima is generally much warmer than Portland. Daily temperatures in Lima average around 23°C (73°F), and Portland fluctuates around 40°F (4°C).
In the winter, Lima often gets more sunshine than Portland. Lima gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Portland receives 86 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Portland. Lima usually gets less rain in January than Portland. Lima gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Portland receives 5.2 inches (132 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLima 23°C (73°F)Portland 40°F (4°C)
Should I visit Lima or Portland in the Spring?
Both Portland 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 Portland in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.
Lima is much warmer than Portland in the spring. The daily temperature in Lima averages around 22°C (72°F) in April, and Portland fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).
It's quite sunny in Portland. Lima usually receives less sunshine than Portland during spring. Lima gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Portland receives 231 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Lima usually receives less rain than Portland. Lima gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Portland receives 2.4 inches (61 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLima 22°C (72°F)Portland 51°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Portland and Lima
| Lima | Portland | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 40°F (4°C) | 5.2 inches (132 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 1.5 inches (39 mm) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.7 inches (18 mm) |
| Aug | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 69°F (20°C) | 1 inches (25 mm) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.7 inches (44 mm) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 46°F (8°C) | 5.4 inches (136 mm) |
| Dec | 22°C (72°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 40°F (5°C) | 6.1 inches (156 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.