Which place is cheaper, San Diego or Lima?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lima or San Diego?
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 San Diego. 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 San Diego?
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.
San Diego
For many visitors and locals alike, San Diego is a paradise. Located in southern California, not far from Los Angeles, it has the perfect climate, wonderful beaches, and a culturally rich environment. It's surrounded by beautiful landscape and has a strong focus on wildlife conservation and eco-friendly living. Home to about 1.3 million residents, it is California's second largest city. It also has many universities, a large tech industry, and a thriving economy. Despite its size, many people perceive San Diego as a slower, more relaxed city with a pleasant vibe away from the chaos of a large city.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, The Best Adventure Tours to Peru, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLima $76San Diego $202
The average daily cost (per person) in Lima is $76, while the average daily cost in San Diego is $202. 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 San Diego in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLima $49San Diego $115
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLima $98San Diego $230
Compare Hotels in Lima and San Diego
Looking for a hotel in Lima or San Diego? 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 San Diego Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lima $5.67San Diego $24
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:
- Private Transfer From Lima To Huacachina With 2 Stops: $198
- Private Transfer From Lima To Paracas With 2 Stops : $176
- Premium Peruvian Horse Show with Lunch & Transfers: $150
- Larco Museum Tour & Gastronomic Experience with rountrip transfer: $134
- Round-Trip Transfer in Private Minivan from-to Lima Airport (LIM) in Lima City: $122
- Palomino Islands Excursion & Swimming with Sea Lions with Hotel Transfers: $119
- Airport Transfer Service in Lima: $95
- Private Transfer from Callao Cruise Port to Lima city hotels: $87
- Private Transfer from Lima city hotels to Callao Cruise Port: $87
- Private Transfer from Lima hotels to Pisco Cruise Port: $87
- Lima Airport Arrival Transfer for small groups: $79
- Private Transfer from Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Pisco Port : $79
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Diego
Also for San Diego, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in San Diego HTL-APT(SAN): $47
- Private Departure Transfer to San Diego Airport SAN: $50
- Tijuana to Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) – Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) to Tijuana hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Private Arrival Transfer from San Diego Airport SAN: $56
- San Diego Airport (SAN) to San Marcos, CA - Arrival Private Transfer: $64
- Transfer in private minivan from San Diego Downtown to San Diego Airport (SAN): $68
- Transfer in private minivan from San Diego Airport (SAN) to San Diego Downtown: $68
- San Diego Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to San Diego: $70
- San Diego Airport - Private Round Trip Transfer: $70
- Private Transfer from San Diego Airport (SAN) to San Diego Port : $74
- Private Transfer from San Diego Port to San Diego city hotels: $74
Is it cheaper to fly into Lima or San Diego?
Prices for flights to both San Diego 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 $17San Diego $45
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
Typical Food Prices in San Diego
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to San Diego:
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Mexican Lunch for Two$27
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Breakfast at Starbucks$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Diego
For San Diego, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Pizza and Gelato Tour in San Diego: $80
- San Diego Vegan Food Tour: $85
- Old Town Tequila and Tacos Walking Food Tour: $85
- Gaslamp Quarter Food Tour: $89
- Gaslamp Quarter Downtown San Diego Food Tour: $89
- San Diego Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $95
- San Diego, Seaport Village: Waterfront Walking Food Tour: $99
- Seaport Village Food Tour in San Diego : $99
- Guided Secret Food Tour: $103
- Scenic Buffet Dinner Cruise: $108
- San Diego Dinner Cruise: $116
- Gourmet Dinner Cruise: $118
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lima $8.57San Diego $48
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Diego
For San Diego, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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San Diego Zoo$15
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Sea World Parking$12
Tours and Activities in San Diego
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Diego.
- Pies & Pickaxes: A Historic Walking Tour of Julian, CA: $4.49
- Waterfront Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $7.31
- A Seaside Stroll: La Jolla's Hidden Treasures Self-Guided Tour: $9.99
- Historical Walking Tour of San Diego: $10
- Beaches & Bluffs San Diego's Ultimate Coastal Driving Tour: $12
- San Diego Natural History Museum Ticket: $12
- Haunted Historic Whaley House - Self-Guided Tour: $14
- Apple Pies & Desert Skies: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $15
- Private Walking Tour and Gaslamp Adventure in San Diego: $20
- Explore Balboa in a Private Tour of San Diego Hidden Gems: $20
- San Diego's Historic Treasures and Old Town Tour: $20
- San Diego Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLima $5.57San Diego $21
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 San Diego
Also in San Diego, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- San Diego Bar Hunt: Slammin' San Diego Bar Crawl: $13
- History Tour Pub Crawl of Famous Gaslamp Quarter: $30
- Brewery Tour with Tastings and Food Pairings: $85
- Vino! Vino! Little Italy Wine Tasting Walking Tour: $125
- Little Italy Wine Tasting Walking Tour: $125
- Private Wine Tasting Tour in Valle de Guadalupe: $133
- Cruise & Booze Brewery tours : $149
- Baja Tour Guide wine tour: $169
- Sidecar Wine Tasting Tour: $199
- Brewery and Tap Room Sidecar Tour: $199
- California Sunset Brewery Tour: $199
- Brewery and Beer Tasting Tour in San Diego: $215
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lima and San Diego, we can see that San Diego 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 San Diego 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 San Diego would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Diego 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 San Diego Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lima or San Diego?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of San Diego. When comparing the sizes of Lima and San Diego, 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 San Diego?
San Diego 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 San Diego in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Lima as well as San Diego. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to San Diego this time of year.
In the summer, Lima is cooler than San Diego. Typically, the summer temperatures in Lima in July average around 18°C (64°F), and San Diego averages at about 71°F (22°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Diego. In the summer, Lima often gets less sunshine than San Diego. Lima gets 36 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 306 hours of full sun.
Lima usually gets more rain in July than San Diego. Lima gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLima 18°C (64°F)San Diego 71°F (22°C)
Should I visit Lima or San Diego in the Autumn?
Both San Diego and Lima are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to San Diego for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Lima is generally around the same temperature as San Diego. Daily temperatures in Lima average around 19°C (66°F), and San Diego fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).
It's quite sunny in San Diego. Lima usually receives less sunshine than San Diego during autumn. Lima gets 60 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 244 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Lima usually receives less rain than San Diego. Lima gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.4 inches (9 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLima 19°C (66°F)San Diego 68°F (20°C)
Should I visit Lima or San Diego in the Winter?
Both San Diego and Lima during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many visitors come to San Diego in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Lima is much warmer than San Diego in the winter. The daily temperature in Lima averages around 23°C (73°F) in January, and San Diego fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
In San Diego, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Lima often gets less sunshine than San Diego. Lima gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Diego receives 239 hours of full sun.
Lima usually gets less rain in January than San Diego. Lima gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 1.8 inches (46 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLima 23°C (73°F)San Diego 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Lima or San Diego in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Lima and San Diego. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to San Diego for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Lima is a little warmer than San Diego. Typically, the spring temperatures in Lima in April average around 22°C (72°F), and San Diego averages at about 62°F (17°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Diego this time of the year. Lima usually receives less sunshine than San Diego during spring. Lima gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while San Diego receives 277 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Lima usually receives less rain than San Diego. Lima gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.8 inches (20 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLima 22°C (72°F)San Diego 62°F (17°C)
Typical Weather for San Diego and Lima
| Lima | San Diego | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.8 inches (46 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 1.5 inches (39 mm) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 59°F (15°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.8 inches (20 mm) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 71°F (22°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 71°F (22°C) | 0.2 inches (6 mm) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.4 inches (9 mm) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.5 inches (37 mm) |
| Dec | 22°C (72°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.6 inches (40 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.