Which place is cheaper, San Diego 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 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 G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.
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Lima Prices
Peru PricesSan Diego Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLima $97San Diego $251
The average daily cost (per person) in Lima is $97, while the average daily cost in San Diego is $251. 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 $53San Diego $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLima $106San Diego $248
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 $6.21San Diego $23
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.88
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Taxi Ride$5.88
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Short Taxi Ride$4.41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- From Lima Private transfer to Paracas: $290
- Lima round trip transfers airport - hotel - airport + City Tour: $218
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $196
- Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima City Hotels: $196
- Larco Museum Tour & Gastronomic Experience with rountrip transfer: $160
- Premium Peruvian Horse Show with Lunch & Transfers: $159
- Private Largevan Transfer - Arrival Lima Airport to Hotel: $79
- Transfer by car from the airport to the hotel: $60
- Private Transfer from Lima to Jorge Chávez (LIM) Airport: $57
- Larco Museum Complete Guided Tour with Transfers (Small Group): $55
- Airport Transfer: Jorge Chavez Airport LIM to Lima by Sedan: $51
- One-way Transfer Between Lima Airport And Miraflores Hotels: $50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Diego
Also for San Diego, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer to San Diego Airport SAN: $48
- San Diego Airport (SAN) to San Marcos, CA - Arrival Private Transfer: $64
- San Diego Airport (SAN) to Carlsbad, CA - Arrival Private Transfer: $64
- San Diego Airport (SAN) to Hot Springs/Ocotillo, CA - Arrival Private Transfer: $64
- San Marcos, CA to San Diego Airport (SAN) - Departure Private Transfer: $64
- Private Transfer from San Diego City Hotels to San Diego Port: $69
- Private Transfer from San Diego Port to San Diego Airport (SAN): $69
- Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) to Tijuana hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $69
- Tijuana to Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) – Departure Private Transfer: $69
- Private Transfer from San Diego (SAN) Airport to San Diego City: $85
- Arrival Private Transfer: San Diego Airport SAN to San Diego in Business Car: $110
- Departure Private Transfer: San Diego to San Diego Airport SAN in Business Car: $110
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 $33San Diego $84
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.71
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Ice cream$3.82
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Coffee$3.23
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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.
- Food tours on the forbidden side of Lima (Min. 3 Guests – Max. 6): $5.00
- Lima Street Food Tour: Taste Authentic Peruvian Delights: $45
- Dinner at Mangos Larcomar Restaurant: $48
- #1 Rated Lima Cooking Class: Make Ceviche, Causa & Pisco Sours!: $49
- Lima Street Food Tour : Try the best Peruvian street food: $49
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $50
- Private Churros Cooking Class, Miraflores & Hotel Pickup: $50
- Private Cooking Class in Causa & Lomo Saltado: $50
- Andean Breads Cooking Class in Lima: $55
- Lima Market Tour & Ceviche Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $59
- Dinner at the Cala Restaurant in Lima: $63
- Lima Market Food Tour: $65
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:
- Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Local Brewery in San Diego: $75
- San Diego Vegan Food Tour: $89
- Vegan Food Tour: $89
- Pizza and Ice Cream Walking Tour: $89
- Old Town Tequila and Tacos Walking Food Tour: $94
- Gaslamp District Food Tour with 6 Local Dishes: $96
- San Diego Gaslamp Food Tour with 6 Modern Californian Tastings: $97
- Gaslamp Quarter Downtown San Diego Food Tour: $99
- City Cruises Buffet Dinner Cruise: $108
- City Cruises Buffet Dinner Cruise with Drinks: $108
- San Diego Walking Food Tour and Ferry to Coronado Island: $113
- Old Town San Diego Walking Food Tour: Tequila, Tacos & Tombstones: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lima $9.38San Diego $57
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$2.50
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
- 2 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $279
- 2 Day Tour from Paracas, Ballestas Island and Huacachina: $134
- 2 Day Tour from Paracas, Huacachina, and Pisco Vineyard: $134
- 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 Hours Walking Tour of Lima Old Town and Catacumbs: $59
- 3-Day Tour Discover Paracas and Huacachina from Lima: $260
- 4 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $299
- 8-Hour Private Tour Lima Viceroyalty and Gold Museum with Lunch: $120
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.
- Self-guided Bike Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- Tijuana Downtown Self Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Gaslamp Quarter Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- La Jolla Coast & Cove Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of San Diego’s Scenic Waterfront: $9.99
- Sights of San Diego Harbor: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $11
- San Diego Natural History Museum Ticket: $13
- San Diego Natural History Museum Nighttime Entry Ticket: $13
- San Diego Gas Lamp: At your leisure & pace. An audio walking tour.: $15
- Historical Walking Tour of San Diego: $15
- Whaley House Museum Self-Guided Tour: $15
- San Diego Area Navy SEAL Museum Admission Experience: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLima $6.10San 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$7.91
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Beer$4.41
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Cocktail$3.53
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Free Pub Crawl: $5.00
- Discover Barranco's Nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $20
- Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $22
- Discover Miraflores nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $24
- Lima Nightlife Tour & Society – Cultural Pub Crawl: $50
- Full Day Paracas, Huacachina and Wine Tasting from Lima: $139
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:
- An Epic Scavenger Hunt: Slammin' San Diego Bar Crawl: $13
- Downtown Bar Crawl Party Pass: $20
- San Diego Haunted Pub Crawl: True Crime & Ghost Stories: $35
- Hillcrest: LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl with Local Drag Queen: $35
- Hillcrest Drag Queen 5 Bar Crawl with Shots: $45
- Brewery Tour with Tastings and Food Pairings: $85
- The most fun wine tour of the Guadalupe Valley: $120
- Little Italy Wine Tasting Walking Tour: $125
- $99 Valle de Guadalupe Wine Tours - DayTrip to baja from San Diego: $129
- Cruise & Booze Brewery tours: $149
- Baja Tour Guide wine tour: $169
- Private Deluxe Wine Tour to Valle de Guadalupe by Luxury Vehicle: $209
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.