Which place is cheaper, San Francisco 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 Francisco?
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 Francisco. 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 Francisco?
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 Francisco
San Francisco is a beautiful city that is famous for it's picturesque neighborhoods, liberal character, and stunning location on the bay. Some people describe San Francisco as the United State's most "European City." This title most likely comes from its compact development and its easy walkability. It also has no shortage of parks and public spaces where you can pass some time. The city sits on the end of a peninsula and offers stunning views of the blue bay, rolling green hills, and the striking Golden Gate Bridge.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, The Best Adventure Tours to Peru, The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America.
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Lima Prices
Peru PricesSan Francisco Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLima $98San Francisco $251
The average daily cost (per person) in Lima is $98, while the average daily cost in San Francisco 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 Francisco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLima $54San Francisco $130
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLima $108San Francisco $260
Compare Hotels in Lima and San Francisco
Looking for a hotel in Lima or San Francisco? 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 Francisco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lima $6.29San Francisco $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.96
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Taxi Ride$5.96
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Short Taxi Ride$4.47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- From Lima Private transfer to Paracas: $290
- Direct Private Transfer From Lima to Paracas, English Speaking Driver: $267
- Private Transfer from Lima hotels to Pisco Cruise Port: $218
- Private Transfer from Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Pisco Port: $218
- Lima round trip transfers airport - hotel - airport + City Tour: $218
- Private Transfer from Lima City Hotels to Pisco Cruise Port: $199
- Private Transfer from Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Pisco Port: $199
- Lima Airport Arrival Transfer for small groups: $189
- 3-Day Trip to Lima, hotels & transfers: $165
- Larco Museum Tour & Gastronomic Experience with rountrip transfer: $160
- Palomino Islands Excursion & Swimming with Sea Lions with Hotel Transfers: $125
- Airport Transfer Service in Lima: $95
Typical Local Transportation Prices in San Francisco
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in San Francisco:
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Taxi to SFO$45
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Golden Gate Bridge Toll$6.00
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Alcatraz Tour$30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Francisco
Also for San Francisco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- SFO Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $31
- Private Arrival Transfer from San Francisco Airport SFO: $44
- San Francisco to San Francisco Airport (SFO) - Departure Private Transfer: $53
- SFO Airport Transfer One or Round Trip Way SUV VAN: $60
- San Francisco City: Private One-Way Transfer From/To SFO: $69
- San Francisco Port to San Francisco Airport SFO -Private Transfer: $77
- One Way Private Airport Transfer Service: $95
- SFO Airport Private Transfer to/from Downtown San Francisco: $101
- San Francisco Airport (SFO) to San Francisco - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $107
- SFO Airport Private Transfer to Downtown: $115
- Private Transfer: San Francisco to Airport SFO by Business Car: $123
- Private Transfer from San Francisco to SFO: $125
Is it cheaper to fly into Lima or San Francisco?
Prices for flights to both San Francisco 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 Francisco $79
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.77
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Ice cream$3.87
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Coffee$3.28
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Donut$1.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Private Churros Cooking Class, Miraflores & Hotel Pickup: $43
- Andean Breads Cooking Class in Lima: $44
- Miraflores Cooking Class Ceviche, Tartar & Pisco Sour: $48
- #1 Rated Lima Cooking Class: Make Ceviche, Causa & Pisco Sours!: $49
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $50
- Lima Food Tour & Market Experience: 13 Peruvian Bites: $50
- Lima Market Tour & Ceviche Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $59
- Dinner at the Cala Restaurant in Lima: $63
- Lima Market Food Tour: $65
- Dinner at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant: $67
- Limeno Bites Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $69
- Criollo Nights Lima Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $69
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Francisco
For San Francisco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dinner In San Francisco: $63
- City Cruises Buffet Lunch or Dinner Cruise: $75
- Mission District Street Art and Food Tour: $79
- North Beach and Little Italy Food Tour: $84
- Little Italy & Chinatown Original Food Tour: $84
- Mission District Food Tour with 5 Tastings: $84
- Chinatown & Litte Italy Food Tour with 5 Dishes: $85
- San Francisco : Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $92
- San Francisco Chinatown Food Tour: $99
- Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 Food Tour: $99
- SF's Chinatown: Tea & Dim Sum Food Tour - Includes full meal, 3hr: $115
- City Cruises Premier Brunch or Dinner Cruise: $122
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lima $9.51San Francisco $31
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$2.53
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
- 1 day tour in Ica Peru: $200
- 2 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $265
- 2 Day Tour from Paracas, Ballestas Island and Huacachina: $134
- 2 Day Tour from Paracas, Huacachina, Tunnels & Vineyard: $134
- 2D Tour from Lima Paracas and Huacachina with Night in Huacachina: $230
- 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-Day Tour Discover Paracas and Huacachina from Lima: $260
- 3-Hour Private Scooter Tour through Miraflores with Guide: $88
Tours and Activities in San Francisco
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.
- Golden Gate Bridge: Self-guided Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- Self Guided Chinatown Tour: Food, History and Culture: $5.00
- San Francisco Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.00
- Kid Led Interactive AR Adventure in Presidio National Park: $5.00
- San Francisco Private Car Tour: $5.00
- Downtown San Francisco Private Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Mafia Heist at the Bay: Escape Adventure in San Francisco: $5.92
- San Francisco Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $5.92
- San Francisco's Barbary Past: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of the Golden Gate Bridge: $9.99
- Self-Guided Palace of Fine Arts to Golden Gate Bridge Audio Tour: $9.99
- Sutro Baths: The Story of the Ruins Self-Guided Tour: $9.99
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Museums in San Francisco, The Best Outdoor Activities in San Francisco, and Things to Do In San Francisco on a Rainy Day.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLima $6.18San Francisco $22
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$8.01
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Beer$4.47
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Cocktail$3.58
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Discover Barranco's Nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $20
- Discover Miraflores nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $24
- Bar Crawl Night Tour in Miraflores: $38
- Lima Nightlife Tour & Society – Cultural Pub Crawl: $50
- From Paracas & Huacachina & Wine Tasting: $135
Sample the Local Flavors in San Francisco
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in San Francisco:
- #1 San Francisco Pub Crawl & Clubbing Experience: $24
- San Francisco Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Walk with Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $44
- Wine Tasting on the Bay: $85
- Distillery Gin Cocktail Making Class: $89
- Local Distillery Cocktail Making Class: $89
- Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour with Optional Tasting: $99
- Napa and Sonoma Half-Day Wine Tour with Guide and Tastings: $110
- Napa & Sonoma Guided Wine Tour with Tastings from San Francisco: $110
- Napa Valley Half-Day Wine Tour with Tastings: $116
- 5 hours private napa wine tour from san francisco up to 7 people: $120
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lima and San Francisco, we can see that San Francisco 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 Francisco 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 Francisco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Francisco 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 Francisco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lima or San Francisco?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of San Francisco. When comparing the sizes of Lima and San Francisco, 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 Francisco?
San Francisco 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 Francisco in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Lima as well as San Francisco. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to San Francisco for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Lima is generally around the same temperature as San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Lima average around 18°C (64°F), and San Francisco fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
Lima usually gets more rain in July than San Francisco. Lima gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 0.1 inches (2 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLima 18°C (64°F)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Lima or San Francisco in the Autumn?
Both San Francisco 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, the autumn months attract visitors to San Francisco because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Lima is around the same temperature as San Francisco in the autumn. The daily temperature in Lima averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and San Francisco fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
In October, Lima usually receives less rain than San Francisco. Lima gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLima 19°C (66°F)San Francisco 63°F (17°C)
Should I visit Lima or San Francisco in the Winter?
Both San Francisco 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. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to San Francisco this time of year.
In the winter, Lima is much warmer than San Francisco. Typically, the winter temperatures in Lima in January average around 23°C (73°F), and San Francisco averages at about 50°F (10°C).
Lima usually gets less rain in January than San Francisco. Lima gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLima 23°C (73°F)San Francisco 50°F (10°C)
Should I visit Lima or San Francisco in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Lima and San Francisco. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round. Also, many travelers come to San Francisco for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In April, Lima is generally much warmer than San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Lima average around 22°C (72°F), and San Francisco fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).
In April, Lima usually receives less rain than San Francisco. Lima gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLima 22°C (72°F)San Francisco 58°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for San Francisco and Lima
| Lima | San Francisco | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 60°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Aug | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Dec | 22°C (72°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.7 inches (68 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.