Which place is cheaper, Seattle 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 Seattle?
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 Seattle. 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 Seattle?
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.
Seattle
Situated on the Puget Sound in the state of Washington, Seattle is the largest city in the United States Pacific Northwest. It's a beautiful city surrounded by the water and mountains and filled with evergreen trees. It's also the home of some famous American institutions including Starbucks Coffee, Amazon, and Microsoft. The population of almost 700,000 continues to grow. As of 2014, the city was considered the fastest growing major city in the United States. The entire metropolitan area has about 3.6 million residents, making it the 15th largest metro area in the US. The natural beauty, growing economy, and educational base give Seattle a youthful vibe that keep the city young and energetic.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, The Best Adventure Tours to Peru, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, and The Best Walking Tours in United States of America.
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Lima Prices
Peru PricesSeattle Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLima $97Seattle $242
The average daily cost (per person) in Lima is $97, while the average daily cost in Seattle is $242. 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 Seattle in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLima $53Seattle $120
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLima $106Seattle $240
Compare Hotels in Lima and Seattle
Looking for a hotel in Lima or Seattle? 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 Seattle Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lima $6.21Seattle $30
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:
- QuickLlama: Door-to-door transfer from Lima Airport to Miraflores: $5.95
- Mc transfer Peru: $10
- Lima Airport : Bus transfer to/from Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco: $11
- Lima Airport One Way Private Transfer LIM to Lima City Center: $12
- Transfer: Lima City Center to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $14
- Private taxi transfer: Lima Jorge Chávez Airport – Safe: $14
- Transfer: Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima City Center: $15
- Private Transfer from Lima City Hotels to Callao Cruise Port: $16
- Private Transfer from Lima Airport (LIM): $17
- Private Transfer from Callao Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $17
- Private Transfer from Callao Cruise Port to Lima city hotels: $17
- Private Airport Transfer to Miraflores San Isidro and Barranco: $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seattle
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Seattle:
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Lightrail from Airport (for 2)$5.50
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Roundtrip Ferry to Bainbridge Island (for 2)$15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seattle
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seattle:
- One - Way Transfer from Pier 66 to SeaTac international Airport: $27
- Transfer Pier 91 to International SeaTac Airport One Way: $27
- One-Way Seattle Airport Transfer Service: $27
- One-Way Transfer: SeaTac Airport to Seattle Piers 66 & 91: $30
- One-Way Transfer: SeaTac Hotels to Seattle Piers 66 & 91: $30
- One-Way Transfer: Pier 66 to Airport: $30
- One-Way Transfer: Pier 91 to Airport: $30
- SEA Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $37
- Private Seattle Airport Transfer | One-Way SUV or Van: $45
- Seattle to Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA) - Departure Private Transfer: $63
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport private transfer. Pick up: $69
- Seattle Departure Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer by Executive Sedan: $83
Is it cheaper to fly into Lima or Seattle?
Prices for flights to both Seattle 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 $33Seattle $88
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 Seattle
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seattle are as follows:
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Expresso & cookie at Pier 70$7.00
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Cashews at Pike Place Market$6.00
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6 Mini Donuts at Pike Place Market$3.25
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Chinese Lunch in International District (for 2)$21
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Breakfast at Lowel's in Pike Place Market (for 2)$32
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Breakfast at French Cafe (for 2)$37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seattle
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seattle.
- Plant-Based in Pike Place Food Tour: $50
- Delicious Donuts & Holiday Cheer: Seattle Food Tour: $70
- Pike Place Market Food Tour with 9+ Tastings: $73
- Seattle : Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $73
- Fun Taco Cooking Class With a Local Chef in Seattle: $75
- Japanese Ramen Cooking Class With Local Chef: $75
- Pike Place Market Chef-Guided Food Tour: $75
- Fun Taco Cooking Class With a Local Chef in Seattle: $75
- Seattle Pike Market Food Tour with 8 Authentic & Local Tastings: $75
- Chef Guided Food Tour of Pike Place Market: $75
- Chef Food Tour of Seattle Space Needle and Seattle Center: $85
- Seattle Buffet Dinner Cruise: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lima $9.38Seattle $16
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:
- Miraflores Guided Walking Tour and Surquillo Market Experience: $5.00
- Adventure at the Airport of Peru: $10
- Beach tour and surfboards for rent in Lima, Peru: $14
- Historic Lima & Catacombs Tour with Optional Pickup: $19
- Miraflores and Barranco Private Bike Tour: $19
- Colorful Barranco Tour and Street Art: $20
- Huaca Pucllana Tour: $20
- Private Tour with guide in Museo de Arte de Lima - MALI: $20
- Tour in Lima with Visit to the Catacombs of San Francisco: $20
- A Journey Through Time: Lima's Historic Center & Catacombs Tour: $20
- Skip the Line: Larco Museum Admission Ticket: $21
- Barranco Street Art Tour - Unmasked: $25
Tours and Activities in Seattle
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seattle are as follows:
- Discover A Self-Guided Tour: $1.14
- Exploring An Audio Tour of the Last of Us film locations: $9.99
- Seattle Downtown Pioneers to Starbucks Self Guided Walking Tour: $12
- Downtown Seattle Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $13
- An Epic Audio Tour : Seattle on Capital Hill Adventure: $15
- Uncover Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Car Collection Guided Tour in SODO: $15
- Seattle Gay History Tour Queers Queens and Everything in Between: $20
- Skip the Line: Daily Admission at Woodland Park Zoo Ticket: $23
- National Nordic Museum Entry Ticket: $24
- Tacoma Walking Tour: The Story Behind Grit City: $25
- Smith Tower Observatory Access Ticket: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLima $6.10Seattle $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$7.91
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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 Seattle
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Seattle:
- Seattle Terrors Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Fun Pasta Making Class at a Trendy Brewery in Seattle: $60
- Seattle Beer Wander - Ballard Brewery District: $65
- Diverse Wine Tasting Experience Near Pike Place Market: $75
- Diverse Wine Tasting Experience with Bites: $75
- Pike Place Market Tour with Wine Tasting: $77
- Craft Beer Tasting Tour in Ballard Brewery District with Food: $99
- Small Group Wine Tasting: Explore Diverse Wines and PNW Cuisine: $100
- Northwest Wine Tasting Tour with Cheese and Chocolate: $109
- Woodinville Guided Wine Tour with Optional Tastings: $109
- Bon Vivant Woodinville Wine Tasting Tour: $120
- Private Wine Tour on Whidbey Island, WA 7hrs: $169
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lima and Seattle, we can see that Seattle 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 Seattle 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 Seattle would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Seattle 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 Seattle Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lima or Seattle?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Seattle. When comparing the sizes of Lima and Seattle, 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 Seattle?
Seattle 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 Seattle in the Summer?
Both Seattle and Lima are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Seattle 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 Seattle. Daily temperatures in Lima average around 18°C (64°F), and Seattle fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).
It's quite sunny in Seattle. Lima usually receives less sunshine than Seattle during summer. Lima gets 36 hours of sunny skies, while Seattle receives 313 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Lima usually receives less rain than Seattle. Lima gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Seattle receives 0.9 inches (22 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLima 18°C (64°F)Seattle 67°F (19°C)
Should I visit Lima or Seattle in the Autumn?
Both Seattle 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. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Seattle 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 much warmer than Seattle in the autumn. The daily temperature in Lima averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Seattle fluctuates around 54°F (12°C).
In the autumn, Lima often gets less sunshine than Seattle. Lima gets 60 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seattle receives 143 hours of full sun.
Lima usually gets less rain in October than Seattle. Lima gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Seattle receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLima 19°C (66°F)Seattle 54°F (12°C)
Should I visit Lima or Seattle in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Lima and Seattle. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to Seattle this time of year.
In the winter, Lima is much warmer than Seattle. Typically, the winter temperatures in Lima in January average around 23°C (73°F), and Seattle averages at about 42°F (5°C).
Lima usually receives more sunshine than Seattle during winter. Lima gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Seattle receives 67 hours of full sun in the winter.
Seattle receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Lima usually receives less rain than Seattle. Lima gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Seattle receives 5.4 inches (136 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLima 23°C (73°F)Seattle 42°F (5°C)
Should I visit Lima or Seattle in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Lima as well as Seattle. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Seattle for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In April, Lima is generally much warmer than Seattle. Daily temperatures in Lima average around 22°C (72°F), and Seattle fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Seattle. In the spring, Lima often gets less sunshine than Seattle. Lima gets 182 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seattle receives 212 hours of full sun.
Lima usually gets less rain in April than Seattle. Lima gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Seattle receives 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLima 22°C (72°F)Seattle 51°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Seattle and Lima
| Lima | Seattle | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 42°F (5°C) | 5.4 inches (136 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 45°F (7°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.9 inches (47 mm) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.9 inches (22 mm) |
| Aug | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.9 inches (49 mm) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 5.7 inches (144 mm) |
| Dec | 22°C (72°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 6 inches (152 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.