Which place is cheaper, Lima or Lisbon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Lisbon or Lima? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Portugal's capital city of Lisbon continues to grow in popularity as a travel destination. The cultural scene has come to life in recent years and the city itself is stunningly beautiful. It sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of hills that create a dramatic and scenic layout. The city has many white-bleached limestone buildings, narrow alleyways, and a laidback charm that appeals to visitors.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal, The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Lisbon is €131, while the average daily cost in Lima is €71. 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 Lisbon and Lima in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Lisbon or Lima? 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.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:
Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
Prices for flights to both Lima and Lisbon 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.
For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lima are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Lima are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lisbon and Lima, we can see that Lisbon is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lisbon is in Europe and Lima is in South 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 Lisbon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lisbon 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 Lisbon Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Lima has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Lisbon. When comparing the sizes of Lisbon and Lima, 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.
Lisbon has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Lima experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
The summer brings many poeple to Lisbon as well as Lima. Most visitors come to Lisbon for the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
In the summer, Lisbon is a little warmer than Lima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Lisbon in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Lima averages at about 18°C (64°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Lisbon this time of the year. In the summer, Lisbon often gets more sunshine than Lima. Lisbon gets 352 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun.
Lisbon usually gets less rain in July than Lima. Lisbon gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Lima receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Lima and Lisbon are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Lisbon because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Lisbon is generally around the same temperature as Lima. Daily temperatures in Lisbon average around 19°C (66°F), and Lima fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Lisbon. Lisbon usually receives more sunshine than Lima during autumn. Lisbon gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 60 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Lisbon usually receives more rain than Lima. Lisbon gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Lima receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Lima and Lisbon during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Lisbon this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
Lisbon is much colder than Lima in the winter. The daily temperature in Lisbon averages around 12°C (53°F) in January, and Lima fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
In the winter, Lisbon often gets less sunshine than Lima. Lisbon gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 185 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Lisbon. Lisbon usually gets more rain in January than Lima. Lisbon gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Lima receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Lisbon and Lima. Many travelers come to Lisbon for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Lisbon is cooler than Lima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Lisbon in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Lima averages at about 22°C (72°F).
In Lisbon, it's very sunny this time of the year. Lisbon usually receives more sunshine than Lima during spring. Lisbon gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Lisbon usually receives more rain than Lima. Lisbon gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Lima receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Lisbon | Lima | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |