A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Lisbon vs. Lima for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Lisbon or Lima?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

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.

Where Should I go: Lisbon or Lima?

Lisbon

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

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.


Which place is cheaper, Lima or Lisbon?

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.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lisbon 58
    Lima 45
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lisbon 116
    Lima 90
Compare Hotels in Lisbon and Lima

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.

Hotels in Lisbon


Hotels in Lima


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: Lisbon Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lisbon 24
    Lima 5.27
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lisbon

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:


  • Taxi Ride
    6.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon

Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Lisbon Airport Private Transfer to Lisbon: $12
  • Lisbon Airport or Cruise Port: Private Arrival Transfer to hotels: $14
  • Private Departure Transfer: From hotels to Lisbon Airport: $14
  • Airport Shuttle Transfer to/from Lisbon Center: $14
  • Airport Private Transfer to/from Lisbon city hotels: $15
  • Exclusive Luxury Transfers to/from Lisbon Airport: $16
  • Private Lisbon Airport Transfers: Your Journey, Your Way: $17
  • Private transfer from Lisbon City Center to Lisbon Airport (LIS): $20
  • Private transfer from Lisbon Airport (LIS) to Lisbon City Center: $20
  • Lisbon Airport Transfer: $20
  • LISBOA: TRANSFER DO AEROPORTO PARA O CENTRO DE LISBOA: $22
  • Private Transfer Within City Center & Airport: $22

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    4.99
  • Taxi Ride
    4.99
  • Short Taxi Ride
    3.74

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:

  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Lima HTL-APT (LIM): $34
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Lima APT-HTL (LIM) : $34
  • Transfers from / to Lima airport: $43
  • Transfer in Private Vehicle from Lima Jorge Chávez Airport to Lima City: $40
  • Transfer in Private Vehicle from Lima City to Airport: $40
  • Transfer in Private Minivan from Lima City - Lima Airport (LIM): $61
  • Transfer from Lima city to the airport: $18
  • Transfer from Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco to Airport: $18
  • The Larco Museum Complete Tour with transfers: $52
  • Tegucigalpa to Tegucigalpa Toncontin Airport (TGU) - Departure Private Transfer: $29
  • Taxi transfers from and to the Lima Airport and Paracas Ica: $20
  • Round-Trip Transfer in Private Minivan from-to Lima Airport (LIM) in Lima City: $122

Is it cheaper to fly into Lisbon or 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Lisbon 42
    Lima 16
Typical Food Prices in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Coffee
    2.50

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Soirée Rivage - Sunset cruise with dinner and Party: $25
  • Hard Rock Cafe Lisbon with Set Lunch or Dinner : $28
  • Tapas Food Tour: $38
  • Fado Show and Portuguese Dinner: $48
  • Lisbon Food Tour: $53
  • Alfama Tour and Live Fado with Traditional Dinner: $54
  • 2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class: $54
  • Cooking Pastel de Nata with a glass of wine !: $54
  • Legendary Beer Dinner: $54
  • Pastel de Nata Cooking Class in Lisbon: $55
  • No Diet Club - Unique food tour in Lisbon with many Tastings: $62
  • Original Morning Food Tour: $64

Typical Food Prices in Lima

Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:


  • Lunch for Two
    3.99
  • Ice cream
    3.24
  • Coffee
    2.74
  • Donut
    0.87

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lisbon 24
    Lima 7.96

Tours and Activities in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • See Lisbon Through the Eyes of a Local - Free Walking Tour: $1.08
  • Lisbon Walking Tour - The Perfect Introduction to the City: $1.12
  • Belém Unveiled: A Free Tour Through the Age of Discoveries: $1.29
  • Alfama Walking Tour Lisbon: $3.26
  • Tower of Saint George’s Castle Church Ticket & Drink: $5.38
  • Wonders of Lisbon Walking Tour: $5.38
  • Lisbon Walking Tour: $5.38
  • Lisbon Cathedral Entry Ticket: $5.38
  • Lisbon Highlights Self Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $5.38
  • Graça Church Entry Ticket with Drink on the Terrace: $5.38
  • A Self-Guided Audio Tour From Príncipe Real to Downtown Lisbon: $5.53
  • Príncipe Real to Downtown A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99

Typical Entertainment Prices in Lima

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lima are as follows:


  • Entrance to Museo Larco (for 2)
    15
  • Movie Tickets
    2.12

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lisbon 18
    Lima 5.17

Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:

  • Pub Crawl with Open Bar, Shots, & VIP Club Entry: $17
  • Pub Crawl with Unlimited Drinks and VIP Club Entry: $18
  • Pub Crawl Lisbon - 1 Hour of Unlimited Beer and Sangria and more!: $19
  • 1-Hour Portuguese Wine Tasting Session: $20
  • Lisbon Pub Crawl: $21
  • Pub Crawl with Open Bar and VIP Club Entry: $21
  • Lisbon Pub Crawl: $22
  • Lisbon Wild Pub Crawl : $22
  • Private Bar Crawl in Lisbon: $22
  • Pub Crawl Walking Tour with Shots and Drinking Games: $22
  • Beer Tasting in a Classic Brewery: $27
  • Pub Crawl Lisbon: $27

Typical Alcohol Prices in Lima

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Lima are as follows:


  • Bottle of Wine
    6.71
  • Beer
    3.74
  • Cocktail
    2.99

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


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?.


Which is Bigger, Lisbon or Lima?

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.


When is the best time to visit Lisbon or Lima?

Lisbon 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 Lisbon or Lima in the Summer?

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.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Lisbon 23°C (73°F) 
    Lima 18°C (64°F)

Should I visit Lisbon or Lima in the Autumn?

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.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Lisbon 19°C (66°F) 
    Lima 19°C (66°F)

Should I visit Lisbon or Lima in the Winter?

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.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Lisbon 12°C (53°F) 
    Lima 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Lisbon or Lima in the Spring?

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.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Lisbon 16°C (60°F) 
    Lima 22°C (72°F)

Typical Weather for Lima and Lisbon

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)