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

Should you visit London or Lima?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between London and Lima can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: London or Lima?

London

The capital of the United Kingdom is a thriving multicultural metropolis. Steeped in iconic landmarks, world-class museums and royal parks, London is energetic, majestic, ambitious and one of the world's greatest cities. London is a cultural and fashion capital, a great place to go out, an amazing place to eat and one of those cities that is constantly changing with new and exciting things sprouting up almost every day. History and tradition greet you at every turn in the UK's capital. London is also a city with an edgy underbelly, delighting in neon pink dive bars, cheeky graffiti and mind-blowing street food. When you need a break from the action, pop into a pub or relax in one of the city's many parks. Blow through the city on a double-decker bus, and take a pinch-me-I'm-in-London walk through the West End. As one of the most visited cities in the world, London is busy, vibrant and very tourist friendly. The only problem with London is that it's very expensive; it can eat away at your budget if you aren't careful. Luckily, there are also tons of free or cheap things to do in London that can fill your time.

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 United Kingdom, The Best 3-Day Tours in United Kingdom, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Lima or London?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in London is £190, while the average daily cost in Lima is £60. 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 London and Lima in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    London £123
    Lima £39
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    London £246
    Lima £78
Compare Hotels in London and Lima

Looking for a hotel in London 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 London


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: London Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    London £26
    Lima £4.50
Typical Local Transportation Prices in London

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


  • Taxi Ride
    £15
  • Heathrow Express
    £18
  • Luggage Storage
    £8.00
  • London Map
    £1.29
  • Oyster Card
    £36
  • Train to Gatwick Airport (2)
    £22
  • Oyster Card
    £27

Hired Cars and Shuttles in London

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

  • Bus Transfer between Heathrow Airport & Premier Inn: $7.53
  • Transfer Heathrow Airport to/from Renaissance Hotel: $8.53
  • Bus Transfer Between Heathrow Airport & Radisson RED: $8.53
  • Heathrow Airport to North London Private Transfer: $13
  • Gatwick Airport: Bus Transfer from/to Central London: $13
  • Gatwick Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Bristol: $15
  • Heathrow Airport to/from Central London Bus Transfer: $15
  • Heathrow Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Birmingham: $16
  • Luton Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Birmingham: $17
  • Bus Transfer between Heathrow & Luton Airports: $17
  • Heathrow Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Bristol City Center: $17
  • Luton Airport to/from Central London Bus Transfer: $18

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima

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


  • Taxi Ride
    £4.26
  • Taxi Ride
    £4.26
  • Short Taxi Ride
    £3.20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:

  • Private Transfer From Lima To Huacachina With 2 Stops: $198
  • Private Transfer From Lima To Paracas With 2 Stops : $176
  • Premium Peruvian Horse Show with Lunch & Transfers: $150
  • Larco Museum Tour & Gastronomic Experience with rountrip transfer: $134
  • Round-Trip Transfer in Private Minivan from-to Lima Airport (LIM) in Lima City: $122
  • Palomino Islands Excursion & Swimming with Sea Lions with Hotel Transfers: $119
  • Airport Transfer Service in Lima: $95
  • Private Transfer from Callao Cruise Port to Lima city hotels: $87
  • Private Transfer from Lima city hotels to Callao Cruise Port: $87
  • Private Transfer from Lima hotels to Pisco Cruise Port: $87
  • Lima Airport Arrival Transfer for small groups: $79
  • Private Transfer from Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Pisco Port : $79

Is it cheaper to fly into London or Lima?

Prices for flights to both Lima and London 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
    London £34
    Lima £14
Typical Food Prices in London

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to London:


  • Lunch at Starbucks
    £13
  • Tea
    £6.00
  • Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason
    £39
  • Morning Tea
    £6.35
  • Pastry
    £5.00
  • Sushi Dinner for One
    £18

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in London

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

  • Borough Market Self-guided food tour: $5.76
  • Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $35
  • Picadilly Circus: Hard Rock Cafe Set Menu Lunch or Dinner: $36
  • Hard Rock Cafe Piccadilly Circus with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $38
  • Traveling Spoon Nepalese Momos Private Online Cooking Class: $40
  • Pizza Making Cookery Class: $53
  • No Diet Club - Best food Tour in East London: $68
  • African & Caribbean Food Tour in Multi-Cultural Brixton: $74
  • Borough Bites, The London Food Tour: $74
  • Borough Market Flavors of London Food Tour: $74
  • Plant Power - Vegan Food Tour: $88
  • Traditional English Walking Food Tour With London Food Tours: $95

Typical Food Prices in Lima

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


  • Lunch for Two
    £3.41
  • Ice cream
    £2.77
  • Coffee
    £2.34
  • Donut
    £0.75

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.
    London £33
    Lima £6.80
Typical Entertainment Prices in London

For London, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Two Tickets to a Concert
    £83
  • London Symphony Orchestra
    £34
  • London Pass
    £47
  • Comedy Show
    £8.00

Tours and Activities in London

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for London.

  • London's Hidden Gems Self Guided City Tour: $3.26
  • London Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $3.28
  • Harry Potter Movie Locations Self Walking Tour: $3.77
  • Jack the Ripper Self Guided Audio Tour in London: $4.91
  • Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in London: $5.45
  • Soho's Contribution to Health Care History Walking Audio Tour: $5.48
  • Bloomsbury's Contribution to Health Care History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.48
  • Covent Garden: A Self-Guided Photography Tour : $5.54
  • Brick Lane: A self-guided audio tour of East London's vibrant jewel: $5.54
  • Camden Town's Quirky Characters: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.54
  • London Lights: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the Cultural Capital of the World: $5.54
  • Secret An audio tour about the heritage of the city's Russian immigrants: $5.54

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)
    £13
  • Movie Tickets
    £1.81

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
    London £15
    Lima £4.42

Sample the Local Flavors in London

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

  • Self Guided Audio Tour in London Old Pub Crawl: $7.63
  • Fun London Pub Crawl Treasure Hunt with 20% off ALL drinks!: $13
  • 2-Hour Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $20
  • Haunted London Pub Walking Tour: $20
  • 1 Big Night Out Weekday Pub Crawl: $24
  • Craft Brewery Tour with Tasting of 4 Beers: $25
  • Shoreditch Pub Crawl in London: $25
  • Guided Historic Pub Tour (London): $27
  • Pub Crawl of Central London: $29
  • Camden Pub Crawl & Bar Tour London: $31
  • Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour: $31
  • Burlesque Cabaret Show in Covent Garden: $31

Typical Alcohol Prices in Lima

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


  • Bottle of Wine
    £5.73
  • Beer
    £3.20
  • Cocktail
    £2.56

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 London and Lima, we can see that London is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since London 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 London would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in London 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 London Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, London or Lima?

Lima has a larger population, and is about 4% larger than the population of London. When comparing the sizes of London 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 London or Lima?

London 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 London or Lima in the Summer?

Both Lima and London during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to London in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.

In the summer, London is around the same temperature as Lima. Typically, the summer temperatures in London in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Lima averages at about 18°C (64°F).

In the summer, London often gets more sunshine than Lima. London gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun.

London usually gets more rain in July than Lima. London gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Lima receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    London 18°C (64°F) 
    Lima 18°C (64°F)

Should I visit London or Lima in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both London and Lima. Most visitors come to London for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In October, London is generally much colder than Lima. Daily temperatures in London average around 12°C (53°F), and Lima fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).

London usually receives more sunshine than Lima during autumn. London gets 107 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 60 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, London usually receives more rain than Lima. London gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Lima receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    London 12°C (53°F) 
    Lima 19°C (66°F)

Should I visit London or Lima in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to London as well as Lima. The winter months attract visitors to London because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.

The weather in London can be very cold. London is much colder than Lima in the winter. The daily temperature in London averages around 4°C (40°F) in January, and Lima fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

In the winter, London often gets less sunshine than Lima. London gets 52 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 185 hours of full sun.

London usually gets more rain in January than Lima. London gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Lima receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    London 4°C (40°F) 
    Lima 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit London or Lima in the Spring?

Both Lima and London are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to London this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the spring, London is much colder than Lima. Typically, the spring temperatures in London in April average around 9°C (48°F), and Lima averages at about 22°C (72°F).

London usually receives less sunshine than Lima during spring. London gets 147 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, London usually receives more rain than Lima. London gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Lima receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    London 9°C (48°F) 
    Lima 22°C (72°F)

Typical Weather for Lima and London

London Lima
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 4°C (40°F) 52 mm (2 in) 23°C (73°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Feb 5°C (40°F) 35 mm (1.4 in) 24°C (75°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
Mar 7°C (44°F) 47 mm (1.9 in) 23°C (73°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
Apr 9°C (48°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 22°C (72°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
May 13°C (55°F) 51 mm (2 in) 20°C (68°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Jun 16°C (61°F) 51 mm (2 in) 19°C (66°F) 11 mm (0.4 in)
Jul 18°C (64°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 18°C (64°F) 12 mm (0.5 in)
Aug 18°C (64°F) 51 mm (2 in) 17°C (63°F) 15 mm (0.6 in)
Sep 15°C (59°F) 51 mm (2 in) 18°C (64°F) 13 mm (0.5 in)
Oct 12°C (53°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 19°C (66°F) 7 mm (0.3 in)
Nov 7°C (45°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 20°C (68°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Dec 5°C (42°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 22°C (72°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)