Which place is cheaper, Lima or Luang Prabang?
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 Luang Prabang or Lima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Luang Prabang or Lima, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Luang Prabang or Lima?
Luang Prabang
Southeast Asia is a region full of mystical wonders and cultural charm, but nowhere is as charming as the city of Luang Prabang. As the former capital of Laos, Luang Prabang was reopened to tourism in 1989. With that move the city experienced an upswing in revenue and was able to restore and rebuild the beautiful colonial mansions to serve as guesthouses and hotels for the new swarm of tourists.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
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Luang Prabang Prices
Laos PricesLima Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLuang Prabang $18Lima $95
The average daily cost (per person) in Luang Prabang is $18, while the average daily cost in Lima is $95. 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 Luang Prabang and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLuang Prabang $5.60Lima $52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLuang Prabang $11Lima $104
Compare Hotels in Luang Prabang and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Luang Prabang 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Luang Prabang Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Luang Prabang $2.07Lima $6.06
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Luang Prabang
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Luang Prabang are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$2.31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Luang Prabang
Also for Luang Prabang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Luang Prabang Private Airport transfers: $9.00
- LPQ Airport: Private Transfer to/from Luang Prabang City: $20
- 2D Transfer to Huay Xai by Slow Boat: $60
- 2-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $165
- From 3-Day Oudomxay Town Trip with Transfers: $580
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.73
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Taxi Ride$5.73
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Short Taxi Ride$4.30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Direct Private Transfer From Lima to Paracas, English Speaking Driver: $269
- Private Transfer From Lima To Huacachina With 2 Stops: $263
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $201
- Private Transfer from Jorge Chávez (LIM) Airport to Lima: $59
- Larco Museum Complete Guided Tour with Transfers (Small Group): $55
- Lima Airport (LIM) to Miraflores - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $48
- Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $43
- Lima J Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $43
- Lima Airport Transfers by SUV/Van: $43
- Assistance - Transfer Cusco Airport to Hotel & Viceversa: $40
- Tour Magic Water Park in Lima with Small Group Transfer: $38
- Private Lima Airport Transfer - Minivan 24hrs: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Luang Prabang or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Luang Prabang 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 dayLuang Prabang $9.25Lima $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Luang Prabang
For Luang Prabang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Luang Prabang Local Market and Morning Food Tour with Drinks: $39
- Bamboo Weaving Workshop & Cooking Class: $44
- Day-time Bamboo weaving & Cooking Classes join-in: $44
- Luangprabang: Dinner with Lao Traditional Dance Performance: $45
- Mekong Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Cooking Class at the Former Royal Palace: $45
- Prabang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Mekong Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $46
- Laos: Prabang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $46
- Evening Bamboo weaving & Cooking classes join-in: $47
- Mekong Sunset Cruise & Lao Tasting Dinner: $49
- Evening Cooking Class & Local Baci Ceremony: $51
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.59
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Ice cream$3.73
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Coffee$3.15
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Donut$1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Lima Food Tour with Ceviche, Pisco, and Grilled Chicken: $32
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $40
- Lima Food Tour - Prepare your Anticuchos and Pisco Sour : $48
- #1 Reviewed Lima Cooking Class: $49
- Dinner at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant: $55
- Private Guided Walking Street Food Tour in Lima: $55
- Peru’s Most Beloved Recipes Cooking Class: $58
- Lima Market Tour & Ceviche Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $59
- Lima Night: Cooking Experience with locals: $65
- Peruvian Cooking Class, Local Market Tour & Exotic Fruit Tasting: $65
- Vegan Peruvian Food Cooking Class | Ceviche + Pisco Sour: $69
- 4 iconic restaurants of Lima / 3-hour guided food tour: $69
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Luang Prabang $2.66Lima $9.15
Tours and Activities in Luang Prabang
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Luang Prabang.
- Shuttle Bus ticket to Kuang Si Waterfalls: $8.00
- Farm Tour and Buffalo Buffet Adventure: $9.00
- Audio-Guided City Tour in Electric Car: $14
- Laos Railway: Train Tickets Easily - Skip the Lines - No worries : $30
- Kuang Si Waterfalls and Hmong Village Half-Day Tour: $30
- Small Group Half Day Luang Prabang city tour: $30
- UNESCO World Heritage City Highlights Tour: $35
- Unwind with a Sunset Cruise on the Mekong River: $35
- Afternoon Kuang Si Waterfalls & Sunset Cruise: $35
- Sunset Cruise Luang Prabang: $35
- Full day / Half Day Kayaking and Pak Ou Caves with optional sunset cruise: $41
- From Guided Mountain Bike Tour with Lunch: $42
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)$17
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Movie Tickets$2.44
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Ballestas Islands + Huacachina Tour From Lima (Private Group): $190
- Cycling Tour Miraflores - Barranco - Chorrillos: $30
- Lima bike and 5 Step Food Tasting Experience: $92
- Private Classic City Tour Experience of Lima: $65
- Private Stopover Tour of Lima from the Airport: $150
- Sunset in Huacachina and Tacama: Private Tour from Lima: $220
- #1 Full Day Tour From Paracas and Huacachina Oasis: $59
- 1 Day Tour to Huacachina from Lima (Dunebuggy + Vineyards): $225
- 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
- 2 Days 1 Night Paracas Ica Tour from Lima: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLuang Prabang $1.78Lima $5.95
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$7.71
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Beer$4.30
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Cocktail$3.44
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $19
- Bar Crawl Night Tour in Miraflores: $30
- Local Wine Tour : $55
- From Paracas & Huacachina & Wine Tasting: $135
- Full Day Paracas, Huacachina and Wine Tasting from Lima : $138
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Luang Prabang and Lima, we can see that Lima is more expensive. And not only is Luang Prabang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Luang Prabang is in Asia 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 Luang Prabang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Luang Prabang 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 Lima would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lima than you might in Luang Prabang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Luang Prabang Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Luang Prabang or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 160 times larger than the population of Luang Prabang. When comparing the sizes of Luang Prabang 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 Luang Prabang or Lima?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Luang Prabang or Lima in the Summer?
Both Lima and Luang Prabang during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Luang Prabang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang usually gets more rain in July than Lima. Luang Prabang gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Lima receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Luang Prabang is much warmer than Lima in the summer. The daily temperature in Luang Prabang averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Lima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLuang Prabang 28°C (82°F)Lima 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Luang Prabang or Lima in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Luang Prabang and Lima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Luang Prabang year-round. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Luang Prabang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Luang Prabang usually receives more rain than Lima. Luang Prabang gets 126 mm (5 in) of rain, while Lima receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In the autumn, Luang Prabang is a little warmer than Lima. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Luang Prabang in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Lima averages at about 19°C (66°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLuang Prabang 26°C (79°F)Lima 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Luang Prabang or Lima in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Luang Prabang as well as Lima. Luang Prabang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
Luang Prabang usually gets more rain in January than Lima. Luang Prabang gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Lima receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In January, Luang Prabang is generally around the same temperature as Lima. Daily temperatures in Luang Prabang average around 21°C (70°F), and Lima fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLuang Prabang 21°C (70°F)Lima 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Luang Prabang or Lima in the Spring?
Both Lima and Luang Prabang are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Luang Prabang throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Luang Prabang. In April, Luang Prabang usually receives more rain than Lima. Luang Prabang gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Lima receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Luang Prabang is a little warmer than Lima in the spring. The daily temperature in Luang Prabang averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Lima fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLuang Prabang 28°C (82°F)Lima 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Lima and Luang Prabang
| Luang Prabang | Lima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 23°C (73°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 126 mm (5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
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.