Which place is cheaper, Lima or Madrid?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Madrid or Lima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Madrid and Lima can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Madrid or Lima?
Madrid
Madrid, the capital of Spain, overs visitors countless opportunities to experience Spain's culture, art, cuisine, and nightlife. It is the largest city in Spain, and as such has much to explore. The city is situated on the Iberian Peninsula on the Spanish central Castillian plateau. If you're flying into Spain, you'll likely fly into the Madrid airport as it's one of the largest airports in Europe. Madrid is well connected to the rest of Spain with planes, trains and buses, making it a popular place to visit for many travelers doing a European tour.
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 from Barcelona, The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
-
Madrid Prices
Spain PricesLima Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMadrid €162Lima €83
The average daily cost (per person) in Madrid is €162, while the average daily cost in Lima is €83. 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 Madrid and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMadrid €78Lima €46
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMadrid €156Lima €92
Compare Hotels in Madrid and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Madrid 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: Madrid Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Madrid €18Lima €5.33
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Madrid
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Madrid are as follows:
-
Taxi Ride€26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Madrid
Also for Madrid, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- MAD Airport Private Transfer to/from Madrid City Center: $23
- Private transfer departure from City Centre to Madrid Airport: $29
- Transfer: Barajas Airport (MAD) to Madrid City Center: $31
- Madrid Barajas Airport Private Transfer To Madrid City: $34
- Private Transfer from Madrid Airport (MAD): $39
- Private transfer to Madrid Airport (MAD): $39
- Madrid to Madrid Airport (MAD) - Departure Private Transfer: $42
- Private Transfer From Madrid Barajas Airport to Madrid: $47
- Madrid Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $50
- Private Transfers Madrid Airport to Central Madrid: $50
- Madrid Airport Departure Private Transfer: $51
- One Way Private Transfer to or from Madrid: $57
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
-
Taxi Ride€5.05
-
Taxi Ride€5.05
-
Short Taxi Ride€3.78
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Private Transfer From Lima To Huacachina With 2 Stops: $259
- Lima round trip transfers airport - hotel - airport + City Tour: $218
- Private Transfer from Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Pisco Port: $217
- Private Transfer from Lima City Hotels to Pisco Cruise Port: $198
- Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima City Hotels: $198
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $198
- Transfer from Lima Airport to your hotel and vice versa: $175
- Lima Airport Luxury Arrival or Departure Transfer: $163
- Larco Museum Tour & Gastronomic Experience with rountrip transfer: $160
- Premium Peruvian Horse Show with Lunch & Transfers: $159
- Palomino Islands Excursion & Swimming with Sea Lions with Hotel Transfers: $125
- Private Largevan Transfer - Arrival Lima Airport to Hotel: $79
Is it cheaper to fly into Madrid or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Madrid 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 dayMadrid €59Lima €28
Typical Food Prices in Madrid
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Madrid:
-
Coffee€2.00
-
Ice Cream€3.00
-
Kebabs (for 2)€16
-
Croissant€1.50
-
Lunch at Airport (for 2)€16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Madrid
For Madrid, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Corral de la Moreria Madrid Flamenco Show with Optional Dinner: $59
- Madrid Paella and Churros Cooking Class Ham and Wines Tasting: $70
- Murder Mystery Dinner Experience: $75
- Chocolate & Churros Cooking Class in Madrid: $77
- Madrid : Paella and Churros cooking class, ham and wines tasting: $77
- Traditional Cooking Class of Sardines with Dish Auction in Madrid: $81
- Madrid Tapas & Wine Tasting Food Tour – Small Group Local Bars: $91
- Spanish Cooking Class Paella Tapas and Sangria in Madrid: $100
- Madrid Food Tour in a Neighborhood Market with Churros: $105
- Tapas & Paella Cooking Class in Madrid with a Professional Chef: $105
- Madrid Tapas & Paella Cooking Experience with Local Market Visit: $112
- Madrid Food Tour Tasting the Heart of the City: $138
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
-
Lunch for Two€4.04
-
Ice cream€3.28
-
Coffee€2.78
-
Donut€0.88
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): $15
- Dinner at Café del Museo Larco restaurant: $30
- Lima Street Food Tour: Taste Authentic Peruvian Delights: $45
- Lima Food Tour with Ceviche, Pisco, and Grilled Chicken: $45
- Dinner at Mangos Larcomar Restaurant: $48
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $50
- Private Guided Walking Street Food Tour in Lima: $55
- Lima Market Tour & Ceviche Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $59
- #1 Rated Lima Cooking Class: Make Ceviche, Causa & Pisco Sours!: $59
- Dinner at the Cala Restaurant in Lima: $63
- Lima Market Food Tour: $65
- Dinner at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant: $67
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Madrid €33Lima €8.05
Tours and Activities in Madrid
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Madrid.
- Self Guided Walking City Tour in Madrid: $3.53
- Tuk Tuk Tour of the Best of Madrid (booking only): $3.53
- Malasaña and Chueca A Tour That Shouts Freedom: $3.53
- Madrid Historical Walking Tour: $3.53
- "Prado Museum" Tour A Treasure of World Art: $3.54
- Madrid - Medieval to Modern Walking Tour (English): $3.54
- Madrid City Highlights Walking Tour: $4.72
- Madrid Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $5.12
- Madrid Essential : Self-Guided Tour created by local Official Guide: $5.90
- Manzanares River’s Story: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Madrid: $5.99
- Madrid Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Madrid Mystery Quest: Self-Guided Surreal Adventure Game: $7.00
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€2.14
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- 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 Days 1 Night Paracas Ica Tour from Lima: $150
- 3 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $289
- 3 Days Tour of Paracas Huacachina and Nazca: $275
- 3 Hour Private Electric Scooter Tour of Lima: $75
- 3 Hours Walking Tour of Lima Old Town and Catacumbs: $59
- 4 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $299
- 8-Hour Private Tour Lima Viceroyalty and Gold Museum with Lunch: $120
- A Journey Through Time: Lima's Historic Center & Catacombs Tour: $20
- ANGLE - Experience Lima, Peru, with a Local Photographer: $195
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMadrid €19Lima €5.24
Typical Alcohol Prices in Madrid
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Madrid are as follows:
-
Beer€5.00
-
Drinks and Tapas (for 2)€13
Sample the Local Flavors in Madrid
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Madrid:
- Visit to the Winery with Wine Tasting and Appetizers in Navarra: $12
- Madrid Pub Crawl: Open Bar, Shots & VIP Entry (Shoko & Fitz): $14
- Pub Crawl Madrid by Mad Party Crew: Bars, Shots and Club Entry: $20
- Wine Tour with tasting in the Natural Park of La Mata: $38
- Hypno Tasting Wine Tasting under Hypnosis in Madrid: $58
- New Year Eve Madrid Pub Crawl: $81
- Spanish Wine Tasting : $90
- Old Madrid Tapas & Wine Tasting Tour - Real Small Groups 8 Max: $99
- Madrid Tapas & Wine Tour: Local Bars & Spanish Wine Tasting: $112
- Eating Not Just Another Tapas and Wine Tour: $114
- Madrid Tapas & Wine Tour with Rooftop Views and Local Guide: $116
- Toledo Tour & Vineyard Experience with Wine Tasting from Madrid: $130
Typical Alcohol Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Lima are as follows:
-
Bottle of Wine€6.79
-
Beer€3.78
-
Cocktail€3.03
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
- Bar Crawl Night Tour in Miraflores: $38
- Lima Nightlife Tour & Society – Cultural Pub Crawl: $50
- Local Wine Tour: $77
- From Lima Paracas and Huacachina Oasis Dunes and Wine Tour: $89
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Madrid and Lima, we can see that Madrid is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Madrid 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 Madrid would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Madrid 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 Madrid Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Madrid or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Madrid. When comparing the sizes of Madrid 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.
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.