Which place is cheaper, Lima or Medellin?
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 Medellin or Lima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Medellin 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: Medellin or Lima?
Medellin
In addition to big improvements in public safety, Medellin has witnessed a huge surge in urban development projects, including Colombia's first metro system and cable cars to service poorer neighborhoods located high on the mountain sides. There is an abundance of parks, libraries, museums and public spaces with many cultural events taking place. Many travelers also enjoy visiting the surrounding villages, where life is simple and landscapes and nature reserves are wonderful. Medellin has now become one of the "it" cities in the world, with tons of tourists visiting and foreigners settling and retiring here. Beautiful mountains, warm weather, friendly locals, and a vibrant culture are just a few of the reasons why you should visit Medellin.
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 Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
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Medellin Prices
Colombia PricesLima Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMedellin $35Lima $97
The average daily cost (per person) in Medellin is $35, while the average daily cost in Lima is $97. 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 Medellin and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMedellin $5.51Lima $53
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMedellin $11Lima $106
Compare Hotels in Medellin and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Medellin 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: Medellin Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Medellin $4.80Lima $6.21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Medellin:
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Taxi$1.92
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Medellin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Medellin:
- Private Transfer VIP Airport Rionegro MDE to Medellin: $23
- Private Transfer to Medellin Airport (MDE): $28
- Private Transfer from Medellin Airport (MDE): $28
- Medellin Airport (MDE) to Medellin - Arrival Private Transfer: $31
- Medellin Airport (EOH) to Medellin - Arrival Private Transfer: $31
- Medellín Private Transfer: José María Córdova Airport: $34
- Private Airport Transfer: $35
- Private Medellin MDE airport pick up transfer service one way: $35
- Medellín: José María Córdova Airport Private Transfer: $36
- Private Medellín Hotel to Airport transfer service: $39
- Medellin Airport (EOH) to Medellin - Arrival Private Transfer: $41
- Medellin to Medellin Airport (EOH) - Departure Private Transfer: $41
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.88
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Taxi Ride$5.88
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Short Taxi Ride$4.41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Airport Transfer: Jorge Chavez Airport LIM to Lima by Sedan: $51
- Deluxe Car Lima Transfer - Private Service: $29
- From Lima Private transfer to Paracas: $290
- Guided Assistance -Hassle-free service -Airport -Hotel transfers: $30
- Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
- Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $42
- Larco Museum Complete Guided Tour with Transfers (Small Group): $55
- Larco Museum Tour & Gastronomic Experience with rountrip transfer: $160
- Lima Airport : Bus transfer to/from Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco: $11
- Lima Airport Departure Transfer: $22
- Lima Airport One Way Private Transfer LIM to Lima City Center: $12
- Lima Airport Transfers: Lima City to Jorge Chavez Airport LIM in Standard Car: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Medellin or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Medellin 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 dayMedellin $19Lima $33
Typical Food Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Medellin:
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Lunch$2.43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Medellin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Medellin.
- Medellín: Comuna 13 True Story and Street Food Tour: $14
- Empanada Cooking Class with Local Chef - Comuna 13: $34
- Empanada Cooking Class by Local Chef in Comuna 13 (Small Groups): $38
- Food tour with 12 tastings in the best area of Medellin: $40
- Medellín: Comuna 13 Street Art and Street Food Tour: $44
- Laureles Food Tour: $45
- Private Empanada Cooking Class in Guatape: $48
- Medellin Food Tour in Laureles: $54
- Cooking Class Preparing Colombian Empanadas: $56
- Medellin Private Nighttime City Sightseeing Tour by E-Bike + Gourmet Dinner: $59
- Colombia Inspired Food Tour: $59
- Gastronomy and Street Food Tour in Sabaneta Colombia Experience: $60
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.71
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Ice cream$3.82
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Coffee$3.23
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Donut$1.03
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): $5.00
- Lima Street Food Tour: Taste Authentic Peruvian Delights: $45
- Dinner at Mangos Larcomar Restaurant: $48
- #1 Rated Lima Cooking Class: Make Ceviche, Causa & Pisco Sours!: $49
- Lima Street Food Tour : Try the best Peruvian street food: $49
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $50
- Private Churros Cooking Class, Miraflores & Hotel Pickup: $50
- Private Cooking Class in Causa & Lomo Saltado: $50
- Andean Breads Cooking Class in Lima: $55
- Lima Market Tour & Ceviche Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $59
- Dinner at the Cala Restaurant in Lima: $63
- Lima Market Food Tour: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Medellin $15Lima $9.38
Tours and Activities in Medellin
Here are a few actual costs in Medellin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guided Electric Bicycle Tour of Guatapé: $7.98
- Fly over Medellín Metrocable: Transformation Tour: $10
- Comuna 13: Graffiti tour & Street Food/drink with telesferic: $10
- Medellín Explore Downtown And Live The Real City Experience: $11
- Medellín: Explore Downtown And Live The Real City Experience: $12
- Entry Ticket to the Museum of Modern Art of Medellin: $12
- Medellín: Comuna 13 Tour with Snacks and a Local Guide: $13
- Medellín: Comuna 13 Local History Tour with Graffiti & Snack: $13
- Medellín: Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour With Local Snacks Included: $13
- Post-conflict Shared Tour (Paul) and Violence Medellin: $14
- Virtual Tour: Colonial Santa Fe de Antioquia: $14
- Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour with a Local & Artisan Ice Cream ⭐: $14
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)$18
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Movie Tickets$2.50
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Miraflores Guided Walking Tour and Surquillo Market Experience: $5.00
- Adventure at the Airport of Peru: $10
- Beach tour and surfboards for rent in Lima, Peru: $14
- Historic Lima & Catacombs Tour with Optional Pickup: $19
- Miraflores and Barranco Private Bike Tour: $19
- Colorful Barranco Tour and Street Art: $20
- Huaca Pucllana Tour: $20
- Private Tour with guide in Museo de Arte de Lima - MALI: $20
- Tour in Lima with Visit to the Catacombs of San Francisco: $20
- A Journey Through Time: Lima's Historic Center & Catacombs Tour: $20
- Skip the Line: Larco Museum Admission Ticket: $21
- Barranco Street Art Tour - Unmasked: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMedellin $8.37Lima $6.10
Sample the Local Flavors in Medellin
Also in Medellin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- The Medellin Pub Crawl: $20
- The "Beyond Local Pub Crawl" Now in Medellín!: $23
- The "Beyond Local Pub Crawl" Now in Medellín!: $24
- Rooftop Bar Crawl with VIP Access & Hidden Clubs: $27
- Medellín: Pub crawl in Provenza, music, dancing, and shots: $30
- Medellin Pub Crawl with transport Including Food and City Tour: $175
- Medellín: San Francisco Wine Tour with Tastings & Lunch: $332
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$7.91
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Beer$4.41
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Cocktail$3.53
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
- Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $22
- Discover Miraflores nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $24
- Lima Nightlife Tour & Society – Cultural Pub Crawl: $50
- Full Day Paracas, Huacachina and Wine Tasting from Lima: $139
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Medellin and Lima, we can see that Lima is more expensive. And not only is Medellin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Medellin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Medellin 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 Medellin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Medellin Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Medellin or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Medellin. When comparing the sizes of Medellin 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.