Which place is cheaper, Lima or Mexico City?
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 Mexico City or Lima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mexico City 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: Mexico City or Lima?
Mexico City
Mexico City is one of the largest and most populated cities in the world. There are an estimated 26 million people living in the greater Mexico City metropolitan area. The area is about 60 kilometers by 40 kilometers and is surrounded by tall mountains and volcanoes on three sides. Mexico City proper has about 8.8 million people and is the capital of the country. More than a third of the country's economy is based here, making it the wealthiest city in all of Latin America.
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 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
-
Mexico City Prices
Mexico PricesLima Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMexico City $200Lima $90
The average daily cost (per person) in Mexico City is $200, while the average daily cost in Lima is $90. 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 Mexico City and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMexico City $36Lima $49
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMexico City $72Lima $98
Compare Hotels in Mexico City and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Mexico City 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: Mexico City Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mexico City $11Lima $5.76
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Mexico City
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Mexico City:
-
Metro$1.03
-
Uber Ride$3.59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mexico City
Also for Mexico City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Mexico city Airport - Mexico city Downtown hotels: $16
- Mexico City Private Transfer from City to Airport (MEX): $16
- Mexico City Private Airport transfer (MEX) to City: $16
- Inbursa Aquarium optional Round trip transfer: $17
- Private Transfer from Airport to Hotel in Mexico City: $27
- Mexico to Mexico City Airport (MEX) Departure Arrival Transfer: $30
- Roundtrip Private Airport Transfer Mexico City (MEX) to City: $32
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Mexico City Airport: $34
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Mexico APT-HTL (MEX) : $36
- Mexico City Private Airport Transfer : $36
- Private Arrival Transfer from Mexico City airport to Central Hotels: $37
- Private Transfer From Mexico City Airport to Downtown: $39
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
-
Taxi Ride$5.45
-
Taxi Ride$5.45
-
Short Taxi Ride$4.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- We are located in Miraflores : we offer Toars in lima Peru and transfers.: $30
- 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: Lima City Center to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) : $14
- Transfer in Private Van from the Airport to Hotels in Lima: $50
- Transfer from the Airport to the Hotel or Hotel-Airport!!: $25
- Transfer from the Airport to Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco: $18
- Transfer from Lima Airport to Miraflores, Barranco SanIsidro: $30
- Tour Magic Water Park in Lima with Small Group Transfer: $38
- Scenic Flight over the Nasca Lines with Luxury Bus Transfer : $250
- SHARED AIRPORT TRANSFER - From or To Lima Airport: $11
Is it cheaper to fly into Mexico City or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Mexico City 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 dayMexico City $41Lima $31
Typical Food Prices in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Lunch for Two$11
-
Coffee and Snacks$4.00
-
Dinner for 2$23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Mexico City Street Food Tour - Best Rated: $29
- Veracruz and Boca del Rio Food Tour with Mangroves Boat Trip: $50
- Virtual Mexican Cooking Class (private and personalized): $50
- Art and Food Tour with Lunch: $51
- Local Markets & Food Tour in Mexico City: $53
- Mexico City Vegan & Veggie Market Explorer plus Cooking Lesson: $55
- Tortilla Crawl: Food Tour in Mexico City: $55
- Secret Food Tours Mexico City: $65
- Secret Food Tour: Mexico City Old Town: $65
- La Merced and Sonora Market Guided Food Tour: $65
- Mexico City Food Tour: Historic Center, Heritage on a Plate: $66
- Xochimilco Party with Taco Dinner & Transport: $66
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
-
Lunch for Two$4.36
-
Ice cream$3.54
-
Coffee$3.00
-
Donut$0.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Peruvian Food Tour Through Local Markets: $40
- Miraflores: Amazing Peruvian Cooking Class Ceviche Seafood and Pisco Sour: $40
- Top Rated Lima Street Food Tour: Markets, History & Local Life: $45
- Dinner at Mangos Larcomar Restaurant: $45
- Cooking Workshop and Water Circuit Tour: $45
- Dinner at Mangos Larcomar Restaurant: $45
- Market Tour and Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $47
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $49
- Private Guided Walking Street Food Tour in Lima: $55
- 4-dish Peruvian Food Cooking Class in Lima + Pisco Sour mixology: $55
- Food History & Local Markets (Food Tour): $56
- Lima's Food Tour through Local Markets & Barranco Visit: $59
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mexico City $13Lima $8.70
Tours and Activities in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- MUCHO Museum of Chocolate Entrance Ticket: $4.09
- Mexico City (Coyoacan) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.92
- CDMX: Museum of Memory and Tolerance - Free and Safe (Entrance ticket): $5.11
- CDMX: Museum of Memory and Tolerance - Anne Frank (Entrance ticket): $5.11
- Flavors of the Past: Pre-Hispanic drinks tour in Roma.: $5.27
- Bastards of Mexico: Unfiltered Tour of the Historic Center: $5.27
- Franz Mayer Museum Regular Admission Ticket: $6.13
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Mexico for Beginners: $6.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour-Moctezuma and the Zocalo:The Aztec Empire : $6.99
- Mexico City Chimalistac District Exploration Game and Tour: $7.15
- Memory and Tolerance Museum Entry Ticket: $7.66
- Double Decker Bus Night Tour: $7.66
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)$16
-
Movie Tickets$2.32
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Lima Highlights! City Tour + Miraflores, Barranco & San Isidro: $85
- Private Classic City Tour Experience of Lima: $65
- The best of Lima walking tour: $208
- 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
- 2-Day Private Hiking Adventure in Marcahuasi (Lima): $500
- 3 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $289
- 3 Day Tour to Paracas, Huacachina, and Pisco Vineyard: $159
- 3-Hour Private Scooter Tour through Miraflores with Guide: $50
- 4-Day Tour: Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu Excursion by Train: $1,151
- 4-Hour Tasting Tour in Lima with Pickup: $85
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMexico City $18Lima $5.66
Sample the Local Flavors in Mexico City
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mexico City:
- Guided Pub Crawl with Party Games: $22
- Mexico City Pub Crawl: $23
- Mexico City Craft Cocktail Bar Crawl: $39
- Best Bar Crawl at Downtown: $49
- Polanco: Private Wine Tasting in with Cheese: $82
- Zona Rosa Pub Crawl Experience: $88
- Teotihuacan´s Best Balloon Flight: Pyramids and Brewery tours : $120
Typical Alcohol Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Lima are as follows:
-
Bottle of Wine$7.33
-
Beer$4.09
-
Cocktail$3.27
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
- Discover Miraflores nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $19
- Miraflores Nightlife Tour with Bar Crawl & Free Shots: $19
- Gin and Rum Distillery Tour: $24
- Pisco Pub Crawl: $35
- Local Wine Tour : $55
- Local Wine Tour: $58
- Local wine tasting in Lima: $96
- Pub Crawl in Lima: $100
- From Huacachina Sandboarding and Wine Tasting Day Trip: $105
- From Huacachina Sandboarding and Wine Tasting Tour: $105
- Peruvian Wine Tasting & Cheese Pairing + Jade Museum Tour: $114
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mexico City and Lima, we can see that Mexico City is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mexico City is in North America 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 Mexico City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mexico City 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 Mexico City Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mexico City or Lima?
Mexico City has a larger population, and is about 46% larger than the population of Lima. When comparing the sizes of Mexico City 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.