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

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Should you visit Puerto Iguazu or Lima?

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

Should I visit Puerto Iguazu 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: Puerto Iguazu or Lima?

Puerto Iguazu

Puerto Iguazu is located in the northeastern part of Argentina at the border with Paraguay and Brazil. It is a tourist city and travel destination because of its close proximity to Iguazu Falls, which is only 18 kilometers away. Much of the city's infrastructure has grown to maintain the tourist crowds that come to see the falls. The town itself has a population of slightly over 80,000.

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.

Which city is cheaper, Lima or Puerto Iguazu?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Puerto Iguazu is $28, 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Puerto Iguazu and Lima in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Puerto Iguazu $11
    Lima $39
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Puerto Iguazu $22
    Lima $78
Compare Hotels in Puerto Iguazu and Lima

Looking for a hotel in Puerto Iguazu 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 Puerto Iguazu


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: Puerto Iguazu Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Puerto Iguazu $8.72
    Lima $4.49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Iguazu

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

  • One-Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $4.98
  • Puerto Iguazu Airport Shuttle Transfer: $30
  • Iguazu Airport Private Transfer: $63
  • Iguazu: Transfer from Argentina Side: $95
  • Iguazu Falls Pass: Transfers in/out + Visit to Iguazu Falls Argentininan Side: $110
  • Iguazu Falls: Day Tour including transfers and guided tour: $245

Typical Local Transportation prices in Lima

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $5.31
  • Taxi Ride
    $5.31
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $3.98

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:

  • Transfer from the Airport to Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco: $13
  • Transfer from lima airport: $20
  • Transfer from Lima city to the airport: $20
  • Transfer from Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco to Airport: $13
  • Round trip private transfer to Lima Airport: $80
  • Round Trip Transfer from and to the Airport in Miraflores/Barranco/Sani: $25
  • QuickLlama: Door-to-door transfer from Miraflores to Lima Airport: $6.00
  • Private transfer in medium van to Lima Airport (QuickLlama Airport Shuttle): $40
  • Private transfer in medium van from Lima Airport (QuickLlama Airport Shuttle): $40
  • Private transfer in large van from Lima Airport (QuickLlama Airport Shuttle): $60
  • Private transfer from Lima city to Paracas (price per vehicle): $480
  • Private transfer from Lima Airport to Paracas (price per vehicle): $490

Is it cheaper to fly into Puerto Iguazu or Lima?

Prices for flights to both Lima and Puerto Iguazu 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
    Puerto Iguazu $10
    Lima $14

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Puerto Iguazu

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

  • El Quincho Del Tio Querido - Dinner And Show: $27
  • Foz do Iguaçu Folkloric Show with Dinner from Puerto Iguazú: $30
  • Skip the Line: Dinner Tango Show in Iguazu Falls Ticket: $59
  • Folkloric Show with Dinner at Rafain Churrascaria: $63
  • Rafain Steakhouse Show - Dinner and Show Included: $69
  • Dinner Tango Show in Iguazú Falls: $85
  • Creative Cooking Class and Dinner with Wine in Iguazu: $87
  • Tio Querido Dinner and Folk Show in Puerto Iguazú: $90
  • Skip the Line: Dinner Samba Show Ticket in Rafain (brazilian side): $99
  • Full day Iguazu Falls Argentinian side + Tango Show (no dinner): $110
  • Full day Iguazu Falls Argentinian Side + Dinner Tango Show: $125
  • Visit to Iguazu Falls Brazilian Side + Dinner Samba Show in Rafain: $134

Typical Food prices in Lima

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


  • Lunch for Two
    $4.25
  • Ice cream
    $3.45
  • Coffee
    $2.92
  • Donut
    $0.93

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.

  • Virtual Peruvian Cooking Class "Lomo Saltado": $18
  • Cooking Workshop and Water Circuit Tour: $45
  • #1 Lima Food Tour and Local Markets (Small Group): $46
  • #1 Peruvian Food Tour through Local Markets (Small Group): $46
  • Delicious Food Tour through Local Markets: $46
  • #1 Dancing Horse Show & Dinner Buffet & Barranco Night Tour: $46
  • Dancing Horse Show & Dinner Buffet & Barranco Night Tour: $46
  • Dinner at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant: $49
  • Private Cooking Class With a Local Family in Lima: $52
  • Half-Day Fountains Tour with Dinner & Folklore Show: $53
  • Peruvian Food Tour Through Local Markets: $55
  • Dinner Show and Exhibition of Peruvian Horse including Pick up & drop off: $55

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Puerto Iguazu $9.30
    Lima $6.78

Tours and Activities in Puerto Iguazu

For Puerto Iguazu, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Iguazú Biocenter Tour: $10
  • Guira Oga Wild Animals Shelter Admission Ticket: $10
  • Ciudad del Este Shopping Tour: $17
  • Brazilian Side of Iguassu Falls Half-Day Sightseeing Tour from Puerto Iguazú: $20
  • From Foz do Iguaçu: Ciudad del Este Shopping Tour: $20
  • Visit to San Ignacio Ruins and Wanda Mines Full day Tour: $21
  • Sightseeing Tour of the Argentinian and Brazilian Sides of Iguassu Falls: $23
  • Iguazu Falls Argentinian Side Full Day Tour with optional Boat Ride: $24
  • Iguazu Falls Brazilian Side Half Day Trip with Itaipu Dam Tour Option: $24
  • Parque Das Aves from Puerto Iguazu with optional Iguazú Falls Tour: $26
  • Brazilian Side of Iguassu Falls and Itaipu Dam Full-Day Sightseeing Tour from Puerto Iguazú: $29
  • Iguazu Falls Full Day Tour Argentine Side: $32

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
    $2.26

Tours and Activities in Lima

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:

  • #1 Artsy & Cultural Barranco Walking tour (Small Group): $30
  • #1 Artsy Barranco & Lima City Tour (Small Group): $60
  • #1 Beautiful Fountains Park & Light Show - Night Tour (Small Group): $30
  • #1 City Tour by Night & Magic Fountains Park - Light Show (Small Group): $34
  • #1 City Tour in Lima from the Airport (private service): $46
  • #1 Lima City Tour - Lunch & Pachacamac Archaeological site (Small Group): $80
  • #1 Lima Walking City Tour (Small Group): $30
  • #1 Lunahuana Valley & Rafting Experience - from Lima (Small Group): $140
  • #1 Miraflores, Barranco & San Isidro Tour (Small Group): $34
  • #1 Sandboarding - Buggy Tour & Huacachina Oasis - from Lima (Small Group): $146
  • #1 The Gold Museum of Peru & Lima City tour (Small Group): $80
  • #1 The Gold Museum of Peru Tour (Small Group): $40

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Puerto Iguazu $4.47
    Lima $4.41

Typical Alcohol prices in Lima

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


  • Bottle of Wine
    $7.14
  • Beer
    $3.98
  • Cocktail
    $3.19

Sample the Local Flavors in Lima

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:

  • Ballestas Islands + Huacachina Oasis + Wine Tour (Unique Experience): $226
  • Mysterious Nazca Lines, Overflight from Ica, Huacachina Oasis & Wine Tour!: $490

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Iguazu and Lima, we can see that Lima is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Iguazu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Puerto Iguazu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Iguazu 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 Puerto Iguazu.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
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Puerto Iguazu vs. Lima Travel Comparison

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