Which place is cheaper, Lima or Quepos?
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 Quepos or Lima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Quepos and Lima can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Quepos or Lima?
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
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 Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
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Quepos Prices
Costa Rica PricesLima Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQuepos $139Lima $95
The average daily cost (per person) in Quepos is $139, 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 Quepos and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQuepos $76Lima $52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQuepos $152Lima $104
Compare Hotels in Quepos and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Quepos 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: Quepos Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Quepos $9.55Lima $6.06
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to/from Manuel Antonio (One Way): $99
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to Manuel Antonio with Scenic Stop.: $203
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San José (Airport SJO): $220
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $229
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:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Lima APT-HTL (LIM) : $34
- Transfer: Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima City Center: $16
- Transfer from Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco to Airport: $18
- Transfer To Lima Airport: $20
- Tour Magic Water Park in Lima with Small Group Transfer: $38
- Round Trip Transfer from and to the Airport in Miraflores/Barranco/Sani : $33
- QuickLlama: Transfer from Miraflores Kennedy Park to Lima Airport: $5.95
- QuickLlama: Door-to-door transfer from Miraflores to Lima Airport: $5.95
- Private Transfers from/to Lima Airport (Price per Vehicle): $29
- Private Transfer to Lima Airport (LIM): $13
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $201
- Private Transfer from Lima hotels to Callao Cruise Port: $18
Is it cheaper to fly into Quepos or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Quepos 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 dayQuepos $51Lima $32
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$15
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class in Manuel Antonio with Medicinal Plants Garden Visit: $77
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
- Local Flavor Cooking Experience: $81
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.Quepos $17Lima $9.15
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $25
- Quepos Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $26
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $27
- Manuel Antonio Park: Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $27
- 2-3-Hour Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $29
- Manuel Antonio National Park guided tour : $29
- Guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park: $29
- Manuel Antonio Park Tour and its Amazing Wildlife and Beaches: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park guided Tour: $30
- Manuel Antonio with Mauro / Tickets not Included! : $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park: Guided Tour with Beach Time: $30
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 dayQuepos $15Lima $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 Quepos and Lima, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Quepos is in Central 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 Quepos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quepos 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 Quepos Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Quepos or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 990 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Quepos 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 Quepos 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 Quepos or Lima in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Quepos as well as Lima. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
Quepos receives a lot of rain in the summer. Quepos usually gets more rain in July than Lima. Quepos gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Lima receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, Quepos often gets more sunshine than Lima. Quepos gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Quepos is much warmer than Lima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Quepos in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Lima averages at about 18°C (64°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyQuepos 28°C (82°F)Lima 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Lima in the Autumn?
Both Lima and Quepos are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Quepos is December to April. May to November is the hurricane season in Quepos. It's quite rainy in Quepos. In October, Quepos usually receives more rain than Lima. Quepos gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Lima receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Quepos usually receives more sunshine than Lima during autumn. Quepos gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 60 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Quepos is generally a little warmer than Lima. Daily temperatures in Quepos average around 27°C (81°F), and Lima fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberQuepos 27°C (81°F)Lima 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Lima in the Winter?
Both Lima and Quepos during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
Quepos usually gets more rain in January than Lima. Quepos gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Lima receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Quepos. In the winter, Quepos often gets more sunshine than Lima. Quepos gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 185 hours of full sun.
Quepos is a little warmer than Lima in the winter. The daily temperature in Quepos averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Lima fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryQuepos 27°C (81°F)Lima 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Lima in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Quepos and Lima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to April in Quepos is the dry season. May to November in Quepos is the hurricane season. In April, Quepos usually receives more rain than Lima. Quepos gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Lima receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In Quepos, it's very sunny this time of the year. Quepos usually receives more sunshine than Lima during spring. Quepos gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Quepos is a little warmer than Lima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Quepos in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Lima averages at about 22°C (72°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilQuepos 29°C (85°F)Lima 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Lima and Quepos
| Quepos | Lima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.