Which place is cheaper, Lima or Reykjavik?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Reykjavik or Lima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Reykjavik or Lima, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Reykjavik or Lima?
Reykjavik
Reykjavik is the capital and largest city in the country of Iceland. The city is where the vast majority of the country's population resides and the urban area has about 200,000 residents. The city is sprawling, with a large area covered in suburbs. The the city center is quite compact, with many interesting and colorful houses. There are a lot of things that attract tourists to this city, including an interesting culture and history as well as plenty of shopping and dining opportunities.
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 Budget Tours to Iceland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Iceland, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayReykjavik $246Lima $76
The average daily cost (per person) in Reykjavik is $246, while the average daily cost in Lima is $76. 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 Reykjavik and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personReykjavik $139Lima $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomReykjavik $278Lima $98
Compare Hotels in Reykjavik and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Reykjavik 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: Reykjavik Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Reykjavik $46Lima $5.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Reykjavik
Also for Reykjavik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Reykjavik Airport (RKV) to Bláfjöll - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Skálafell to Reykjavik Airport (RKV) - Departure Private Transfer: $22
- Reykjavik Airport (RKV) to Skálafell - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Keflavik Airport & Reykjavik Hotels: Economy Bus Transfer: $27
- Keflavik Airport (KEF): Bus Transfer to/from Reykjavik: $27
- Iceland: Airport Transfer Between Reykjavík Center and Keflavík : $28
- Iceland: Airport Transfers between Keflavík and Reykjavik Center: $28
- Airport Transfer in Iceland from Reykjavik City to Keflavik Airport One Way: $28
- Airport Transfer in Iceland from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik City one way: $29
- Keflavík Airport (KEF): Bus Transfer to/from Reykjavik: $29
- Airport Transfer in Iceland from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik City With Hotel Drop Off: $36
- Iceland Airport Transfer from Reykjavík Hotels to KEF Airport: $38
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.37
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Taxi Ride$5.37
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Short Taxi Ride$4.03
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 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 in Private Vehicle from Lima Jorge Chávez Airport to Lima City: $40
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Lima City to Airport: $40
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Lima City - Lima Airport (LIM): $61
- Transfer from Lima city to the airport: $18
- Transfer from Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco to Airport: $18
- The Larco Museum Complete Tour with transfers: $52
- Tegucigalpa to Tegucigalpa Toncontin Airport (TGU) - Departure Private Transfer: $29
- Taxi transfers from and to the Lima Airport and Paracas Ica: $20
- Round-Trip Transfer in Private Minivan from-to Lima Airport (LIM) in Lima City: $122
Is it cheaper to fly into Reykjavik or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Reykjavik 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 dayReykjavik $30Lima $17
Typical Food Prices in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner (Fish Market)$178
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Exclusive dinner with a local family - Visit a Reykjavík home: $98
- Icelandic Food Tour: $124
- The Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour: $128
- 3 Hour Shared Christmas Food Tour with Guide in Reykjavik: $129
- Reykjavik Market & Lunch Food Tour - BitesizedIceland.com: $142
- Reykjavik Old Harbor Food Tour - BitesizedIceland.com: $145
- Private Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour: $209
- Icelandic Cooking Class in Downtown Reykjavik with Musical Hosts: $296
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.30
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Ice cream$3.49
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Coffee$2.95
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Donut$0.94
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Lima Market Food Tour: $33
- Lima Market Food Tour: $34
- Peruvian Food Tour Through Local Markets: $40
- Ceviche Cooking Class Including Pisco Sour Lesson: $40
- Lima Street Food Tour: $40
- Lima Street Food Tour: $45
- Lima Food Tour: $45
- Street Food Tour in Miraflores District: $45
- Cooking Workshop and Water Circuit Tour: $45
- Barranco Tour with Dinner: $47
- Bohemian tour of Barranco with Dinner: $47
- Private Cooking Class With a Local Family in Lima: $48
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Reykjavik $72Lima $8.57
Typical Entertainment Prices in Reykjavik
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Reykjavik's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Art Museum$11
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Wine and Spa$29
Tours and Activities in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Reykjavík: City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.46
- Reykjavik Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Reykjavik Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & City Tour: $8.07
- Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $9.99
- Explore Reykjavik's Legacy: In-App Audio Tour: $11
- Citywalk Tour - Audioguide in English & German: $11
- Skip the Line: Icelandic Museum of Rock 'n' Roll Admission Ticket: $11
- Geothermal Energy Exhibition Entry Ticket: $18
- Reykjavík: National Museum of Iceland Entry Ticket: $18
- Was James Bond Icelandic? Ticket with One Hour Lecture: $23
- Private audio guide of the island for self-exploration tour: $27
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)$16
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Movie Tickets$2.28
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Lima bike and 5 Step Food Tasting Experience: $92
- The best of Lima walking tour: $198
- Cultural Tour of the city of Lima & Gastronomic: $62
- 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
- 2d/1n Tour: Flight to the Nazca, Paracas and Huacachina Lines: $289
- 3 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $289
- 3 Day Tour to Paracas, Huacachina, and Pisco Vineyard: $159
- 3-Day Trip to Lima Tour Package: $150
- 3-Hour Private Scooter Tour through Miraflores with Guide: $50
- 360° Panoramic bus - Sightseeing Tour: $27
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayReykjavik $28Lima $5.57
Typical Alcohol Prices in Reykjavik
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Reykjavik are as follows:
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Beer$8.79
Sample the Local Flavors in Reykjavik
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Reykjavik:
- Gin Distillery tour and tasting: $25
- Eimverk Distillery Tour with Tasting: $32
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$7.23
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Beer$4.03
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Cocktail$3.22
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Gin and Rum Distillery Tour: $12
- Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $18
- Exclusive Pub Crawl with 10+ benefits: $18
- Party Tour in Miraflores with Bar Crawl and Drinks: $18
- Pub Crawl in Lima: $25
- Local Wine Tour : $39
- Local Wine Tour: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Reykjavik and Lima, we can see that Reykjavik is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Reykjavik or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Reykjavik. When comparing the sizes of Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik or Lima?
Reykjavik has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Lima experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Reykjavik or Lima in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Reykjavik as well as Lima. Many travelers come to Reykjavik for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
Reykjavik is much colder than Lima in the summer. The daily temperature in Reykjavik averages around 11°C (52°F) in July, and Lima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
In the summer, Reykjavik often gets more sunshine than Lima. Reykjavik gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun.
Reykjavik usually gets more rain in July than Lima. Reykjavik gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Lima receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyReykjavik 11°C (52°F)Lima 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Reykjavik or Lima in the Autumn?
Both Lima and Reykjavik are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Reykjavik in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Reykjavik can get quite cold in the autumn. In the autumn, Reykjavik is much colder than Lima. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Reykjavik in October average around 5°C (41°F), and Lima averages at about 19°C (66°F).
Reykjavik usually receives more sunshine than Lima during autumn. Reykjavik gets 83 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 60 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Reykjavik usually receives more rain than Lima. Reykjavik gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Lima receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberReykjavik 5°C (41°F)Lima 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Reykjavik or Lima in the Winter?
Both Lima and Reykjavik during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Reykjavik for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
Reykjavik can be very cold during winter. In January, Reykjavik is generally much colder than Lima. Daily temperatures in Reykjavik average around -0°C (32°F), and Lima fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
In the winter, Reykjavik often gets less sunshine than Lima. Reykjavik gets 27 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 185 hours of full sun.
Reykjavik usually gets more rain in January than Lima. Reykjavik gets 76 mm (3 in) of rain, while Lima receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryReykjavik -0°C (32°F)Lima 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Reykjavik or Lima in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Reykjavik and Lima. The spring months attract visitors to Reykjavik because of the natural beauty. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
The weather in Reykjavik can be very cold. Reykjavik is much colder than Lima in the spring. The daily temperature in Reykjavik averages around 3°C (38°F) in April, and Lima fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
Reykjavik usually receives less sunshine than Lima during spring. Reykjavik gets 140 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Reykjavik usually receives more rain than Lima. Reykjavik gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Lima receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilReykjavik 3°C (38°F)Lima 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Lima and Reykjavik
| Reykjavik | Lima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -0°C (32°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 1°C (33°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 1°C (34°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 3°C (38°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 7°C (44°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 10°C (49°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 11°C (52°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 11°C (52°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 8°C (46°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Oct | 5°C (41°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (35°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 0°C (32°F) | 79 mm (3.1 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.