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

Should you visit Roatan or Lima?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Roatan and Lima. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Roatan or Lima?

Roatan

Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.

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 Honduras, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Lima or Roatan?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Roatan is $42, while the average daily cost in Lima is $98. 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 Roatan and Lima in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Roatan $10
    Lima $54
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Roatan $20
    Lima $108
Compare Hotels in Roatan and Lima

Looking for a hotel in Roatan 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 Roatan


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: Lima Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Roatan $17
    Lima $6.29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan

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


  • Water Taxi
    $3.91

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:

  • Transfers to West End by night from hotels in West Bay or Sandy Bay: $25
  • Airport, Hotel or Cruise Port, Ferry Roatan Private Transfer: $35
  • Roatan West End Beach Break with Private Transfer: $45
  • Honduras Airport(RTB) to Roatan -Arrival Private Transfer: $57
  • Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan Island hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $62
  • Roatan Airport Private Shuttle – Island Transfers: $65
  • Ground transfers and ticket ferry to Utila or La Ceiba: $80
  • Let's Go Native Roatan City Cultural Tour, Transfer: $80
  • King Kong Extreme Zipline, City Tour and Transfer: $80
  • West Bay Beach Day Pass & Private Transfer – Roatán: $89
  • Roatan East End Cultural Experience, Island Lunch & Private Transfer: $95
  • Roatan Zipline, Monkey, Macaws & Sloths Eco Park, Snorkeling, Transfer: $120

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $5.96
  • Taxi Ride
    $5.96
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $4.47

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:

  • QuickLlama: Transfer from Miraflores Kennedy Park to Lima Airport: $5.95
  • Mc transfer Peru: $7.50
  • SHARED AIRPORT TRANSFER - From or To Lima Airport: $11
  • LIMA AIRPORT SHUTTLE - Shared Transfer: $13
  • Transfer from the Airport to the Hotel or Hotel-Airport!!: $15
  • Lima Airport Transfer Service Available 24 7: $15
  • Taxi transfers from and to the Lima Airport and Paracas Ica: $15
  • Private Transfer from Jorge Chavez Airport to Hotels in Lima: $16
  • Private Transfer to Lima Airport (LIM): $16
  • Private Transfer from Callao Cruise Port to Lima City hotels: $17
  • Private Transfer from Callao Port to Lima Airport (LIM): $17
  • Private Transfer from Lima City Hotels to Callao Cruise Port: $17

Is it cheaper to fly into Roatan or Lima?

Prices for flights to both Lima and Roatan 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
    Roatan $15
    Lima $33

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan

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

  • Cooking classes from a Local!: $300

Typical Food Prices in Lima

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


  • Lunch for Two
    $4.77
  • Ice cream
    $3.87
  • Coffee
    $3.28
  • Donut
    $1.04

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima

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

  • Local Food Tour at an Iconic Market!!: $24
  • Private Churros Cooking Class, Miraflores & Hotel Pickup: $43
  • Andean Breads Cooking Class in Lima: $45
  • Miraflores Cooking Class Ceviche, Tartar & Pisco Sour: $45
  • #1 Rated Lima Cooking Class: Make Ceviche, Causa & Pisco Sours!: $49
  • Lima Food Tour & Market Experience: 13 Peruvian Bites: $50
  • Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $50
  • Limeno Bites Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
  • Criollo Nights Lima Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Roatan $25
    Lima $9.51

Tours and Activities in Roatan

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

  • Organized trips and adventures: $26
  • Roatan Island Tours, Sightseeing and Shopping Adventures: $39
  • Roatán Ron and Chocolate Custom Tour.: $40
  • Roatan Zipline & Eco walk/Suspension Bridge Combo Tours: $45
  • Roatan Beach and Tour: $45
  • 1 Stop Snorkel Adventure with Beach Break: $45
  • Customizable Best Of Roatan Island Tour in Honduras: $45
  • Private Customize Roatán Island Tour chocolate Rum local guide: $48
  • Roatan VIP Free-Style Private Tour: $49
  • Extreme Zip Line Adventure at Mahogany Bay: $49
  • Roatan : Private Customizeble Tour with Driver & Guide: $50
  • Cruise Travelers West Bay Beach Break with Island Tour in Roatan: $50

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)
    $18
  • Movie Tickets
    $2.53

Tours and Activities in Lima

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

  • Adventure at the Airport of Peru: $10
  • Lima Cathedral Museum Entrance Ticket: $10
  • TOP Lima : Private Guided Tour with your mobile: $12
  • Miraflores Guided Walking Tour and Surquillo Market Experience: $15
  • Walking Tour to Miraflores and Barranco with a beer: $15
  • Miraflores and Barranco Private Bike Tour: $19
  • Historic Lima & Catacombs Tour with Optional Pickup: $19
  • City Tour Lima Half Day: $20
  • A Journey Through Time: Lima's Historic Center & Catacombs Tour: $20
  • GABRIEL | Peruvian Coffee Tasting Experience in Lima: $20
  • Huaca Pucllana Tour: $20
  • Skip the Line: Larco Museum Admission Ticket: $21

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Roatan $6.49
    Lima $6.18

Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:

  • Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $80
  • Roatan ATV Adventure, Island Tour and Craft Brewery Experience: $99
  • Roatan Horseback Ride, Island Tour and Brewery Tasting: $125

Typical Alcohol Prices in Lima

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


  • Bottle of Wine
    $8.01
  • Beer
    $4.47
  • Cocktail
    $3.58

Sample the Local Flavors in Lima

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:

  • Free Pub Crawl: $5.00
  • Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $18
  • Discover Barranco's Nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $20
  • Gin and Rum Distillery Tour: $24
  • Bar Crawl Night Tour in Miraflores: $38
  • Lima Nightlife Tour & Society – Cultural Pub Crawl: $50
  • From Lima Paracas and Huacachina Oasis Dunes and Wine Tour: $89
  • From Paracas & Huacachina & Wine Tasting: $135
  • Full Day Paracas, Huacachina and Wine Tasting from Lima: $139


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Roatan Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Roatan or Lima?

Lima has a larger population, and is about 1030 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Roatan 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.