Which place is cheaper, Lima or Rome?
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 Rome or Lima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Rome and Lima can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Rome or Lima?
Rome
Rome is the kind of city that refuses to stay in the past, even though history is everywhere you look. Ancient ruins rise beside buzzing cafes, scooters zip past Renaissance palaces, and quiet cobblestone lanes suddenly open onto grand piazzas filled with fountains, churches, and street performers. It is a city of layers: the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica, neighborhood trattorias, stylish boutiques, and late-night gelato walks all woven together into one unforgettable experience. Whether you come for the art, the food, the history, or the simple pleasure of wandering without a plan, Rome has a way of making every day feel like a discovery.
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 Luxury Tours to Italy, The Best Budget Tours to Italy, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
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Rome Prices
Italy PricesLima Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRome €207Lima €85
The average daily cost (per person) in Rome is €207, while the average daily cost in Lima is €85. 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 Rome and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRome €90Lima €47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRome €180Lima €94
Compare Hotels in Rome and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Rome 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: Rome Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rome €21Lima €5.44
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:
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Metro Ride (for Two)€2.00
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Train to the Airport€15
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Taxi to Airport€45
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Bicycle Rental (Full Day)€10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
- Bus Transfer from Fiumicino Airport to Vatican City: $7.00
- Transfer Fiumicino Airport - Rome City Centre: $8.17
- Transfer Fiumicino Airport from/to Vaticano shuttle bus: $9.34
- Transfer Ciampino Airport - Rome center: $9.34
- Bus Transfer from Rome to Milan or Vice Versa: $9.42
- Rome from Civitavecchia Transfer with Optional Open Bus: $35
- Private transfers in the city of Rome (one way): $47
- Luxury Private Transfer Rome Center to Fiumicino Airport: $47
- Ciampino to Rome transfer: $48
- Ciampino transfer to Rome: $48
- Ciampino to Rome city transfer: $48
- Fiumicino Airport Rome (FCO) to Rome - Arrival Private Transfer: $49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride€5.15
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Taxi Ride€5.15
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Short Taxi Ride€3.86
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Airport Transfer: Jorge Chavez Airport LIM to Lima by Sedan: $51
- Deluxe Car Lima Transfer - Private Service: $29
- From Lima Private transfer to Paracas: $290
- LIMA CAR TRANSFER - Private Service: $29
- Lima Airport (LIM) to Miraflores - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $47
- Lima Airport (LIM) to Miraflores city - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Lima Airport Arrival Private Transfer: $30
- Lima Airport Departure Transfer: $22
- Lima Airport One Way Private Transfer LIM to Lima City Center: $12
- Lima Airport Round Trip Transfer: $60
- Lima Airport Transfers by SUV/Van: $43
- Lima Airport Transfers: Lima City to Jorge Chavez Airport LIM in Standard Car: $46
Is it cheaper to fly into Rome or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Rome 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 dayRome €84Lima €29
Typical Food Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)€14
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4 Ice Cream Sandwiches€2.99
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Cafe e doce€4.00
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Pizza (Fast Food)€2.65
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)€32
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Cheese and bread€10
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Espresso€2.00
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Dinner€58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
- Hard Rock Cafe Rome with Set Lunch or Dinner: $34
- Rome Food Tour for Breakfast Lovers: $41
- Pizza Cooking Class in Rome City Center with Drinks: $45
- Rome Food Tour: Tastings in the Jewish Ghetto & Campo de' Fiori: $46
- Rome Pizza Making Class for Families in Trastevere: $46
- Rome Ultimate Food Tour Trastevere Tiber Island & Campo de' Fiori: $46
- Pasta Cooking Class in Rome - Fettuccine Class in Piazza Navona: $47
- Cooking Class in the Heart of Pizza and Tiramisu Making: $51
- Rome Street Food Tour Eat Like a Local: $51
- Tasty Trastevere Street Food Tour in Rome from Tiberine Island to Ponte Sisto: $53
- Rome Street Food Tour and Jewish Ghetto Area Guided Sightseeing: $53
- Jazz concert LIVE and dinner: $53
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two€4.12
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Ice cream€3.35
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Coffee€2.83
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Donut€0.90
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Food tours on the forbidden side of Lima (Min. 3 Guests – Max. 6): $5.00
- Local Food Tour at an Iconic Market!!: $24
- Lima Food Tour with Ceviche, Pisco, and Grilled Chicken: $45
- Dinner at Mangos Larcomar Restaurant: $48
- #1 Rated Lima Cooking Class: Make Ceviche, Causa & Pisco Sours!: $49
- Lima Street Food Tour : Try the best Peruvian street food: $49
- Private Cooking Class in Causa & Lomo Saltado: $50
- Private Churros Cooking Class, Miraflores & Hotel Pickup: $50
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $50
- 4h Cooking Class in Iconic Dishes & Bottomless Drinks: $55
- Andean Breads Cooking Class in Lima: $55
- Lima Market Tour & Ceviche Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $59
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rome €36Lima €8.22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome
Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)€69
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Coliseum Tickets (for Two)€33
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Roma Pass€30
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Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)€20
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Segway Tour€75
Tours and Activities in Rome
Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Piazza del Popolo and Historical Sights Walking Tour in Rome: $4.08
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Rome: $4.66
- Rome Art Walking Tour Who Killed Caravaggio: $4.67
- Experience Rome Trevi Fountain with Ticket: $4.67
- Ghosts Legends and Mysteries of Rome Walking Tour: $4.67
- Rome Timeless Trail Self Guided Walking Tour with App: $5.50
- Rome Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $5.82
- Pantheon Admission Ticket : Audio Guide or Guided Tour: $5.83
- Saint Peter's Basilica Vatican Tour: $5.83
- Pantheon Rome Timed Entry Ticket and optional Minerva: $5.83
- Pantheon Rome Entry Ticket: $5.83
- Rome Pantheon Entry Experience With Audio: $5.83
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)€15
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Movie Tickets€2.19
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Lima Cathedral Museum Entrance Ticket: $10
- Beach tour and surfboards for rent in Lima, Peru: $14
- Private Bike Tour in Lima: $19
- Miraflores and Barranco Private Bike Tour: $19
- Historic Lima & Catacombs Tour with Optional Pickup: $19
- Tour in Lima with Visit to the Catacombs of San Francisco: $20
- Colorful Barranco Tour and Street Art: $20
- Private Tour with guide in Museo de Arte de Lima - MALI: $20
- A Journey Through Time: Lima's Historic Center & Catacombs Tour: $20
- Skip the Line: Larco Museum Admission Ticket: $21
- City Tour in Lima: $23
- Barranco Street Art Tour - Unmasked: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRome €18Lima €5.34
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
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Bottle of Wine€6.50
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Pint of Beer€6.34
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Beer€10
Sample the Local Flavors in Rome
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
- Cabaret and Burlesque Show at Rome: $35
- Rome’s Exclusive Wine Tasting: Sip Near the Colosseum!: $38
- Rome's Ultimate Party aka the Spanish Steps Pub Crawl: $40
- Winery Tour, Wine Tasting near Rome with Optional Lunch: $46
- Wine Tasting in Trastevere with Food and Gelato: $49
- Rome Premium Wine Tasting: 3, 4, 5 or 6 Wines with Expert Guide: $53
- EAT AND DRINK LIKE A LOCAL - Wine Tasting in Trastevere w/ Gelato: $53
- Guided Wine Tasting Experience in a Roman Vineyard: $57
- Dolce Vita Burlesque show: $58
- Rome Nightlife Party Tour Monti Bar Crawl and Local Drinks: $66
- Private Wine Tasting in Trastevere: $76
- Italy in a Glass - Wine Tasting and Food Pairing Tour in Rome: $82
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€6.93
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Beer€3.86
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Cocktail€3.09
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Free Pub Crawl: $5.00
- Discover Barranco's Nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $20
- Discover Miraflores nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $24
- Bar Crawl Night Tour in Miraflores: $38
- Lima Nightlife Tour & Society – Cultural Pub Crawl: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rome and Lima, we can see that Rome is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rome 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 Rome would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rome 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 Rome Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rome or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Rome. When comparing the sizes of Rome 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 Rome or Lima?
Rome 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 Rome or Lima in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Rome and Lima. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Rome this time of year. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Rome is a little warmer than Lima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Rome in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Lima averages at about 18°C (64°F).
In Rome, it's very sunny this time of the year. Rome usually receives more sunshine than Lima during summer. Rome gets 338 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Rome usually receives more rain than Lima. Rome gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Lima receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRome 25°C (77°F)Lima 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Rome or Lima in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Rome as well as Lima. Many travelers come to Rome for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
In October, Rome is generally around the same temperature as Lima. Daily temperatures in Rome average around 17°C (63°F), and Lima fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
In the autumn, Rome often gets more sunshine than Lima. Rome gets 198 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 60 hours of full sun.
Rome usually gets more rain in October than Lima. Rome gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Lima receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRome 17°C (63°F)Lima 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Rome or Lima in the Winter?
Both Lima and Rome are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Rome in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Rome is much colder than Lima in the winter. The daily temperature in Rome averages around 8°C (47°F) in January, and Lima fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Rome usually receives less sunshine than Lima during winter. Rome gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 185 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Rome usually receives more rain than Lima. Rome gets 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Lima receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRome 8°C (47°F)Lima 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Rome or Lima in the Spring?
Both Lima and Rome during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Rome for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
In the spring, Rome is much colder than Lima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Rome in April average around 14°C (57°F), and Lima averages at about 22°C (72°F).
It's quite sunny in Rome. In the spring, Rome often gets more sunshine than Lima. Rome gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun.
Rome usually gets more rain in April than Lima. Rome gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Lima receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilRome 14°C (57°F)Lima 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Lima and Rome
| Rome | Lima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 8°C (47°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (49°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 14°C (57°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 42 mm (1.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (49°F) | 94 mm (3.7 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.