Which place is cheaper, Lima or San Fernando?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Fernando or Lima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Fernando 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: San Fernando or Lima?
San Fernando
As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.
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 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 daySan Fernando $153Lima $77
The average daily cost (per person) in San Fernando is $153, while the average daily cost in Lima is $77. 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 San Fernando and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Fernando $74Lima $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Fernando $148Lima $98
Compare Hotels in San Fernando and Lima
Looking for a hotel in San Fernando 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: Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Fernando $50Lima $5.73
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.43
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Taxi Ride$5.43
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Short Taxi Ride$4.07
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Private Transfer From Lima To Paracas With 2 Stops : $176
- Premium Peruvian Horse Show with Lunch & Transfers: $150
- Round-Trip Transfer in Private Minivan from-to Lima Airport (LIM) in Lima City: $122
- Palomino Islands Excursion & Swimming with Sea Lions with Hotel Transfers: $119
- Airport Transfer Service in Lima: $95
- Lima round trip transfers airport - hotel - airport + City Tour: $89
- Private Transfer from Callao Cruise Port to Lima city hotels: $87
- Private Transfer from Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Pisco Port: $87
- Lima Airport Arrival Transfer for small groups: $79
- Private Transfer from Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Pisco Port : $79
- Private Largevan Transfer - Arrival Lima Airport to Hotel: $70
- Lima J Chavez Airport to Lima Hotels Round-Trip Private Transfer: $61
Is it cheaper to fly into San Fernando or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and San Fernando 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 daySan Fernando $48Lima $18
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.34
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Ice cream$3.53
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Coffee$2.99
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Donut$0.95
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
- Lima Street Food Tour: $40
- Lima Food Tour: $45
- Cooking Workshop and Water Circuit Tour: $45
- Lima Street Food Tour: $45
- Street Food Tour in Miraflores District: $45
- Barranco Tour with Dinner: $47
- Bohemian tour of Barranco with Dinner: $47
- Private Cooking Class With a Local Family in Lima: $48
- Lima Night Food Tour: $48
- Lima Market Food Tour: $52
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Fernando $28Lima $8.66
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$2.31
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
- Lima in 1 Day! - City Tour + Miraflores, Barranco & San Isidro: $85
- Tour to Historical Places in Lima: $30
- 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 Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide in Lima: $51
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Fernando $22Lima $5.63
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$7.30
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Beer$4.07
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Cocktail$3.26
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Gin and Rum Distillery Tour: $12
- Exclusive Pub Crawl with 10+ benefits: $18
- Party Tour in Miraflores with Bar Crawl and Drinks: $18
- Party tour in Miraflores with Bar Crawl Lima: $20
- Pub Crawl in Lima: $25
- Local Wine Tour: $50
- Ballestas Islands + Huacachina Oasis + Wine Tour !! The best price: $226
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Fernando and Lima, we can see that San Fernando is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Fernando is in Caribbean Islands 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 San Fernando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Fernando 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 San Fernando Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Fernando or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 140 times larger than the population of San Fernando. When comparing the sizes of San Fernando 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 San Fernando 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 San Fernando or Lima in the Summer?
Both Lima and San Fernando during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Fernando because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. San Fernando usually gets more rain in July than Lima. San Fernando gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Lima receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in San Fernando. In the summer, San Fernando often gets more sunshine than Lima. San Fernando gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun.
In July, San Fernando is generally a little warmer than Lima. Daily temperatures in San Fernando average around 27°C (81°F), and Lima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Fernando 27°C (81°F)Lima 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit San Fernando or Lima in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Fernando and Lima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Fernando year-round. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Fernando gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Fernando usually receives more rain than Lima. San Fernando gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Lima receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In San Fernando, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Fernando usually receives more sunshine than Lima during autumn. San Fernando gets 207 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 60 hours of full sun in the autumn.
San Fernando is a little warmer than Lima in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Fernando averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Lima fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Fernando 27°C (81°F)Lima 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit San Fernando or Lima in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Fernando as well as Lima. San Fernando attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
San Fernando usually gets more rain in January than Lima. San Fernando gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Lima receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Fernando this time of the year. In the winter, San Fernando often gets more sunshine than Lima. San Fernando gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 185 hours of full sun.
In the winter, San Fernando is a little warmer than Lima. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Fernando in January average around 26°C (78°F), and Lima averages at about 23°C (73°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Fernando 26°C (78°F)Lima 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit San Fernando or Lima in the Spring?
Both Lima and San Fernando are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Fernando throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, San Fernando usually receives more rain than Lima. San Fernando gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Lima receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. San Fernando usually receives more sunshine than Lima during spring. San Fernando gets 238 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, San Fernando is generally a little warmer than Lima. Daily temperatures in San Fernando average around 27°C (81°F), and Lima fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Fernando 27°C (81°F)Lima 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Lima and San Fernando
| San Fernando | Lima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (78°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 252 mm (9.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 225 mm (8.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 203 mm (8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 155 mm (6.1 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.