Which place is cheaper, Lima or San Ignacio?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Ignacio or Lima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Ignacio 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 Ignacio or Lima?
San Ignacio
So you want a tropical getaway, but also don't want to lay around with nothing to do. You want an adventure! You want relaxation and exploration.
You want to visit the small town of San Ignacio, Belize.
This section of the Cayo region is really more of a jungle than a typical Belize beach getaway. Located close the ancient Mayan ruins on the western and inland side of Belize, this town is most popular for its many outdoor adventures including hiking, climbing, and caving!
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 Belize, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, 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 Ignacio $72Lima $77
The average daily cost (per person) in San Ignacio is $72, 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 Ignacio and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Ignacio $19Lima $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Ignacio $38Lima $98
Compare Hotels in San Ignacio and Lima
Looking for a hotel in San Ignacio 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: San Ignacio Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Ignacio $3.11Lima $5.73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Ignacio
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:
- From Van Transfer To Flores Peten in Guatemala: $20
- San Ignacio Hotel to Belize City Transfer: $20
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:
- Airport Transfer Service in Lima: $95
- Assistance /Transfer Hotel - Airport Lima Airport : $40
- From The Larco Museum Complete Tour with transfers: $52
- J.Chavez Airport to Miraflores City Hotels- Round Trip Transfer: $41
- Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Arrival Private Transfer : $31
- Jorge Chavez International Airport: Private Transfer: $25
- Lima : Private transfer between airport to your destination: $29
- Lima Airport Arrival Transfer for small groups: $79
- Lima Airport Transfers: Jorge Chavez Airport LIM to Lima City in Standard Van: $31
- Lima Airport Transfers: Lima City to Jorge Chavez Airport LIM in Standard Van: $31
- Lima Airport: BUS Transfer to/from Lima city center: $6.00
- Lima Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Miraflores: $5.63
Is it cheaper to fly into San Ignacio or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and San Ignacio 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 Ignacio $21Lima $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Ignacio
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Ignacio.
- Xunantunich & Food Tour with local chocolate experience: $150
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 Ignacio $100Lima $8.66
Tours and Activities in San Ignacio
Here are a few actual costs in San Ignacio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Xunantunich Maya Site with Local Tour guide: $65
- Xunantunich & Adventure Horse Ride: $75
- Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Tour from San Ignacio: $75
- Half-Day Cave Canoeing Adventure: $75
- From Xunantunich Mayan Tour & Optional Combos: $75
- Cave Canoeing with Local Tour Guide: $80
- Cave Tubing with local tour Guide and Belizean Lunch: $90
- Farm Ride plus Xunantunich tour: $90
- Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $90
- Xunantunich horseback riding tour: $100
- Full-Day Mountain Pine Ridge Tour from San Ignacio with Lunch: $100
- Private Tour:Xunantunich Mayan Ruin from San Ignacio: $103
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:
- Free Walking Tour of Lima: $2.00
- Customize your trip to Peru with Lima Experience: $12
- Skip the Line: Larco Museum Admission Ticket: $13
- Skip the Line: Peruvian Regional Dances Ticket: $14
- Barranco Street Art Tour: $17
- Party tour Fridays Barranco / Saturdays Miraflores: $18
- Private Tour with guide in Museo de Arte de Lima - MALI: $20
- Guided and Private Bike Tour of Lima: $20
- Guided Walking Tour in Barranco: $20
- Lima Downtown Tour from Miraflores in 3 hrs: $21
- Historic Center Walking Tour with Pisco Sour Tasting: $25
- Costa Verde Express Tour: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Ignacio $17Lima $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 comparing the travel costs between San Ignacio and Lima, we can see that Lima is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though San Ignacio is in Central America and Lima is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Ignacio Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Ignacio or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 460 times larger than the population of San Ignacio. When comparing the sizes of San Ignacio 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 Ignacio or Lima?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit San Ignacio or Lima in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Ignacio and Lima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Ignacio year-round. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Ignacio gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, San Ignacio usually receives more rain than Lima. San Ignacio gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while Lima receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In San Ignacio, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Ignacio usually receives more sunshine than Lima during summer. San Ignacio gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, San Ignacio is generally much warmer than Lima. Daily temperatures in San Ignacio average around 28°C (82°F), and Lima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Ignacio 28°C (82°F)Lima 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or Lima in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Ignacio as well as Lima. San Ignacio attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
San Ignacio receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Ignacio usually gets more rain in October than Lima. San Ignacio gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Lima receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, San Ignacio often gets more sunshine than Lima. San Ignacio gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 60 hours of full sun.
San Ignacio is a little warmer than Lima in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Ignacio averages around 26°C (80°F) in October, and Lima fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Ignacio 26°C (80°F)Lima 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or Lima in the Winter?
Both Lima and San Ignacio are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Ignacio throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in San Ignacio. In January, San Ignacio usually receives more rain than Lima. San Ignacio gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Lima receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
San Ignacio usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Lima during winter. San Ignacio gets 199 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 185 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, San Ignacio is around the same temperature as Lima. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Ignacio in January average around 24°C (74°F), and Lima averages at about 23°C (73°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Ignacio 24°C (74°F)Lima 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or Lima in the Spring?
Both Lima and San Ignacio during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Ignacio because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
San Ignacio usually gets more rain in April than Lima. San Ignacio gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Lima receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in San Ignacio. In the spring, San Ignacio often gets more sunshine than Lima. San Ignacio gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun.
In April, San Ignacio is generally a little warmer than Lima. Daily temperatures in San Ignacio average around 27°C (80°F), and Lima fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Ignacio 27°C (80°F)Lima 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Lima and San Ignacio
| San Ignacio | Lima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (76°F) | 138 mm (5.4 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.