Which place is cheaper, Lima or Santa Elena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena 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: Santa Elena or Lima?
Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
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 G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica, 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 daySanta Elena $92Lima $77
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Elena is $92, 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 Santa Elena and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Elena $55Lima $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Elena $110Lima $98
Compare Hotels in Santa Elena and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Santa Elena 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.Santa Elena $11Lima $5.73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Peñas Blancas to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $180
- Private Transfer Lake crossing from Monteverde To Arenal From 1 to 6 passengers: $249
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde to Samara : $269
- Private Transfer From Monteverde To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers: $270
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
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 Santa Elena or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Santa Elena 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 daySanta Elena $24Lima $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Elena
For Santa Elena, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Walk in Monteverde with Dinner Included: $55
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.Santa Elena $30Lima $8.66
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Wildlife Tour in Curicancha : $25
- Monteverde Butterfly Gardens Tour: $26
- Adventure Day - Outdoor activities for Family and Friends Special Package.: $29
- Monteverde: Kinkajou Forest Night Walking Tour: $30
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Tour: $30
- Kinkajou Night Walk Tour: $30
- CuriCancha Reserve Admission Ticket: $33
- Curicancha Birdwatching Tour: $34
- Night Adventures in Monteverde: $35
- Natural History Tour - Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve: $35
- Authentic experience of Coffee, Cane and Caco inside the forest: $37
- Regular Guided tour Monteverde Reserve: $38
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 daySanta Elena $6.22Lima $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 Santa Elena and Lima, we can see that Santa Elena is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santa Elena 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 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 Santa Elena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena or Lima in the Summer?
Both Lima and Santa Elena during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena. Santa Elena usually gets more rain in July than Lima. Santa Elena gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Lima receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, Santa Elena often gets more sunshine than Lima. Santa Elena gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Santa Elena is much warmer than Lima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Santa Elena in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Lima averages at about 18°C (64°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySanta Elena 28°C (82°F)Lima 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Lima in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Elena and Lima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Santa Elena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Santa Elena usually receives more rain than Lima. Santa Elena gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Lima receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Santa Elena usually receives more sunshine than Lima during autumn. Santa Elena gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 60 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Santa Elena is generally a little warmer than Lima. Daily temperatures in Santa Elena average around 27°C (81°F), and Lima fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSanta Elena 27°C (81°F)Lima 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Lima in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Santa Elena as well as Lima. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
Santa Elena usually gets more rain in January than Lima. Santa Elena gets 8 mm (0.3 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 Santa Elena this time of the year. In the winter, Santa Elena often gets more sunshine than Lima. Santa Elena gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 185 hours of full sun.
Santa Elena is a little warmer than Lima in the winter. The daily temperature in Santa Elena averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Lima fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySanta Elena 27°C (81°F)Lima 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Lima in the Spring?
Both Lima and Santa Elena are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Santa Elena usually receives more rain than Lima. Santa Elena gets 28 mm (1.1 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 Santa Elena. Santa Elena usually receives more sunshine than Lima during spring. Santa Elena gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Santa Elena is a little warmer than Lima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Santa Elena in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Lima averages at about 22°C (72°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSanta Elena 29°C (85°F)Lima 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Lima and Santa Elena
| Santa Elena | Lima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.