Which place is cheaper, Lima or Sapa?
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 Sapa or Lima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Sapa and Lima can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Sapa or Lima?
Sapa
Sapa is a beautiful town in the northern mountains of Vietnam by the border with China. Many travelers pass through the area on their way from China into Hanoi. Alternatively, some travelers head north from Hanoi to spend a few days in the beautiful mountains where tribal cultures are still alive and well. There are a good number of ethnic minorities that populate the area. The eight populations in the area include H'mong, Dao, Tay, Giay, Muong, Thai, Hoa, and Xa Pho, but the vast majority in the area are H'mong. Within the town of Sapa itself, there are about 7,000 people. The rest of the population lives in the surrounding countryside and are peasant farmers.
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 Vietnam, The Best Tours for Seniors to Vietnam, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
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Sapa Prices
Vietnam PricesLima Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySapa $46Lima $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Sapa is $46, while the average daily cost in Lima is $96. 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 Sapa and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSapa $12Lima $53
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSapa $24Lima $106
Compare Hotels in Sapa and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Sapa 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: Sapa Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sapa $9.12Lima $6.16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sapa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Sapa are as follows:
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Short Motorbike Ride$1.16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.83
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Taxi Ride$5.83
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Short Taxi Ride$4.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Lima round trip transfers airport - hotel - airport + City Tour: $218
- Private Transfer from Lima hotels to Pisco Cruise Port: $210
- Private Transfer from Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Pisco Port: $210
- Private Transfer from Lima City Hotels to Pisco Cruise Port: $192
- Private Transfer from Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Pisco Port: $192
- Larco Museum Tour & Gastronomic Experience with rountrip transfer: $160
- Premium Peruvian Horse Show with Lunch & Transfers: $159
- Palomino Islands Excursion & Swimming with Sea Lions with Hotel Transfers: $125
- Enjoy a Football Game in Lima with local guide and Transfers: $99
- Private Largevan Transfer - Arrival Lima Airport to Hotel: $79
- Transfer in Private Van from the Airport to Hotels in Lima: $60
- Private Transfer from Jorge Chávez (LIM) Airport to Lima: $56
Is it cheaper to fly into Sapa or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Sapa 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 daySapa $27Lima $33
Typical Food Prices in Sapa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Sapa:
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Casual Dinner (for One)$2.63
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Quick Breakfast (for Two)$2.13
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Coffee (for Two)$2.32
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Western Dinner (for Two)$7.71
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Pho Soup$0.58
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.66
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Ice cream$3.79
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Coffee$3.21
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Donut$1.02
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Off the Radar Lima Food Tour Hidden Spots Pisco and Local Vibes: $5.00
- Andean Breads Cooking Class in Lima: $44
- Lima Market Tour & Ceviche Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $47
- 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
- Lima Food Tour: 9 Peruvian Experiences: $50
- Lima Food Tour with Ceviche, Pisco, and Grilled Chicken: $55
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $55
- Dinner at the Cala Restaurant in Lima: $63
- Dinner at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant: $64
- Criollo Nights Lima Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $69
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sapa $5.94Lima $9.30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Sapa
For Sapa, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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CatCat Village Tax$1.55
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Ta Phin Village Tax$0.77
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Walking Stick$0.19
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Paddle Boat Rental on Sapa Lake (1 Hr)$3.10
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)$17
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Movie Tickets$2.48
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- 1 Day Tour to Huacachina from Lima (Dunebuggy + Vineyards): $225
- 2 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $265
- 3 Day Tour From Paracas, Huacachina Oasis & Pisco Vineyard: $143
- 3 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $275
- 3 Days Tour of Paracas Huacachina and Nazca: $275
- 3 Hour Private Electric Scooter Tour of Lima: $75
- 3 Hours Walking Tour of Lima Old Town and Catacumbs: $59
- 3-Day Tour Discover Paracas and Huacachina from Lima: $260
- 8-Hour Private Tour Lima Viceroyalty and Gold Museum with Lunch: $120
- A Journey Through Time: Lima's Historic Center & Catacombs Tour: $20
- Adventure Paracas & Huacachina Day trip from Lima: $89
- All Inclusive Miraflores & Historic Center Gastronomic Tour: $120
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySapa $7.93Lima $6.05
Typical Alcohol Prices in Sapa
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Sapa are as follows:
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Two Beers$0.97
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$7.84
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Beer$4.37
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Cocktail$3.50
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Free Pub Crawl: $5.00
- Barranco Bohemian Bar Crawl: 4 Bars & Live Music: $24
- Bar Crawl Night Tour in Miraflores: $38
- Local Wine Tour: $77
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sapa and Lima, we can see that Lima is more expensive. And not only is Sapa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sapa is in Asia 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 Sapa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sapa 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 Sapa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sapa Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sapa or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Sapa. When comparing the sizes of Sapa 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.
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.