Which place is cheaper, Lima or Seoul?
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 Seoul 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 Seoul and Lima can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Seoul or Lima?
Seoul
With a population of more than 11 million, Seoul is easily the largest city in South Korea. It is also the financial, political, and cultural capital of the country and has much to offer open minded travelers. It is often overlooked by travelers who instead head to Tokyo or Shanghai, but Seoul has a wide range of cultural experiences, food options, and historical sights. Seoul is a city of contrasts with ancient traditions, flashy technology, religious temples and a modern youth culture. It is also more affordable than many of the other Asian metropolis' to which it is often compared. If you're looking for an interesting and different experience that is a little off the tourist trail, Seoul can definitely offer that opportunity.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
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Seoul Prices
South Korea PricesLima Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySeoul $128Lima $95
The average daily cost (per person) in Seoul is $128, while the average daily cost in Lima is $95. 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 Seoul and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSeoul $54Lima $52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSeoul $108Lima $104
Compare Hotels in Seoul and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Seoul 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: Seoul Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Seoul $15Lima $6.06
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seoul
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:
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Subway Card$3.58
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Short Taxi Ride$5.01
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Metro Ride$0.97
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Seoul City Pass Plus$7.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- Night Views Tour with Guide and Transfers: $41
- From Round-Trip Transfer to Dae Jang Geum Park: $50
- Transfer Service from Gimpo Airport to Hotel City: $57
- Seoul Gimpo Airport (GMP) Transfer to Seoul/Suwon/Seongnam/Yongin: $60
- Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul - Arrival Private Transfer: $65
- Incheon Airport (ICN) Transfer to Seoul/Suwon/Seongnam/Yongin: $68
- Seoul to Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) - Departure Private Transfer: $80
- Private Transfer from Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul hotels: $80
- Private Airport Transfer Gimpo Intl Airport (GMP) to Seoul City: $83
- Private Airport Transfer : Gimpo airport to/from Seoul (1~7pax): $89
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport: $90
- Private Gimpo Airport Transfer to/from Seoul(1~7pax): $94
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.73
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Taxi Ride$5.73
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Short Taxi Ride$4.30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- QuickLlama: Door-to-door transfer from Miraflores to Lima Airport: $5.95
- QuickLlama: Transfer from Miraflores Kennedy Park to Lima Airport: $5.95
- LIMA AIRPORT SHUTTLE - Shared Transfer: $13
- Private Transfer from Lima Airport (LIM): $13
- Private Transfer to Lima Airport (LIM): $13
- Transfer: Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima City Center: $16
- Private Transfer from Lima Airport (LIM) to Callao Port: $17
- Private Transfer from Lima City Hotels to Callao Cruise Port: $17
- Private Airport Transfer to Miraflores San Isidro and Barranco: $18
- Transfer from Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco to Airport: $18
- Private Transfer from Callao Cruise Port to Lima Hotels: $18
- Private Transfer from Lima hotels to Callao Cruise Port: $18
Is it cheaper to fly into Seoul or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Seoul 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 daySeoul $51Lima $32
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
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Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$4.30
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Waffle$0.72
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Dippin' Dots$1.43
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Chicken Fried Rice$3.94
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Chicken Stick$1.43
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Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.36
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Lunch Buffet$4.30
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Donut$0.72
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Mushroom Burger$3.72
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Green Tea Ice Cream$2.36
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Udon & Sushi$5.01
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Fresh Burger$3.44
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Soba Noodles Lunch$3.22
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Bibimbap Lunch$3.58
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Fried Rice$3.94
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Vietnamese Dinner$6.80
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Breakfast and Coffee for 2$6.80
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Donut$1.79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seoul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
- Guided Street Food Tour at Namdaemun Market: $45
- Seoul Night Run for Local-Favorite Korean BBQ Dinner: $50
- [Wine & K-BBQ] A Perfect Pairing Dinner in Sinchon: $51
- Wine & K-BBQ: A Perfect Pairing Dinner: $53
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals; Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $53
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $57
- Kimchi Dishes Cooking Class with Wine Pairing: $61
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $64
- Namdaemun Market Food Tour: $65
- Seoul by Night: Palaces, Market & Street Food Tour (Vegan Option): $65
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $67
- Cooking Class in Seoul with Korean Grandma: $68
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.59
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Ice cream$3.73
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Coffee$3.15
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Donut$1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Lima Food Tour with Ceviche, Pisco, and Grilled Chicken: $32
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $40
- Lima Food Tour - Prepare your Anticuchos and Pisco Sour : $48
- #1 Reviewed Lima Cooking Class: $49
- Dinner at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant: $55
- Private Guided Walking Street Food Tour in Lima: $55
- Peru’s Most Beloved Recipes Cooking Class: $58
- Lima Market Tour & Ceviche Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $59
- Lima Night: Cooking Experience with locals: $65
- Peruvian Cooking Class, Local Market Tour & Exotic Fruit Tasting: $65
- Vegan Peruvian Food Cooking Class | Ceviche + Pisco Sour: $69
- 4 iconic restaurants of Lima / 3-hour guided food tour: $69
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Seoul $26Lima $9.15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:
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Palace Tickets$5.73
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Movie Ticket$5.73
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Kimchi Museum$2.15
Tours and Activities in Seoul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
- K-Culture Adventure in Seoul Self-Guided Walking Tour : $3.58
- Gyeongbokgung Palace Hanbok Rental Experience in Seoul: $7.00
- Seoul Changdeokgung Palace Hanbok Experience Hanboknam (내국인불가): $7.10
- Alternative A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Gwanghwamun Tour l 120 Minutes to Understand South Korea: $10
- [Seoul] Football Faentasium Admission Ticket (내국인 불가): $10
- Gwanghwamun Tour about Korean Society and Local Mindset: $11
- Street Hustle Adventure in Seoul: $11
- SPAREX Jjimjilbang Sauna Dongmyo branch Admission Ticket(내국인불가): $11
- Skip the Line: Figure Museum W Ticket (내국인 불가): $11
- Dynamic Maze Discount Ticket Insa-dong(내국인불가): $12
- Seoul Job Experience Theme Park Ticket for Kid (내국인 불가): $13
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$2.44
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Beach tour and surfboards for rent in Lima, Peru: $14
- Lima City Tour with Baby Alpaca Class and Pisco Tasting: $16
- Skip the Line: Larco Museum Admission Ticket: $18
- Miraflores and Barranco Private Bike Tour: $19
- Private Bike Tour in Lima: $19
- Bike Tour Lima: $19
- Water Magic Circuit Lima Night Tour by Panoramic Bus: $20
- Tour in Lima with Visit to the Catacombs of San Francisco: $20
- Bohemian and artistic ravine walking tour: $22
- Lima Half-Day City Walking Tour (Small Groups): $24
- Pisco Sour experience with mini causitas at República del Pisco: $25
- Guided Walking Tour in Barranco: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySeoul $12Lima $5.95
Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $26
- LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl and Drag Show with Local Drag Queen: $28
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $42
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $46
- Soju Tasting at Distillery: $51
- Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $57
- Chunpoong Makgeolli Brewery Tour: $59
- Korean Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $60
- Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $67
- Itaewon Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $73
- Learn and Craft Makgeolli in a Traditional Brewery: $78
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$7.71
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Beer$4.30
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Cocktail$3.44
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $19
- Bar Crawl Night Tour in Miraflores: $30
- Local Wine Tour : $55
- From Paracas & Huacachina & Wine Tasting: $135
- Full Day Paracas, Huacachina and Wine Tasting from Lima : $138
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Seoul and Lima, we can see that Seoul is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Seoul 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 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 Seoul would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Seoul 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 Seoul Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Seoul or Lima?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 34% larger than the population of Lima. When comparing the sizes of Seoul 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 Seoul or Lima?
Seoul 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 Seoul or Lima in the Summer?
Both Lima and Seoul are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Seoul in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Seoul is generally a little warmer than Lima. Daily temperatures in Seoul average around 26°C (78°F), and Lima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
Seoul usually receives more sunshine than Lima during summer. Seoul gets 121 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Seoul. In July, Seoul usually receives more rain than Lima. Seoul gets 369 mm (14.5 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 JulySeoul 26°C (78°F)Lima 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Lima in the Autumn?
Both Lima and Seoul during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Seoul for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
Seoul is cooler than Lima in the autumn. The daily temperature in Seoul averages around 15°C (59°F) in October, and Lima fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
It's quite sunny in Seoul. In the autumn, Seoul often gets more sunshine than Lima. Seoul gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 60 hours of full sun.
Seoul usually gets more rain in October than Lima. Seoul gets 49 mm (1.9 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 OctoberSeoul 15°C (59°F)Lima 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Lima in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Seoul and Lima. The winter months attract visitors to Seoul because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
The weather in Seoul can be very cold. In the winter, Seoul is much colder than Lima. Typically, the winter temperatures in Seoul in January average around -3°C (27°F), and Lima averages at about 23°C (73°F).
Seoul usually receives less sunshine than Lima during winter. Seoul gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 185 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Seoul usually receives more rain than Lima. Seoul gets 23 mm (0.9 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 JanuarySeoul -3°C (27°F)Lima 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Seoul or Lima in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Seoul as well as Lima. The activities around the city are the main draw to Seoul this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
In April, Seoul is generally much colder than Lima. Daily temperatures in Seoul average around 13°C (55°F), and Lima fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Seoul this time of the year. In the spring, Seoul often gets more sunshine than Lima. Seoul gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun.
Seoul usually gets more rain in April than Lima. Seoul gets 94 mm (3.7 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 AprilSeoul 13°C (55°F)Lima 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Lima and Seoul
| Seoul | Lima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 0°C (33°F) | 22 mm (0.9 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.