Which place is cheaper, Lima or Surfers Paradise?
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 Surfers Paradise or Lima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Surfers Paradise 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: Surfers Paradise or Lima?
Surfers Paradise
A tourist mecca, Surfers Paradise is one of the most popular travel destinations along Australia's famed Gold Coast. The beach stretches for miles and there is an endless supply of almost constant parties. You'll find high rise apartments lined up along the shore and plenty of shopping areas, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Travelers from around the world visit the area, and it's a right of passage for Australia's teens to vacation in or near Surfers Paradise. For many travelers, Surfers Paradise comes across as little more than a mass marketed, over commercialized, party destination, but for others it is a vacation dream. Prices are highly inflated so you have to keep your whits about you to avoid being ripped off. Surfers Paradise is a destination of extremes and it conjures up extreme emotions in many travelers, be it positive or negative.
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 Luxury Tours to Australia, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
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Surfers Paradise Prices
Australia PricesLima Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySurfers Paradise $132Lima $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Surfers Paradise is $132, 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 Surfers Paradise and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSurfers Paradise $71Lima $52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurfers Paradise $142Lima $104
Compare Hotels in Surfers Paradise and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Surfers Paradise 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: Surfers Paradise Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Surfers Paradise $12Lima $6.11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surfers Paradise
Also for Surfers Paradise, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Gold Coast Theme Parks: Shared Hotel Transfers: $15
- Chill Out at Byron Bay from Gold Coast (Transfer Only): $81
- Gold Coast Airport Transfers Corporate Chauffeurs Gold Coast: $127
- Private Transfers From Gold Coast to Brisbane: $177
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.78
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Taxi Ride$5.78
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Short Taxi Ride$4.34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Transfer: Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima City Center: $15
- Transfer in Private Van from the Airport to Hotels in Lima: $60
- Transfer from the Airport to the Hotel or Hotel-Airport!!: $25
- Transfer from the Airport to hotels in Lima: $30
- Transfer from Lima Airport to your hotel and vice versa: $175
- Transfer from Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco to Airport: $21
- Transfer by official taxi from Jorge Chávez Lima Airport: $35
- Tour Night Magic Water Park and Ravine with Transfer: $49
- Tour Magic Water Park in Lima with Small Group Transfer: $38
- Taxi transfers from and to the Lima Airport and Paracas Ica: $15
- Roundtrip Private Transfer Lima Airport (LIM): $33
- Round Trip Transfer from and to the Airport in Miraflores/Barranco/Sani: $41
Is it cheaper to fly into Surfers Paradise or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Surfers Paradise 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 daySurfers Paradise $48Lima $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Buffet Dinner Sightseeing Cruise: $85
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.63
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Ice cream$3.76
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Coffee$3.18
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Donut$1.01
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Food Tours on the Forbidden Side of Lima with Elite DRONE FOOTAGE: $5.00
- Dinner at Café del Museo Larco restaurant: $30
- Andean Breads Cooking Class in Lima: $44
- Miraflores Cooking Class Ceviche, Tartar & Pisco Sour: $48
- Dinner at Mangos Larcomar Restaurant: $48
- Lima Street Food Tour : Try the best Peruvian street food: $49
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $55
- Lima Food Tour with Ceviche, Pisco, and Grilled Chicken: $55
- #1 Rated Lima Cooking Class: Make Ceviche, Causa & Pisco Sours!: $59
- Barranco Food Tour: $60
- Dinner at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant: $62
- Dinner at the Cala Restaurant in Lima: $63
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Surfers Paradise $25Lima $9.23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Surfers Paradise
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Surfers Paradise's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Surf Lesson$84
Tours and Activities in Surfers Paradise
For Surfers Paradise, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Surfers Paradise - 2 Hour Gold Coast Sightseeing Cruise: $21
- Surfers Paradise Sightseeing Midday River Cruise: $21
- Gold Coast Afternoon River Cruise: $21
- Surfers Paradise Sightseeing City Lights Cruise: $28
- Surfers Paradise Sightseeing River Cruises: $28
- HOTA: Gold Coast Home of the Arts Cruise & Dine Experience Pass: $28
- Sandbox Virtual Reality Experience - Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast: $32
- Gold Coast Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Cruise 1 Day Pass: $32
- Gold Coast Ultimate High-Speed Jet Boat Adventure: $35
- Guided Gold Coast Amphibious Bus Tour: $38
- Surfers Paradise Sightseeing Sunset River Cruise: $39
- Gold Coast: 360-Degree High-Speed Jet Boat Adventure: $39
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$2.46
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
- 1 day tour in Ica Peru: $200
- 2 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $279
- 2 Day Tour from Paracas, Ballestas Island and Huacachina: $149
- 2 Days 1 Night Tour of Paracas Huacachina & flight to Nazca Lines: $272
- 2D Tour from Lima Paracas and Huacachina with Night in Huacachina: $230
- 3 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $289
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySurfers Paradise $12Lima $6.00
Sample the Local Flavors in Surfers Paradise
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Surfers Paradise:
- Tamborine Mountain Food & Wine Tour from the Gold Coast: $162
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$7.78
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Beer$4.34
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Cocktail$3.47
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Free Pub Crawl: $5.00
- Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $22
- Barranco Bohemian Bar Crawl: 4 Bars & Live Music: $24
- Bar Crawl Night Tour in Miraflores: $38
- Local Wine Tour: $77
- From Lima Paracas and Huacachina Oasis Dunes and Wine Tour: $89
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Surfers Paradise and Lima, we can see that Surfers Paradise is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Surfers Paradise is in Pacific 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 Surfers Paradise would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Surfers Paradise or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 420 times larger than the population of Surfers Paradise. When comparing the sizes of Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise or Lima?
Surfers Paradise 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 Surfers Paradise or Lima in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Surfers Paradise as well as Lima. Many travelers come to Surfers Paradise for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
In the summer, Surfers Paradise is a little warmer than Lima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Surfers Paradise in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Lima averages at about 18°C (64°F)in July.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Surfers Paradise this time of the year. In the summer, Surfers Paradise often gets more sunshine than Limain July. Surfers Paradise gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun.
Surfers Paradise receives a lot of rain in the summer. Surfers Paradise usually gets more rain in January than Limain July. Surfers Paradise gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Lima receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulySurfers Paradise 25°C (77°F)Lima 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Lima in the Autumn?
Both Lima and Surfers Paradise are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Surfers Paradise in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Surfers Paradise is generally a little warmer than Limain October. Daily temperatures in Surfers Paradise average around 22°C (71°F), and Lima fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Surfers Paradise. Surfers Paradise usually receives more sunshine than Lima during autumn. Surfers Paradise gets 214 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 60 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Surfers Paradise. In April, Surfers Paradise usually receives more rain than Limain October. Surfers Paradise gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Lima receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberSurfers Paradise 22°C (71°F)Lima 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Lima in the Winter?
Both Lima and Surfers Paradise during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Surfers Paradise for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
Surfers Paradise is much colder than Lima in the winter. The daily temperature in Surfers Paradise averages around 15°C (59°F) in July, and Lima fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in January.
It's quite sunny in Surfers Paradise. In the winter, Surfers Paradise often gets more sunshine than Limain January. Surfers Paradise gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 185 hours of full sun.
Surfers Paradise usually gets more rain in July than Limain January. Surfers Paradise gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Lima receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuarySurfers Paradise 15°C (59°F)Lima 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Surfers Paradise or Lima in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Surfers Paradise and Lima. The spring months attract visitors to Surfers Paradise because of the beaches. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Surfers Paradise is around the same temperature as Lima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Surfers Paradise in October average around 21°C (69°F), and Lima averages at about 22°C (72°F)in April.
In Surfers Paradise, it's very sunny this time of the year. Surfers Paradise usually receives more sunshine than Lima during spring. Surfers Paradise gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.
Surfers Paradise gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Surfers Paradise usually receives more rain than Limain April. Surfers Paradise gets 103 mm (4 in) of rain, while Lima receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilSurfers Paradise 21°C (69°F)Lima 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Lima and Surfers Paradise
| Surfers Paradise | Lima | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 22°C (71°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (61°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 15°C (59°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (69°F) | 103 mm (4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 129 mm (5.1 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.