Which place is cheaper, Lima or Thessaloniki?
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 Thessaloniki or Lima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Lima? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Thessaloniki or Lima?
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece and serves as the capital city of the Central Macedonia region. It also has a rich history dating back more than 3,000 years. As a visitor, you'll find that the city has been touched by the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires, all of which left their mark. In particular, the many Byzantine churches are quite impressive, with some of them listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
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 Tours for Seniors to Greece, The Best Contiki Tours to Greece, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
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Thessaloniki Prices
Greece PricesLima Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayThessaloniki €165Lima €85
The average daily cost (per person) in Thessaloniki is €165, while the average daily cost in Lima is €85. 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 Thessaloniki and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personThessaloniki €79Lima €47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomThessaloniki €158Lima €94
Compare Hotels in Thessaloniki and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Thessaloniki 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: Thessaloniki Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Thessaloniki €13Lima €5.43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Thessaloniki
Also for Thessaloniki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bus Transfer to/from Kavala: $27
- One Way Private Transfer SKG Airport to / from Thessaloniki City Center: $27
- Thessaloniki Airport Private Transfer Service: $30
- Thessaloniki Airport SKG Private Arrival Transfer: $40
- Thessaloniki Airport Private Departure Transfer from city center: $40
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki hotels to Thessaloniki Port: $42
- Private Transfer - Thessaloniki Port to Thessaloniki Airport SKG: $42
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki Port to Thessaloniki hotels: $42
- Thessaloniki Airport or Cruise Port Private Departure Transfer: $46
- Thessaloniki city from or to SKG airport transfer: $46
- Private Transfers from and to Thessaloniki Airport SKG: $62
- Thessaloniki Airport or Cruise Port Private Arrival Transfer: $72
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride€5.14
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Taxi Ride€5.14
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Short Taxi Ride€3.85
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Transfer: Lima City Center to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $14
- 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 the Airport to Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco: $21
- Transfer from Lima city to the airport: $20
- Transfer from Lima Airport to your hotel and vice versa: $175
- Transfer from Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco to Airport: $21
- Transfer by car from the airport to the hotel: $60
- Tour Night Magic Water Park and Ravine with Transfer: $49
- Tour Magic Water Park in Lima with Small Group Transfer: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Thessaloniki or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Thessaloniki 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 dayThessaloniki €72Lima €29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Walking Open Market Food Tour and Tasting: $52
- Open Market Food Tour with Tasting: $52
- Cooking Experience with Local Greek Family: $68
- Sweet Taste Of Thessaloniki - Food Tour With A Local: $73
- Sweet Taste Of Thessaloniki - Food Tour With A Local: $74
- Kavala Food Tour :Taste Local Delicacies with a guide: $74
- Food Tour with Rooftop Views: $75
- Guided Food Tour: $81
- Thessaloniki Food Tour: A Feast of Local Delicacies: $87
- Thessaloniki Food Tour: A Feast of Local Delicacies: $88
- Authentic Greek Home Cooking with a Local Family in Thessaloniki: $91
- Thessaloniki:Cook Like a Greek Mama – Authentic Home Cooking: $91
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two€4.11
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Ice cream€3.34
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Coffee€2.83
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Donut€0.90
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
- Dinner with Folkloric Show at Casa Tambo Restaurant: $43
- Andean Breads Cooking Class in Lima: $44
- Miraflores Cooking Class Ceviche, Tartar & Pisco Sour: $48
- 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 Market Tour & Ceviche Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $50
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $55
- Lima Food Tour with Ceviche, Pisco, and Grilled Chicken: $55
- Barranco Food Tour: $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Thessaloniki €26Lima €8.20
Tours and Activities in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Podcast Tour: Thessaloniki's Tapestry, Empires, and Erasures: $5.49
- Thessaloniki Self Guided Audio Tour Roman to Ottoman with Quiz: $8.02
- White Tower Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.22
- Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour & Narrative: $9.22
- Museum of Illusions Thessaloniki Ticket: $13
- Thessaloniki:Selfie Museum, a 60-minute immersive experience: $13
- Museum of Illusions Admission Ticket: $13
- Ancient Greek Technology Museum Entry Ticket: $14
- Hop on Hop off Sightseeing Thessaloniki: $19
- Big Bus Thessaloniki Hop on Hop off Bus Tour with Audio Guide: $20
- Thessaloniki Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour: $20
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $20
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)€15
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Movie Tickets€2.18
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: $265
- 2 Day Tour from Paracas, Ballestas Island and Huacachina: $134
- 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 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayThessaloniki €15Lima €5.33
Sample the Local Flavors in Thessaloniki
Also in Thessaloniki, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Saturday Night Pub Crawl in Thessaloniki, Greece: $25
- Cellar Wine Tasting of Greek Varieties: $55
- From Pozar Baths & Wine Tasting: $63
- Wine Tasting & Farm tour in Thessaloniki: $92
- Thessaloniki Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $96
- Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $97
- Kavala: Winery tour & Wine Tasting with food pairings in Kavala: $109
- Greek Wine Tasting & Tour at Ktima Gerovasiliou: $110
- Winery Tour and Wine Tasting: $110
- Private Day Trip to Petralona Cave and Afytos with Wine Tasting: $137
- Alexander the Great and Northern Greece Wine Tour: $246
- Halkidiki Wine Tour with Aristotle's Park: $577
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€6.91
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Beer€3.85
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Cocktail€3.08
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
- Lima Anti Pub Crawl: $60
- From Lima Paracas and Huacachina Oasis Dunes and Wine Tour: $89
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Thessaloniki and Lima, we can see that Thessaloniki is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Thessaloniki is in Europe 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 Thessaloniki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Thessaloniki 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 Thessaloniki Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Thessaloniki or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Thessaloniki. When comparing the sizes of Thessaloniki 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 Thessaloniki or Lima?
Thessaloniki 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 Thessaloniki or Lima in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Thessaloniki as well as Lima. Most visitors come to Thessaloniki for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
In July, Thessaloniki is generally a little warmer than Lima. Daily temperatures in Thessaloniki average around 25°C (77°F), and Lima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Thessaloniki this time of the year. In the summer, Thessaloniki often gets more sunshine than Lima. Thessaloniki gets 327 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun.
Thessaloniki usually gets more rain in July than Lima. Thessaloniki gets 26 mm (1 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 JulyThessaloniki 25°C (77°F)Lima 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Lima in the Autumn?
Both Lima and Thessaloniki are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Thessaloniki because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Thessaloniki is cooler than Lima in the autumn. The daily temperature in Thessaloniki averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Lima fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
Thessaloniki usually receives more sunshine than Lima during autumn. Thessaloniki gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 60 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Thessaloniki usually receives more rain than Lima. Thessaloniki gets 41 mm (1.6 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 OctoberThessaloniki 16°C (61°F)Lima 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Lima in the Winter?
Both Lima and Thessaloniki during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Thessaloniki this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
In the winter, Thessaloniki is much colder than Lima. Typically, the winter temperatures in Thessaloniki in January average around 5°C (41°F), and Lima averages at about 23°C (73°F).
In the winter, Thessaloniki often gets less sunshine than Lima. Thessaloniki gets 101 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 185 hours of full sun.
Thessaloniki usually gets more rain in January than Lima. Thessaloniki gets 37 mm (1.5 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 JanuaryThessaloniki 5°C (41°F)Lima 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Lima in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Thessaloniki and Lima. Many travelers come to Thessaloniki for the beaches and the activities around the city. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Thessaloniki is generally much colder than Lima. Daily temperatures in Thessaloniki average around 13°C (56°F), and Lima fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
Thessaloniki usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Lima during spring. Thessaloniki gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Thessaloniki usually receives more rain than Lima. Thessaloniki gets 36 mm (1.4 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 AprilThessaloniki 13°C (56°F)Lima 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Lima and Thessaloniki
| Thessaloniki | Lima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (41°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 7°C (44°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (56°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (76°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 53 mm (2.1 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.