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 €81
The average daily cost (per person) in Thessaloniki is €165, while the average daily cost in Lima is €81. 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 €44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomThessaloniki €158Lima €88
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 €5.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Thessaloniki
Also for Thessaloniki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bus Transfer to/from Kavala: $25
- Thessaloniki Airport Private Transfer Service: $35
- From Private Day Trip to Meteora with Transfer: $493
- Athens to/from Thessaloniki : Private Transfer: $1,006
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride€4.88
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Taxi Ride€4.88
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Short Taxi Ride€3.66
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Lima APT-HTL (LIM) : $34
- Transfer: Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima City Center: $16
- Transfer from Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco to Airport: $18
- Transfer To Lima Airport: $20
- Tour Magic Water Park in Lima with Small Group Transfer: $38
- Round Trip Transfer from and to the Airport in Miraflores/Barranco/Sani : $33
- QuickLlama: Transfer from Miraflores Kennedy Park to Lima Airport: $5.95
- QuickLlama: Door-to-door transfer from Miraflores to Lima Airport: $5.95
- Private Transfers from/to Lima Airport (Price per Vehicle): $29
- Private Transfer to Lima Airport (LIM): $13
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $201
- Private Transfer from Lima hotels to Callao Cruise Port: $18
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 €27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Open Market Food Tour with Tasting: $53
- Cooking & Dining Experience with Greek Family: $69
- Guided Food Tour: $76
- Greek Ouzo and Meze Food Tour With A Local: $93
- Traditional Greek Food Tour With A Local: $94
- Kavala Food Tour and Cooking Workshop: $95
- Get a Taste of Thessaloniki - Food Tour & Lunch: $103
- Greek Cooking Class, Market Visit and Lunch: $104
- Guided Walking and Food Tour with Drinks: $117
- Thessaloniki Food Tour with a Local Chef: $129
- Cooking & Wine Tasting with Dockside Views: $141
- Cooking classes for Foodies, Discover Greek cuisine.: $158
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two€3.91
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Ice cream€3.17
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Coffee€2.69
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Donut€0.85
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.Thessaloniki €26Lima €7.79
Tours and Activities in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- White Tower Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.37
- Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour & Narrative: $9.37
- Thessaloniki:Selfie Museum, a 60-minute immersive experience: $13
- Museum of Illusions Admission Ticket: $13
- Ticket for Frida Kahlo Beyond the Icon Immersive Experience: $18
- Cretan Olive Oil Tasting Experience: $18
- Thessaloniki Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus Tour: $19
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $19
- OTE Tower Rotating Experience with Light Meal: $21
- Byzantine Museum E-Ticket with Audio Tour: $21
- Byzantine Museum E-Ticket & Audio City Tour: $25
- Polycentric Museum & Aigai Royal Graves E-ticket with Audio Guide: $36
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€2.07
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Ballestas Islands + Huacachina Tour From Lima (Private Group): $190
- Cycling Tour Miraflores - Barranco - Chorrillos: $30
- Lima bike and 5 Step Food Tasting Experience: $92
- Private Classic City Tour Experience of Lima: $65
- Private Stopover Tour of Lima from the Airport: $150
- Sunset in Huacachina and Tacama: Private Tour from Lima: $220
- #1 Full Day Tour From Paracas and Huacachina Oasis: $59
- 1 Day Tour to Huacachina from Lima (Dunebuggy + Vineyards): $225
- 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
- 2 Days 1 Night Paracas Ica Tour from Lima: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayThessaloniki €15Lima €5.07
Sample the Local Flavors in Thessaloniki
Also in Thessaloniki, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- From Pella-Edessa-Naousa wine tasting: $76
- Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $89
- Wine Tasting & Farm tour in Thessaloniki: $95
- Winery Visit with Wine Tasting Experience: $111
- Northern Greece Wine Tasting Tour in Kavala: $155
- Small Group Kavala Tour: Pangaion Mountain & Wine Tasting: $274
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€6.57
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Beer€3.66
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Cocktail€2.93
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 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.