Which place is cheaper, Lima or Ushuaia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ushuaia or Lima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ushuaia 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: Ushuaia or Lima?
Ushuaia
Ushuaia is a city on the Tierra del Fuego island of Argentina on the Beagle Strait. The city is considered to be one of the southernmost cities in the world and is often used as a base for cruises to Antarctica. Ushuaia's close proximity to Antarctica and their amazing hiking trails have made it a popular tourist destination over the past few decades.
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 Wildlife Tours to Argentina, The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUshuaia $11Lima $77
The average daily cost (per person) in Ushuaia is $11, while the average daily cost in Lima is $77. 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 Ushuaia and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUshuaia $5.64Lima $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUshuaia $11Lima $98
Compare Hotels in Ushuaia and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Ushuaia 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: Ushuaia Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ushuaia -Lima $5.73
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ushuaia are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$0.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia
Also for Ushuaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ushuaia Airport Shared Transfer: $7.48
- Shared One-way Airport Transfer: $10
- Ushuaia Airport Arrival Transfer: $10
- Transfer from the airport to the hotel in shared service: $19
- Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Ushuaia city to Ushuaia Airport(USH) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Port to Ushuaia Airport (USH): $25
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport (USH) to Ushuaia Port : $25
- Transfer Cerro Castor (Round Trip): $25
- Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Ushuaia): $27
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Cruise Port to Ushuaia Airport(USH): $28
- Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia Cruise Port: $28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.43
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Taxi Ride$5.43
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Short Taxi Ride$4.07
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Private Transfer From Lima To Paracas With 2 Stops : $175
- Premium Peruvian Horse Show with Lunch & Transfers: $150
- Palomino Islands Excursion & Swimming with Sea Lions with Hotel Transfers: $119
- Airport Transfer Service in Lima: $95
- Lima round trip transfers airport - hotel - airport + City Tour: $89
- Private Transfer from Callao Cruise Port to Lima city hotels: $87
- Private Transfer from Lima city hotels to Callao Cruise Port: $87
- Private Largevan Transfer - Arrival Lima Airport to Hotel: $80
- Private Transfer from Lima City Hotels to Pisco Cruise Port: $78
- Private Transfer from Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Pisco Port : $78
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Lima City - Lima Airport (LIM): $61
- Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $61
Is it cheaper to fly into Ushuaia or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Ushuaia 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 dayUshuaia $2.18Lima $18
Typical Food Prices in Ushuaia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ushuaia:
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Lunch for Two$0.06
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ushuaia
For Ushuaia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ushuaia at night: A Snow and Fire dinner, sledding and adventure: $280
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.34
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Ice cream$3.53
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Coffee$2.99
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Donut$0.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Lima Market Food Tour: $33
- Lima Market Food Tour: $34
- Lima Market Food Tour - Taste 9 Popular Peruvian Snacks: $35
- Lima Street Food Tour: $40
- Lima Street Food Tour: $45
- Street Food Tour in Miraflores District: $45
- Lima Food Tour: $45
- Cooking Workshop and Water Circuit Tour: $45
- Barranco Tour with Dinner: $47
- Bohemian tour of Barranco with Dinner: $47
- Private Cooking Class With a Local Family in Lima: $48
- Lima Night Food Tour: $48
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ushuaia $13Lima $8.66
Tours and Activities in Ushuaia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ushuaia.
- Panoramic City Train Tour: $10
- Guided Tour of the City of Ushuaia: $20
- Exploring Double Decker Bus Tour: $22
- Double-Decker Sightseeing Tour: $24
- Ushuaia City Tour: $26
- Ushuaia City Half-Day Tour: $31
- An Hour Tour in the City of Ushuaia: $32
- City Tour of Ushuaia: $42
- Beagle Channel & Sea Wolves Island Catamaran Cruise: $45
- End of the World Train Ticket: $45
- Half-Day Tierra del Fuego National Park (NOT CRUISE): $59
- Escondido & Fagnano Lake Tour: $60
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)$16
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Movie Tickets$2.31
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Lima in 1 Day! - City Tour + Miraflores, Barranco & San Isidro: $85
- Cultural Tour of the city of Lima & Gastronomic: $62
- 2 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $279
- 2 Day Tour from Paracas, Huacachina, and Pisco Vineyard: $149
- 2 Hour Guided Walking Tour in Barranco: $20
- 2d/1n Tour: Flight to the Nazca, Paracas and Huacachina Lines: $289
- 3 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $289
- 3-Hour Guided Bicycle Tour in Miraflores: $30
- 3-Hour Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide in Lima: $51
- 360° Panoramic bus - Sightseeing Tour: $27
- 6-day Tour of Northern Peru: $1,010
- 6DTour+Hotel Cusco,Sacred Valley,Machupicchu,RainbowMountain: $865
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUshuaia -Lima $5.63
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ushuaia
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Ushuaia are as follows:
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Wine$0.05
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Beer$0.01
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$7.30
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Beer$4.07
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Cocktail$3.26
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Pub Crawl in Lima: $17
- Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $18
- Exclusive Pub Crawl with 10+ benefits: $18
- Party Tour in Miraflores with Bar Crawl and Drinks: $18
- Party tour in Miraflores with Bar Crawl Lima: $20
- Local Wine Tour: $50
- Ballestas Islands + Huacachina Oasis + Wine Tour !! The best price: $226
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ushuaia and Lima, we can see that Lima is more expensive. And not only is Ushuaia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ushuaia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ushuaia Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ushuaia or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Ushuaia. When comparing the sizes of Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia or Lima?
Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia or Lima in the Summer?
Both Lima and Ushuaia during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
Ushuaia is much colder than Lima in the summer. The daily temperature in Ushuaia averages around 10°C (50°F) in January, and Lima fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in July.
In the summer, Ushuaia often gets more sunshine than Limain July. Ushuaia gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun.
Ushuaia usually gets more rain in January than Limain July. Ushuaia gets 40 mm (1.6 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 JulyUshuaia 10°C (50°F)Lima 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Ushuaia or Lima in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ushuaia and Lima. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Ushuaia is much colder than Lima. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ushuaia in April average around 6°C (43°F), and Lima averages at about 19°C (66°F)in October.
Ushuaia usually receives more sunshine than Lima during autumn. Ushuaia gets 74 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 60 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In April, Ushuaia usually receives more rain than Limain October. Ushuaia gets 40 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 April and OctoberUshuaia 6°C (43°F)Lima 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Ushuaia or Lima in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Ushuaia as well as Lima. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
It's quite cold in Ushuaia in the winter. In July, Ushuaia is generally much colder than Limain January. Daily temperatures in Ushuaia average around 2°C (36°F), and Lima fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
In the winter, Ushuaia often gets less sunshine than Limain January. Ushuaia gets 61 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 185 hours of full sun.
Ushuaia usually gets more rain in July than Limain January. Ushuaia gets 30 mm (1.2 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 JanuaryUshuaia 2°C (36°F)Lima 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Ushuaia or Lima in the Spring?
Both Lima and Ushuaia are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Ushuaia is much colder than Lima in the spring. The daily temperature in Ushuaia averages around 6°C (43°F) in October, and Lima fluctuates around 22°C (72°F)in April.
Ushuaia usually receives less sunshine than Lima during spring. Ushuaia gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Ushuaia usually receives more rain than Limain April. Ushuaia gets 30 mm (1.2 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 AprilUshuaia 6°C (43°F)Lima 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Lima and Ushuaia
| Ushuaia | Lima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 6°C (43°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 1°C (34°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Aug | 2°C (36°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 4°C (39°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (43°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 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.