Which place is cheaper, Lima or Varanasi?
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 Varanasi or Lima?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Varanasi and Lima can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Varanasi or Lima?
Varanasi
Known to be one of India's holiest cities, many come to Varanasi on a spiritual pilgrimage looking to bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges River. Dating back to the 11th Century BC, it is also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Centuries old temples make up the backdrop, as many come and come again to perform their holy rights at the edge of the historic river.
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 Bicycle Tours in India, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
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Varanasi Prices
India PricesLima Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVaranasi $31Lima $98
The average daily cost (per person) in Varanasi is $31, while the average daily cost in Lima is $98. 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 Varanasi and Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVaranasi $14Lima $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVaranasi $28Lima $108
Compare Hotels in Varanasi and Lima
Looking for a hotel in Varanasi 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: Varanasi Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Varanasi $4.33Lima $6.25
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Varanasi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Varanasi:
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Tuk Tuk Through Town$0.84
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Rickshaw Ride$0.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varanasi
Also for Varanasi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer: Varanasi Station to Hotel: $10
- Varanasi Hotels to Varanasi Airport drop: Private Transfers: $26
- Private Departure Transfer from Varanasi Hotel to Airport: $28
- Delhi Private Arrival Transfer From New Delhi Airport To Hotel In Delhi: $34
- 3-hours Temple hopping with transfers: $35
- Private Car Airport Transfer from Hotel in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram: $55
- Smooth transfer from Varanasi Airport to Hotel: $60
- Private transfer from Varanasi to Allahabad: $67
- Sarnath Tour with Guide & Car Including Hotel transfers: $69
- Spiritual Varanasi - A Most Amazing Heritage Walk with Private Transfer: $99
- From Agra: Budget One Way Transfer Agra to Varanasi: $160
- From Agra: One-Way Private Transfer to Varanasi: $166
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.92
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Taxi Ride$5.92
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Short Taxi Ride$4.44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Transfer in Private Van from the Airport to Hotels in Lima: $60
- 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
- SHARED AIRPORT TRANSFER - From or To Lima Airport: $11
- QuickLlama: Transfer from Miraflores Kennedy Park to Lima Airport: $5.95
- Private taxi transfer: Lima Jorge Chávez Airport – Safe: $16
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $198
Is it cheaper to fly into Varanasi or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima and Varanasi 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 dayVaranasi $11Lima $33
Typical Food Prices in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner In Town$3.62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class with Sona: $29
- Private Food Tour with Ganga Aarti Ceremony: $42
- Varanasi Bliss: Private Food Tour, Boat Ride & Ganga Aarti: $62
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.74
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Ice cream$3.85
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Coffee$3.26
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Donut$1.04
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: $2.50
- Local Food Tour at an Iconic Market!!: $24
- Private Churros Cooking Class, Miraflores & Hotel Pickup: $43
- Lima Street Food Tour: Taste Authentic Peruvian Delights: $45
- Miraflores Cooking Class Ceviche, Tartar & Pisco Sour: $45
- Dinner with Folkloric Show at Casa Tambo Restaurant: $46
- #1 Rated Lima Cooking Class: Make Ceviche, Causa & Pisco Sours!: $49
- Lima Street Food Tour : Try the best Peruvian street food: $49
- Lima Food Tour & Market Experience: 13 Peruvian Bites: $50
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $50
- Andean Breads Cooking Class in Lima: $55
- Limeno Bites Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Varanasi $9.20Lima $9.44
Typical Entertainment Prices in Varanasi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Varanasi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Boat Ride$0.73
Tours and Activities in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Delhi: Taj Mahal & Agra Tour by Gatimaan Express Train: $2.82
- From Delhi: Taj Mahal Sunrise, Baby Taj & Agra Fort Day Tour: $3.95
- Agra: Taj Mahal Tour with Professional photographer & Guide: $5.64
- Spiritual and Heritage Walking Tour in Varanasi: $11
- Varanasi Landmark Evening City Tour - Aarti, Boating & Witnessing the GOD: $11
- Cycle of Life, Death & Rebirth (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Sunrise in Banaras with Ganga Aarti (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Varanasi Pedal Rickshaw Tours: $13
- Sunrise in Varanasi Tour with a local with free Ganga Aarti and Boat Ride: $17
- Varanasi on Tuk Tuk (2 hours offbeat famous travel experience): $17
- Marigold Boat Tour in Varanasi: $18
- Varanasi Street Food Crawl (2 Hours Guided Food Tasting Tour): $21
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)$18
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Movie Tickets$2.52
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 Day Tour from Paracas, Huacachina, Tunnels & Vineyard: $134
- 2D Tour from Lima Paracas and Huacachina with Night in Huacachina: $230
- 3 Day Tour From Paracas, Huacachina Oasis & Pisco Vineyard: $159
- 3 Day Tour from Nazca Lines Flight, Paracas, and Huacachina: $289
- 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 dayVaranasi $6.88Lima $6.14
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$7.96
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Beer$4.44
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Cocktail$3.55
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Free Pub Crawl: $5.00
- Discover Barranco's Nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $20
- Discover Miraflores nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $24
- Gin and Rum Distillery Tour: $24
- Lima Nightlife Tour & Society – Cultural Pub Crawl: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Varanasi and Lima, we can see that Lima is more expensive. And not only is Varanasi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Varanasi 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 Varanasi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Varanasi 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 Varanasi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Varanasi Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Varanasi or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Varanasi. When comparing the sizes of Varanasi 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.
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.