Cost per day · Peru
Lima on $25, $70 or $250 a day
How much does Lima cost per day? Budget travellers get by on about $25 a day, mid-range trips run around $70, and luxury starts near $250 — accommodation, food, transport and activities included.
That makes Lima the 7th cheapest of 82 cities for a mid-range trip — see all 82 ranked.
Lima is the gastronomic capital of South America — a sprawling Pacific coast metropolis where ancient Incan history meets world-class ceviche, colonial plazas give way to bohemian Barranco, and the food scene rivals anything in Europe.
Lima is very affordable. Menú del día (set lunch) costs $3, ceviche at local cevicherías is $5, and hostels in Miraflores are $10. The Metropolitano bus system is cheap and covers the main areas.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
Lima's baroque masterpiece over its bone-stacked crypt — a Moorish-ceilinged library, and catacombs holding 25,000 of the colonial dead.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →Self-guided tour of Lima's most colourful bohemian neighbourhood
Get tickets on Tiqets →World-record light and water fountain show ($1 entry)
Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Small backpacker hostel in Miraflores, walkable to the coast and the Kennedy Park cat colony.
Check prices on Klook →The Lima house of the South American hostel chain, in Miraflores with a social bar and terrace.
Check prices on Klook →Selina''s Miraflores house, a few blocks from the clifftop parks and the Larcomar centre.
Check prices on Klook →Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Miraflores & the Coast ~$25
Day 2: Barranco ~$25
Day 3: Historic Centre ~$30
Eat menú del día at local restaurants for a 3-course lunch at $3. Stay in Miraflores or Barranco, not the historic centre at night. Use Uber — it's safer and cheaper than street taxis. Ceviche is a lunch dish — never order it at dinner.
Mid-range Lima is where the food revolution truly shines. Excellent restaurants serve dishes that would cost 3x more in New York, boutique hotels in Barranco have Pacific views, and cultural experiences are rich and accessible.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
Lima's baroque masterpiece over its bone-stacked crypt — a Moorish-ceilinged library, and catacombs holding 25,000 of the colonial dead.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →Pre-Columbian to contemporary Peruvian art in a beautiful building
Get tickets on Tiqets →Pre-Incan pyramid illuminated at night, guided archaeological tour
Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Pacific cliff views in Miraflores, excellent pool and restaurant
Check prices on Klook →Charming boutique in a restored Barranco mansion, rooftop terrace
Check prices on Klook →Mid-market chain hotel with straightforward rooms and breakfast included at most properties.
Check prices on Klook →Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Ceviche & Cliffs ~$70
Day 2: Barranco & Pisco ~$80
Day 3: Ruins & Markets ~$75
Stay in Barranco for the artsy bohemian vibe, or Miraflores for the cliffside Pacific views. Book Central or Maido 6+ weeks ahead. Take a cooking class to learn ceviche and causa. Visit Huaca Pucllana at night — the illuminated ruins are magical.
Luxury Lima is world-class and remarkably affordable compared to equivalent experiences in Europe. The city has multiple World's 50 Best restaurants, stunning Pacific-view hotels, and private archaeological experiences.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
Lima's baroque masterpiece over its bone-stacked crypt — a Moorish-ceilinged library, and catacombs holding 25,000 of the colonial dead.
Read guide → Get tickets on Tiqets →Private 3-day trip to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu
Get tickets on Tiqets →Tandem paragliding from the cliffs with Pacific coast views
Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Grand 1927 hotel in San Isidro, old-world elegance and gardens
Check prices on Klook →Five-star international hotel with a full spa, notable restaurants and the service standard the brand implies.
Check prices on Klook →Pacific oceanfront, rooftop infinity pool, Lima's finest hotel
Check prices on Klook →Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: World-Class Dining ~$350
Day 2: Coast & Culture ~$400
Day 3: Culinary Deep-Dive ~$380
Central is South America's #1 restaurant — book the moment reservations open. Belmond Miraflores Park is the top hotel. Private tours of Pachacámac ruins are unforgettable. Combine Lima with a luxury Cusco/Machu Picchu extension.
About Lima
A coastal desert with two faces: warm, sunny summers (Dec–Apr, ~26°C) and a grey, damp "garúa" mist May–Nov. It almost never rains, and the Pacific keeps temperatures mild year-round.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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| 26° | 27° | 26° | 24° | 21° | 19° | 18° | 18° | 18° | 20° | 22° | 24° |
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| high | high | high | mid | mid | low | low | low | low | mid | mid | high |
The Metropolitano bus rapid-transit and one Metro line cover the main corridors, but most visitors use taxi apps (Uber, Cabify) — agree fares or use the app and avoid unmarked street cabs. Miraflores and Barranco are very walkable.
The main square, the cathedral, and the monastery with the catacombs under it.
The bohemian district on the cliff, the bridge of sighs, the clifftop walk and the ocean below.
A travel eSIM gets you online the moment you land in Peru — data plans start at $4.50 — no roaming bill, no queue for a local SIM, and nothing to swap in and out of your phone. Install it before you fly.
The tourist heart: clifftop parks over the Pacific, the Larcomar mall, paragliding launches and most mid-range hotels. Safe, walkable and well-connected.
Best for midrangeLima's most charming district: colourful mansions, street art, the Bridge of Sighs, galleries and the best bars and peñas (folk-music clubs).
Best for budgetThe polished business and embassy district: the El Olivar olive grove, fine dining and the city's smartest hotels.
Best for luxuryThe UNESCO colonial core: the Plaza Mayor, the cathedral, baroque churches and the catacombs of San Francisco. Best visited by day.
Best for midrangeA genuine residential district with the Larco Museum, old taverns and a slower pace away from the tourist trail.
Best for budgetA green, middle-class neighbourhood home to the Museo de la Nación and a relaxed local feel.
Best for midrange- ✓Use Uber or Cabify, or agree the fare before any street taxi
- ✓Eat ceviche at lunch — it's freshest earlier in the day
- ✓Carry small change; many places struggle with large notes
- ✓Greet with "buenos días/tardes" before asking anything
- ✓Tip around 10% at sit-down restaurants if not already added
- ✓Stick to bottled water and peel your fruit
- ✗Hail unmarked street taxis, especially at night
- ✗Flash phones or jewellery in crowds and markets
- ✗Call the Pisco Sour Chilean — Peruvians are fiercely proud of it
- ✗Expect punctuality — "la hora peruana" runs late
- ✗Wander the historic centre after dark
- ✗Eat raw fish anywhere that looks unhygienic
Travel Insurance for Lima
Travel insurance is strongly recommended for any trip to Lima. Safety is rated Exercise caution — petty theft and taxi scams occur; stick to Miraflores, Barranco and San Isidro after dark. — even in safe destinations, unexpected medical emergencies or trip cancellations can be costly. Make sure your policy covers emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation, trip cancellation, and emergency evacuation.
Visa note: Visa-free for up to 90–183 days for most Western nationalities (tourism).. Some countries require proof of travel insurance as part of the visa application.
Get travel insurance for Lima →FAQ: Lima Travel Questions
Is Lima safe to visit? ▾
Exercise caution — petty theft and taxi scams occur; stick to Miraflores, Barranco and San Isidro after dark.
When is the best time to visit Lima? ▾
December – April (sunny coastal summer) A coastal desert with two faces: warm, sunny summers (Dec–Apr, ~26°C) and a grey, damp "garúa" mist May–Nov. It almost never rains, and the Pacific keeps temperatures mild year-round.
How much does a trip to Lima cost per day? ▾
- budget: $25–$45/day
- midrange: $70–$130/day
- luxury: $250–$500/day
- business: $100–$220/day
Do I need a visa to visit Peru? ▾
Visa-free for up to 90–183 days for most Western nationalities (tourism).
How do I get around Lima? ▾
The Metropolitano bus rapid-transit and one Metro line cover the main corridors, but most visitors use taxi apps (Uber, Cabify) — agree fares or use the app and avoid unmarked street cabs. Miraflores and Barranco are very walkable. Lima has a metro system. Taxi base fare ~$2. Day pass ~$2.
Is tipping expected in Lima? ▾
Appreciated but modest — round up or leave ~10% at restaurants; small tips for guides.
What currency is used in Peru? ▾
The local currency is PEN (S/), and the official language is Spanish.