Which place is cheaper, Washington or Lima?
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 Lima or Washington?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Lima and Washington. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Lima or Washington?
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.
Washington
Washington, DC is the capital city of the United States of America. It is also a city rich in history and culture. The city dates back to 1791 when the states of Maryland and Virginia donated the land to create the capital. In 1846, Congress returned the land that was ceded by Virginia and in 1871 it created a single municipal government with the remaining area. Today, Washington, DC has a population of over 600,000 people. The metropolitan area includes suburbs in Maryland and Virginia and has a population of about 5.8 million.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, The Best Adventure Tours to Peru, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.
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Lima Prices
Peru PricesWashington Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLima $95Washington $226
The average daily cost (per person) in Lima is $95, while the average daily cost in Washington is $226. 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 Lima and Washington in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLima $52Washington $113
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLima $104Washington $226
Compare Hotels in Lima and Washington
Looking for a hotel in Lima or Washington? 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: Lima Hotel Prices and Washington Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lima $6.06Washington $47
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.73
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Taxi Ride$5.73
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Short Taxi Ride$4.30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- Direct Private Transfer From Lima to Paracas, English Speaking Driver: $269
- Private Transfer From Lima To Huacachina With 2 Stops: $263
- Private Transfer from Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Pisco Port: $220
- Private Transfer from Lima City Hotels to Pisco Cruise Port: $201
- Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima City Hotels: $201
- Private Transfer from Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Pisco Port : $201
- Transfer from Lima Airport to your hotel and vice versa: $175
- Full Day Small Group Tour in Caral with Transfer: $158
- 3-Day Trip to Lima Tour Package, hotels & transfers: $140
- Palomino Islands Excursion & Swimming with Sea Lions with Hotel Transfers: $125
- Lima Airport Arrival Transfer for small groups: $79
- Private Transfer from Lima to Jorge Chávez (LIM) Airport: $59
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Washington
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Washington are as follows:
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Metro Day Pass$9.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Washington
Also for Washington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- DCA Airport Private Transfer to Washington D.C.: $37
- Private Transfer Washington Airport DCA to Washington DC Hotels: $42
- Private Arrival Transfer from Washington Reagan Airport DCA: $48
- Airport Transfer from Ronald Reagan Airport DCA ⇄ Washington DC: $65
- Washington R. Reagan Airport (DCA) to Washington - Arrival Private Transfer: $67
- Washington DC: One Way Airport Transfer Service: $80
- Washington to Washington Airport (DCA) Departure Private Transfer: $80
- Washington to Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI) - Departure Private Transfer: $84
- Transfer Washington City Center to Dulles Airport (IAD): $88
- Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) to Washington - Arrival Private Transfer: $88
- Washington to Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) - Departure Private Transfer: $88
- Airport Transfer from Ronald Reagan ⇄Airport DCA to Washington DC: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Lima or Washington?
Prices for flights to both Washington and Lima 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 dayLima $32Washington $66
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.59
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Ice cream$3.73
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Coffee$3.15
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Donut$1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $40
- Peruvian Food Tour Through Local Markets: $40
- Lima Food Tour with Ceviche, Pisco, and Grilled Chicken: $40
- Andean Breads Cooking Class in Lima: $42
- Dinner with Folkloric Show at Casa Tambo Restaurant: $44
- Lima Street Food Tour | Markets & Local Life: $45
- Dinner at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant: $55
- Private Guided Walking Street Food Tour in Lima: $55
- Lima Food Tour - Prepare your Anticuchos and Pisco Sour : $58
- #1 Reviewed Lima Cooking Class: $59
- Lima Market Tour & Ceviche Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $59
- Best Cooking Classes and Local Market Visit in Miraflores: $60
Typical Food Prices in Washington
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Washington:
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Water$2.00
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Snacks on Monuments Tour$6.15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Washington
For Washington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- DC: City Cruises Buffet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise: $60
- Washington DC Holiday Donut Adventure and Walking Food Tour: $70
- DC: City Cruises Gourmet Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner Cruise: $71
- Little Ethiopia Food Tour: $71
- Adams Morgan Food Tour: $78
- Dupont Circle Food Tour: $84
- Cobblestones & Croissants: A Morning Food Tour in Georgetown, DC: $85
- Washington D.C: Acquired Taste Food Tour in Georgetown: $95
- DC: Eastern Market Eats Food Tour (5 Food Stops + Dessert): $99
- Washington D.C.: Georgetown Guided Secret Food Tour: $104
- City Cruises Washington DC: Signature Dinner Cruise: $121
- Washington D.C.: Taste of Georgetown Walking Food Tour: $129
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lima $9.15Washington $24
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)$17
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Movie Tickets$2.44
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Cycling Tour Miraflores - Barranco - Chorrillos: $30
- Private Classic City Tour Experience of Lima: $65
- Private Stopover Tour of Lima from the Airport: $150
- The best of Lima walking tour: $216
- Tour to Pillones Waterfalls and Imata Stone Forest: $40
- #1 Full Day Tour From Paracas and Huacachina Oasis: $59
- 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: $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
Tours and Activities in Washington
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Washington.
- National Mall Democracy Quest Experience in Washington DC: $5.96
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Washington: $5.96
- The Kennedy Homes: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Washington DC Self Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
- Reflections on a Nation Self-Guided National Mall Highlights Tour: $9.99
- Washington DC Mall Self Guided Audio Walking Tour: $12
- DC - Historical: At your leisure and your pace. Downloadable audiovisual tour.: $15
- Washington DC Audio Tour: Washington, D.C. Audio Tour Adventure: $15
- Washington DC Monuments Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Washington D.C.: Washington Wizards Basketball Game Ticket: $20
- Washington DC: Arlington Nat. Cemetery Ticket & Tram Tour: $22
- Ghosts of Lafayette Park Evening Tour in Washington DC: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLima $5.95Washington $19
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$7.71
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Beer$4.30
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Cocktail$3.44
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
- Discover Miraflores nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $20
- Bar Crawl Night Tour in Miraflores: $30
- Full Day Paracas, Huacachina and Wine Tasting from Lima : $138
Sample the Local Flavors in Washington
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Washington:
- Epic Washington DC Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
- DC Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl By US Ghost Adventures: $29
- Washington DC: Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Washington, D.C.: History Tour Pub Crawl: $56
- Small-Group History Tour Pub Crawl of Washington, D.C.: $59
- DC Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $105
- DC: Guided Craft Brewery Tours with a Snack: $105
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lima and Washington, we can see that Washington is more expensive. And not only is Lima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lima is in South America and Washington is in North 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 Washington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Washington 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 Lima Expensive? and Is Washington Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lima or Washington?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Washington. When comparing the sizes of Lima and Washington, 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 Lima or Washington?
Washington 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 Lima or Washington in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Lima as well as Washington. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Washington in the summer for the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Lima is cooler than Washington in the summer. The daily temperature in Lima averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Washington fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Washington. In the summer, Lima often gets less sunshine than Washington. Lima gets 36 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Washington receives 278 hours of full sun.
Lima usually gets less rain in July than Washington. Lima gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Washington receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLima 18°C (64°F)Washington 79°F (26°C)
Should I visit Lima or Washington in the Autumn?
Both Washington and Lima are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Washington for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Lima is a little warmer than Washington. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Lima in October average around 19°C (66°F), and Washington averages at about 60°F (15°C).
Lima usually receives less sunshine than Washington during autumn. Lima gets 60 hours of sunny skies, while Washington receives 197 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Lima usually receives less rain than Washington. Lima gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Washington receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLima 19°C (66°F)Washington 60°F (15°C)
Should I visit Lima or Washington in the Winter?
Both Washington and Lima during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Washington because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
The weather in Washington can be very cold. In January, Lima is generally much warmer than Washington. Daily temperatures in Lima average around 23°C (73°F), and Washington fluctuates around 35°F (1°C).
In the winter, Lima often gets more sunshine than Washington. Lima gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Washington receives 139 hours of full sun.
Lima usually gets less rain in January than Washington. Lima gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Washington receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLima 23°C (73°F)Washington 35°F (1°C)
Should I visit Lima or Washington in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Lima and Washington. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round. Furthermore, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Washington this time of year.
Lima is much warmer than Washington in the spring. The daily temperature in Lima averages around 22°C (72°F) in April, and Washington fluctuates around 56°F (14°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Washington this time of the year. Lima usually receives less sunshine than Washington during spring. Lima gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Washington receives 228 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Lima usually receives less rain than Washington. Lima gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Washington receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLima 22°C (72°F)Washington 56°F (14°C)
Typical Weather for Washington and Lima
| Lima | Washington | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 35°F (1°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 37°F (3°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 56°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 75°F (24°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 79°F (26°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
| Aug | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 78°F (26°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 71°F (22°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 60°F (15°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
| Dec | 22°C (72°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 39°F (4°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
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.