Daily costs per person in Peruvian soles. Lima offers world-class gastronomy at every price point — from S/ 8 market lunches to top-50-in-the-world restaurants.
Daily cost breakdown
Currency: PEN (Sol) (1 USD ≈ 3.75 PEN)
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Splurge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | S/ 30–70 | S/ 120–300 | S/ 500+ | Hostels → boutique hotels → luxury hotels |
| Food | S/ 25–50 | S/ 60–130 | S/ 250+ | Markets & street food → cevicherías → fine dining |
| Transport | S/ 5–15 | S/ 20–50 | S/ 80+ | Metro/bus → Uber → private transfers |
| Activities | S/ 0–20 | S/ 40–100 | S/ 200+ | Free sites & walks → museums → paragliding |
| Drinks | S/ 8–20 | S/ 25–50 | S/ 80+ | Chicha morada → pisco at bars → cocktail lounges |
| Daily Total | S/ 68–175 | S/ 265–630 | S/ 1,110+ | $18–47 → $71–168 → $296+ |
Money-saving tips
Menú del día
Almost every local restaurant offers a menú (set lunch) for S/ 8–15 — soup, main, drink, and sometimes dessert. It is where all Limeños eat lunch. Markets have the cheapest versions at S/ 8–10.
Ceviche before 3pm
Cevicherías close by 4–5pm — Peruvians only eat ceviche with the freshest fish. Market ceviche costs S/ 10–15 vs S/ 35–60 at restaurants. The quality at good markets is just as high.
Metropolitano bus
The Metropolitano BRT costs S/ 2.50 per ride and connects Barranco, Miraflores, and Centro on a dedicated busway. Buy a rechargeable card at any station. Faster than taxis in traffic.
Free museums
Museo de la Nación is free. Museo Larco is free the first Sunday of the month. MALI (Museo de Arte de Lima) is free Sundays. Most churches in Centro are free entry.
Street food mastery
Anticuchos: S/ 5–8. Empanadas: S/ 3–5. Tamales: S/ 4–7. Chicha morada: S/ 3–5. Picarones: S/ 5–8. You can eat a full dinner from street vendors for S/ 15–25 and it will be extraordinary.
Walk the Malecón
The Malecón clifftop walk from Miraflores to Barranco (40 min) is free and one of the best urban walks in South America. Parque Kennedy, Parque del Amor, and all the clifftop parks are free.
