Peru · South America
Lima, Peru: cost, safety and best time to visit (2026)
Population: 7.7MCurrency: PENTime zone: America/Lima
US travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Best months to visit
Jan, Feb, Mar and Apr
highest visit score, Open-Meteo climate record
About Lima
Lima is the capital of Peru and home to about 7.7 million people, making it one of the larger capital cities in South America. Daily costs for a visitor range from $60 for a budget trip up to $140 for a mid-range stay and $300 for a luxury one, with a full week running $420, $980, or $2,100 depending on style. The city stays mild year-round, with average highs between 19.3C and 25.9C and lows between 14.7C and 21.6C across the twelve months. The best months for a visit, based on weather patterns, are January through April, while July through September mark the quietest and cheapest stretch of the year. Peak travel months include January, February, March, April, July, and August. Peru currently carries a Level 2 advisory from the US State Department, meaning travelers should exercise increased caution, though this rating applies to the whole country rather than Lima specifically. Local prices are paid in Peruvian soles, currently trading near 3.57 per US dollar. Visitors should weigh both the weather calendar and the cost tiers when planning how much to budget for lodging, food, and transportation.
Weather through the year
Average high in °C and monthly rainfall in mm, from the Open-Meteo archive.
Jan
24°
9mm
Feb
26°
20mm
Mar
26°
10mm
Apr
24°
2mm
May
21°
1mm
Jun
20°
1mm
Jul
20°
0mm
Aug
19°
1mm
Sep
19°
2mm
Oct
20°
1mm
Nov
21°
1mm
Dec
23°
9mm
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a week in Lima cost?
A week on a budget works out to about $420, a mid-range week runs around $980, and a luxury week comes to about $2,100. These figures are built from the daily estimates of $60, $140, and $300 per person.
When is the best time to visit Lima?
January through April stand out as the best months, with highs between 24.2C and 25.9C, lows between 19.7C and 21.6C, and sunshine averaging around 10.6 to 11.0 hours a day. These months also see relatively low rainfall except for a rainier February.
Is Lima safe for travelers?
The US State Department places Peru at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, at the country level, and the UK FCDO flags street crime, fake taxi drivers, and occasional political protests as specific concerns in Lima. Staying alert in tourist areas such as Miraflores and Barranco and using official transport options reduces most common risks.
Can you visit Lima on a tight budget?
Yes, the budget estimate of $60 a day covers basic lodging, meals, and local transport, and that figure stretches further during the off-season months of July, August, and September when prices and crowds are both lower. Sticking to public transport and simple meals keeps costs close to that budget tier.
What is the cheapest time of year to visit?
July, August, and September are listed as the cheapest and quietest months. Weather during this period is cooler, with highs around 19.3C to 19.6C and lower sunshine hours than the summer months.
What about food and getting around the city?
Local transport, cheap meals, and coffee are all part of the daily budget-tier cost of $60, while sit-down restaurant meals push spending toward the mid-range tier of $140 a day. Buses, shared vans, and app-based taxis are the common ways to move around the city.
Keep reading
Where it ranks
Country
Sources
- GeoNames city database — CC BY 4.0, fetched June 11, 2026
- Open-Meteo climate archive — CC BY 4.0, fetched September 21, 2026
- World Bank price level and exchange rate — CC BY 4.0, data year 2025
- US State Department travel advisories — public domain, fetched September 21, 2026
- UK FCDO foreign travel advice — Open Government Licence v3, fetched September 21, 2026
AI-written interpretation reviewed against the data above — claude-sonnet-5, generated September 21, 2026. Every number on this page comes from a dataset named here; the formulas are public.