When I bought my Volaris AYCF pass, the very first thing I noticed was that I could get to Lima for under $100.
Naturally, I went twice in the first six months—because when the universe hands you a cheap flight, you don’t ask questions.
The first trip? I stayed in downtown Lima, which—how do I put this politely—is not recommended. It’s extremely crowded, and I was repeatedly told it’s not exactly the place you want to be wandering around at night unless you enjoy unnecessary stress and poor decision-making.
The second trip, however, was the charm.
I found an incredible Airbnb with a cliffside ocean view in Miraflores, and it was everything. These were my daily views for less than $20 a night—or about $480 a month on a long-term stay, which feels borderline illegal in a good way.
It was pretty easy to get my 10K steps here! What a beautiful place to walk!
The historic area of Lima is amazing!
The cost of living in Lima is surprisingly reasonable for a major city—and yes, it still caters to your occasional North American comfort-food relapse.
If you absolutely need a fix, Lima has familiar places like TGI Fridays and Chili’s—at roughly half the price you’d pay back home. Same questionable menu decisions, far less financial regret.
That said, you’d be doing yourself a serious disservice if you stopped there. Peruvian ceviche, locally roasted coffee, and local beer are on an entirely different level. Easily some of the best you’ll find anywhere in the world—and at prices that make you wonder why you ever paid $18 for disappointment on a plate in North America.
In Miraflores, the cost of most things runs about 50–75% less than North American prices, which is where the lifestyle math really starts working in your favor.
$2–3 for a daily coffee and a small treat—with a cliffside ocean view, because apparently that’s normal here
$2 for weekly laundry, washed and folded (yes, really)
$20 for any meal at TGI Fridays or Chili’s, including two beers
$30 for a 90-minute massage—and yes, I got two a week, because self-care is cheaper than therapy
There’s also a large mall nearby with all the familiar global brands. Prices there aren’t dramatically cheaper, which makes sense—the products come from the same factories as everywhere else. But it’s comforting to know that if you suddenly need a North American retail fix, it’s right there.
The changing of the guards at the Presidential Palace and traditional Peruvian dancers! 😍
