Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Antigua Guatemala and Lima

For one person, living is cheaper in Lima: $996 a month against $1,269 in Antigua Guatemala, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Antigua Guatemala
🇬🇹 Guatemala
$1,269
/mo nomad
Lima
🇵🇪 Peru
$996
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Antigua Guatemala and in Lima

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Antigua Guatemala and in Lima actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,269 in Antigua Guatemala versus $996 in Lima.

  • Antigua Guatemala $1,269
  • Lima $996

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,123 in Antigua Guatemala versus $1,594 in Lima.

  • Antigua Guatemala $2,123
  • Lima $1,594

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,977 in Antigua Guatemala versus $2,191 in Lima.

  • Antigua Guatemala $2,977
  • Lima $2,191

Living in Antigua Guatemala is roughly 27% more expensive than in Lima, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Antigua Guatemala 5% lower, Lima 26% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Antigua Guatemala
Lima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.63 Q 50.7
$4.42 PEN 15.16
50.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.7 Q 395
$35.04 PEN 120
47.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.64 Q 58.4
$6.84 PEN 23.44
11.70%
Cappuccino
$3.41 Q 26.08
$3.27 PEN 11.22
4.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 Q 8.81
$1.10 PEN 3.78
4.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 Q 7.14
$0.65 PEN 2.22
43.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.23 Q 24.69
$2.58 PEN 8.85
25.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 Q 35.41
$4.47 PEN 15.34
3.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Antigua Guatemala
Lima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.04 Q 15.60
$1.59 PEN 5.46
28.30%
White Bread (500g)
$3.11 Q 23.78
$2.58 PEN 8.86
20.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.93 Q 14.76
$1.36 PEN 4.65
41.91%
Eggs
$2.44 Q 18.65
$2.95 PEN 10.11
-17.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.48 Q 41.88
$9.10 PEN 31.19
-39.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.20 Q 70.3
$5.81 PEN 19.91
58.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.54 Q 80.6
$9.83 PEN 33.68
7.22%
Apples (1kg)
$3.79 Q 28.97
$2.01 PEN 6.89
88.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 Q 12.55
$1.08 PEN 3.69
51.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Q 21.62
$1.37 PEN 4.70
106.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.67 Q 12.75
$1.48 PEN 5.06
12.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 Q 11.67
$0.96 PEN 3.30
59.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.74 Q 13.27
$0.85 PEN 2.92
104.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 Q 5.16
$0.88 PEN 3.02
-23.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 Q 9.10
$0.87 PEN 2.97
36.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.86 Q 29.49
$5.90 PEN 20.24
-34.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.02 Q 61.3
$8.81 PEN 30.21
-8.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 Q 13.30
$1.92 PEN 6.57
-9.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 Q 19.74
$3.20 PEN 10.98
-19.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Antigua Guatemala
Lima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.58 Q 19.75
$0.68 PEN 2.33
279.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.74 PEN 91.7
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.56 Q 34.81
$3.81 PEN 13.06
19.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.04 PEN 7.00
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.49 Q 80.2
$7.14 PEN 24.49
46.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 Q 9.82
$1.65 PEN 5.65
-22.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K Q 174.4K
$22.2K PEN 76.0K
2.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K Q 166.8K
$25.7K PEN 88.0K
-14.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antigua Guatemala
Lima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.0 Q 436
$73.0 PEN 250
-21.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.77 Q 220
$16.26 PEN 55.7
76.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.71 Q 349
$27.60 PEN 94.6
65.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Antigua Guatemala
Lima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.18 Q 315
$33.07 PEN 113
24.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.13 Q 215
$19.49 PEN 66.8
44.33%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 Q 49.73
$7.39 PEN 25.33
-11.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Antigua Guatemala
Lima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$338 Q 2,585
$182 PEN 624
85.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,808 Q 52.0K
$13.3K PEN 45.7K
-48.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Antigua Guatemala
Lima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.44 Q 332
$52.6 PEN 180
-17.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.13 Q 368
$34.23 PEN 117
40.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.1 Q 704
$83.8 PEN 287
9.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.5 Q 608
$79.0 PEN 271
0.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Antigua Guatemala
Lima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$884 Q 6,757
$723 PEN 2,479
22.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$518 Q 3,960
$340 PEN 1,166
52.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,900 Q 14.5K
$1,184 PEN 4,060
60.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,195 Q 9,129
$635 PEN 2,176
88.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,963 Q 22.6K
$2,449 PEN 8,394
21.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,198 Q 9,155
$1,372 PEN 4,702
-12.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Antigua Guatemala
Lima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$609 Q 4,655
$653 PEN 2,237
-6.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.62
8.94
29.98%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Antigua Guatemala: October 4, 2026

Last update for Lima: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Antigua Guatemala
$518
Lima
$340 34.4% $178
Groceries & Markets
Antigua Guatemala
$267
Lima
$226 15.1% $40
Eating Out
Antigua Guatemala
$151
Lima
$124 17.7% $27
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Antigua Guatemala
$132
Lima
$117 11.1% $15
Clothing & Footwear
Antigua Guatemala
$118
Lima
$112 5.2% $6.1
Sport & Entertainment
Antigua Guatemala
$54
Lima
$48 11.7% $6.4
Getting Around
Antigua Guatemala
$15 *
Lima
$43 192% $29

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $884 in Antigua Guatemala and $723 in Lima. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lima pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $52.0 in Antigua Guatemala vs $35.00 in Lima for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $226 per month, with Lima cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇹 Antigua Guatemala
🇵🇪 Lima
🕒 Local time
07:48 7:48 AM
08:48 8:48 AM
1 h ahead of Antigua Guatemala
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
46,054
9,989,369 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PEN, USD, EUR to GTQ – Guatemalan Quetzal Converter

Guatemalan Quetzal exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 7.64 GTQ (1 GTQ = 0.131 USD). 1 EUR = 8.56 GTQ (1 GTQ = 0.117 EUR).

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3.43 PEN (1 PEN = 0.292 USD). 1 EUR = 3.84 PEN (1 PEN = 0.26 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Antigua Guatemala Lima 3,320 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Antigua Guatemala
  • Lima

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Antigua Guatemala vs Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Antigua Guatemala and in Lima?
Antigua Guatemala and Lima differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($1,269 vs $996 including rent). Lima is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 7% lower in Lima. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Antigua Guatemala and in Lima?
Rent for a central apartment: $884 in Antigua Guatemala versus $723 in Lima. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Antigua Guatemala and Lima?
Childcare runs $338 in Antigua Guatemala versus $182 in Lima. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Lima – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $52.0 in Antigua Guatemala. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $996 in Lima versus $1,269 in Antigua Guatemala, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lima but tight or insufficient in Antigua Guatemala. The gap between the two cities makes Lima the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Antigua Guatemala and Lima?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Antigua Guatemala or Lima safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Antigua Guatemala and Lima are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Antigua Guatemala or Lima?
Expats usually find Lima gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Antigua Guatemala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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