Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Ayacucho Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Ayacucho

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $726 per month in Arequipa vs $491 in Ayacucho, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,150 per month in Arequipa vs $793 in Ayacucho, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,573 per month in Arequipa vs $1,095 in Ayacucho, rent included.

Arequipa costs about 48% more than Ayacucho, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arequipa and Ayacucho are more affordable than the global median – Arequipa 47% lower, Ayacucho 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 PEN 12.04

$1.76 PEN 5.90

103.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.83 PEN 100

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 PEN 19.63

Cappuccino

$2.61 PEN 8.75

$1.76 PEN 5.89

48.30%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 PEN 2.79

$0.86 PEN 2.89

-3.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 PEN 1.22

$0.31 PEN 1.05

16.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 PEN 7.40

$1.50 PEN 5.04

47.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 PEN 14.56

$4.39 PEN 14.72

-1.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 PEN 4.59

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 PEN 4.85

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 PEN 5.13

$0.61 PEN 2.06

150.82%

Eggs

$2.36 PEN 7.91

$1.73 PEN 5.81

36.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.46 PEN 21.66

$2.92 PEN 9.78

121.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.47 PEN 14.98

$4.41 PEN 14.78

1.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.44 PEN 24.95

$5.91 PEN 19.80

25.89%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 PEN 6.14

$1.22 PEN 4.08

50.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 PEN 4.20

$0.61 PEN 2.05

104.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.16 PEN 3.91

$0.60 PEN 2.02

93.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 PEN 3.43

$0.56 PEN 1.88

82.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 PEN 2.26

$0.29 PEN 0.97

131.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 PEN 2.42

$0.31 PEN 1.04

132.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 PEN 1.89

$0.31 PEN 1.06

80.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 PEN 2.57

$0.85 PEN 2.86

-9.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.22 PEN 17.51

Wine (Bottle)

$5.29 PEN 17.74

$5.77 PEN 19.36

-8.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 PEN 9.69

$2.98 PEN 10.01

-3.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PEN 8.04

$4.45 PEN 14.91

-46.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.97

$0.60 PEN 2.02

-51.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.11 PEN 121

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 PEN 7.05

$2.32 PEN 7.80

-9.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 PEN 6.86

$1.21 PEN 4.06

69.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.85 PEN 43.08

$4.58 PEN 15.35

180.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 PEN 5.08

$1.79 PEN 6.01

-15.08%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.6K PEN 62.3K

$10.5K PEN 35.1K

77.47%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.0K PEN 87.3K

$12.6K PEN 42.1K

107.22%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$24.42 PEN 81.9

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.19 PEN 34.16

$11.94 PEN 40.05

-14.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.41 PEN 78.5

$17.97 PEN 60.3

30.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.53 PEN 85.6

$15.11 PEN 50.7

68.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.36 PEN 28.04

$30.03 PEN 101

-72.16%

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 PEN 25.16

$4.35 PEN 14.57

72.41%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$75.6 PEN 253

$73.7 PEN 247

2.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,836 PEN 22.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.44 PEN 166

$17.68 PEN 59.3

179.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.25 PEN 88.0

$26.24 PEN 88.0

0.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 PEN 232

$103 PEN 344

-32.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.7 PEN 200

$105 PEN 354

-43.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$362 PEN 1,214

$353 PEN 1,184

2.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 PEN 804

$89.4 PEN 300

168.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$731 PEN 2,452

$880 PEN 2,951

-16.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$421 PEN 1,412

$234 PEN 784

80.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 PEN 6,688

$1,981 PEN 6,644

0.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,016 PEN 3,406

$1,755 PEN 5,885

-42.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$656 PEN 2,198

$490 PEN 1,643

33.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Arequipa: August 29, 2026

Last update for Ayacucho: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $362 in Arequipa versus $353 in Ayacucho. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 34% higher in Arequipa, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

Arequipa vs Ayacucho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arequipa costs about 48% more than Ayacucho, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,089 per month in Arequipa and $736 in Ayacucho. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ayacucho, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $726 in Arequipa and $491 in Ayacucho. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 48% more in Arequipa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $726 in Arequipa and $491 in Ayacucho, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ayacucho costs $491 versus $726 in Arequipa. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ayacucho. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arequipa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.