Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Chiclayo Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Chiclayo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $726 per month in Arequipa vs $790 in Chiclayo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,150 per month in Arequipa vs $1,335 in Chiclayo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,573 per month in Arequipa vs $1,879 in Chiclayo, rent included.

Arequipa is about 8% cheaper than Chiclayo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Arequipa and Chiclayo are more affordable than the global median – Arequipa 47% lower, Chiclayo 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 PEN 12.04

$5.29 PEN 17.72

-32.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.83 PEN 100

$35.81 PEN 120

-16.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 PEN 19.63

$8.72 PEN 29.24

-32.91%

Cappuccino

$2.61 PEN 8.75

$4.51 PEN 15.13

-42.13%

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

$0.83 PEN 2.79

$0.85 PEN 2.86

-2.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 PEN 1.22

$0.46 PEN 1.55

-21.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 PEN 7.40

$8.72 PEN 29.23

-74.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 PEN 14.56

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 PEN 4.59

$1.99 PEN 6.67

-31.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 PEN 4.85

$2.68 PEN 8.99

-45.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 PEN 5.13

$2.65 PEN 8.89

-42.26%

Eggs

$2.36 PEN 7.91

$1.82 PEN 6.10

29.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.46 PEN 21.66

$9.71 PEN 32.54

-33.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.47 PEN 14.98

$9.90 PEN 33.21

-54.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.44 PEN 24.95

$7.95 PEN 26.67

-6.42%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 PEN 6.14

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 PEN 4.20

$1.99 PEN 6.67

-37.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.16 PEN 3.91

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 PEN 3.43

$1.95 PEN 6.53

-47.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 PEN 2.26

$1.29 PEN 4.32

-48.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 PEN 2.42

$1.94 PEN 6.49

-62.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 PEN 1.89

$0.93 PEN 3.11

-39.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 PEN 2.57

$0.91 PEN 3.05

-15.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.22 PEN 17.51

$4.41 PEN 14.80

18.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.29 PEN 17.74

$14.99 PEN 50.3

-64.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 PEN 9.69

$1.50 PEN 5.04

92.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PEN 8.04

$1.17 PEN 3.93

105.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.97

$0.51 PEN 1.71

-43.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.37 PEN 98.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 PEN 7.05

$4.38 PEN 14.68

-52.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 PEN 6.86

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.85 PEN 43.08

$6.04 PEN 20.27

112.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 PEN 5.08

$1.30 PEN 4.35

16.92%

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

$18.6K PEN 62.3K

$25.1K PEN 84.1K

-26.01%

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

$26.0K PEN 87.3K

$24.2K PEN 81.3K

7.38%

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

$24.42 PEN 81.9

$51.4 PEN 172

-52.49%

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

$10.19 PEN 34.16

$44.91 PEN 151

-77.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.41 PEN 78.5

$24.14 PEN 80.9

-3.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.53 PEN 85.6

$43.80 PEN 147

-41.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.36 PEN 28.04

$35.68 PEN 120

-76.57%

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 PEN 25.16

$7.52 PEN 25.22

-0.27%

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

$75.6 PEN 253

$359 PEN 1,203

-78.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,836 PEN 22.9K

$5,248 PEN 17.6K

30.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.44 PEN 166

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.25 PEN 88.0

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 PEN 232

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.7 PEN 200

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$362 PEN 1,214

$176 PEN 589

106.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 PEN 804

$149 PEN 500

60.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$731 PEN 2,452

$444 PEN 1,487

64.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$421 PEN 1,412

$411 PEN 1,379

2.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 PEN 6,688

$1,144 PEN 3,837

74.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,016 PEN 3,406

$1,100 PEN 3,688

-7.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$656 PEN 2,198

$487 PEN 1,633

34.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

50.00%

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

Last update for Arequipa: August 29, 2026

Last update for Chiclayo: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $362 in Arequipa versus $176 in Chiclayo. 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 35% higher in Arequipa, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Arequipa versus $36.00 in Chiclayo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $251 – making Arequipa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Chiclayo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiclayo costs about 9% more than Arequipa, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,186 in Chiclayo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Arequipa and $36.00 in Chiclayo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% more in Chiclayo, 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 $790 in Chiclayo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Arequipa costs $726 versus $790 in Chiclayo. 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 Arequipa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiclayo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.