Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Huánuco Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Huánuco

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $639 per month in Arequipa vs $112 in Huánuco, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,078 per month in Arequipa vs $200 in Huánuco, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,516 per month in Arequipa vs $288 in Huánuco, rent included.

Arequipa costs about 470% more than Huánuco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arequipa and Huánuco are more affordable than the global median – Arequipa 52% lower, Huánuco 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.24 PEN 14.33

$3.54 PEN 11.98

19.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.05 PEN 94.9

$17.69 PEN 59.8

58.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 PEN 18.26

Cappuccino

$2.60 PEN 8.80

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

$0.76 PEN 2.57

$0.86 PEN 2.90

-11.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 PEN 1.22

$0.54 PEN 1.81

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 PEN 7.56

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 PEN 19.61

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 PEN 5.36

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 PEN 4.31

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PEN 4.32

Eggs

$2.08 PEN 7.05

$1.59 PEN 5.38

30.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.43 PEN 18.37

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.18 PEN 17.51

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.51 PEN 25.40

Apples (1kg)

$1.51 PEN 5.10

$2.42 PEN 8.19

-37.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 PEN 3.99

Oranges (1kg)

$1.17 PEN 3.96

$0.54 PEN 1.82

116.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 PEN 2.61

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 PEN 1.99

$0.54 PEN 1.83

9.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 PEN 1.85

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 PEN 1.49

$0.29 PEN 0.99

51.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 PEN 2.60

$0.59 PEN 1.98

30.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.81 PEN 16.26

Wine (Bottle)

$5.02 PEN 16.96

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 PEN 8.13

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 PEN 7.90

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 PEN 0.91

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 PEN 7.06

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 PEN 6.91

$0.51 PEN 1.74

300.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.90 PEN 43.64

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 PEN 5.27

$1.33 PEN 4.51

17.29%

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

$19.1K PEN 64.6K

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

$24.7K PEN 83.4K

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

$40.46 PEN 137

$24.66 PEN 83.4

64.07%

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

$10.35 PEN 35.00

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.97 PEN 101

$19.06 PEN 64.5

57.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.85 PEN 73.9

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.34 PEN 28.22

Cinema Ticket

$4.56 PEN 15.41

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

$59.2 PEN 200

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,382 PEN 21.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.20 PEN 129

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.11 PEN 74.8

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.2 PEN 214

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.6 PEN 191

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$236 PEN 799

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$160 PEN 540

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 PEN 1,841

$195 PEN 660

178.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$382 PEN 1,291

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 PEN 6,714

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$977 PEN 3,304

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 PEN 2,256

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Arequipa: June 13, 2026

Last update for Huánuco: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Arequipa versus $18.00 in Huánuco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $30.00 – making Huánuco 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 Huánuco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arequipa costs about 470% more than Huánuco, 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 $959 per month in Arequipa and $168 in Huánuco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $639 in Arequipa and $112 in Huánuco. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 460% more in Arequipa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $639 in Arequipa and $112 in Huánuco, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Huánuco costs $112 versus $639 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 Huánuco. 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.