Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Huaraz Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Huaraz

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A couple spends around $1,078 per month in Arequipa vs $186 in Huaraz, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,516 per month in Arequipa vs $260 in Huaraz, rent included.

Arequipa costs about 471% more than Huaraz, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.24 PEN 14.45

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.05 PEN 95.6

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 PEN 18.41

Cappuccino

$2.60 PEN 8.88

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

$0.76 PEN 2.59

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 PEN 1.23

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 PEN 7.62

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.80 PEN 19.77

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 PEN 5.40

$1.95 PEN 6.66

-18.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 PEN 4.34

$1.14 PEN 3.89

11.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PEN 4.35

$0.84 PEN 2.87

52.38%

Eggs

$2.08 PEN 7.11

$1.37 PEN 4.68

51.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.43 PEN 18.52

$5.41 PEN 18.45

0.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.18 PEN 17.65

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.51 PEN 25.61

$6.74 PEN 22.97

11.42%

Apples (1kg)

$1.51 PEN 5.14

$0.86 PEN 2.94

75.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 PEN 4.02

$0.54 PEN 1.85

118.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.17 PEN 3.99

$0.80 PEN 2.74

46.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 PEN 2.63

$0.59 PEN 2.00

30.51%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 PEN 2.01

$0.81 PEN 2.76

-27.16%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 PEN 1.86

$0.53 PEN 1.81

3.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 PEN 1.50

$0.54 PEN 1.83

-18.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 PEN 2.62

$0.29 PEN 1.00

165.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.81 PEN 16.39

Wine (Bottle)

$5.02 PEN 17.10

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 PEN 8.20

$1.63 PEN 5.55

47.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 PEN 7.96

$2.00 PEN 6.81

17.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 PEN 0.92

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 PEN 7.12

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 PEN 6.97

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.90 PEN 44.00

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 PEN 5.31

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

$19.1K PEN 65.1K

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

$24.7K PEN 84.1K

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

$40.46 PEN 138

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

$10.35 PEN 35.28

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.97 PEN 102

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.85 PEN 74.5

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.34 PEN 28.45

Cinema Ticket

$4.56 PEN 15.54

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

$59.2 PEN 202

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,382 PEN 21.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.20 PEN 130

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.11 PEN 75.4

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.2 PEN 215

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.6 PEN 193

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$236 PEN 806

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$160 PEN 544

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 PEN 1,856

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$382 PEN 1,301

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,985 PEN 6,769

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$977 PEN 3,331

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 PEN 2,275

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 Huaraz: June 13, 2026

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 Huaraz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arequipa costs about 471% more than Huaraz, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Huaraz. 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 Huaraz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 53% 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 Huaraz, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Huaraz 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 Huaraz. 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.