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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $650 per month in Arequipa vs $111 in Huaraz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,067 per month in Arequipa vs $187 in Huaraz, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,485 per month in Arequipa vs $263 in Huaraz, rent included.

Arequipa costs about 483% more than Huaraz, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Arequipa and Huaraz are more affordable than the global median – Arequipa 51% lower, Huaraz 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.07 PEN 14.32

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.21 PEN 99.3

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.68 PEN 20.00

Cappuccino

$2.61 PEN 9.18

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

$0.82 PEN 2.88

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 PEN 1.30

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 PEN 7.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 PEN 20.69

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 PEN 5.40

$1.96 PEN 6.88

-21.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 PEN 4.46

$1.13 PEN 3.98

12.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PEN 4.28

$0.82 PEN 2.88

48.78%

Eggs

$2.06 PEN 7.24

$1.43 PEN 5.02

44.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.38 PEN 18.93

$5.64 PEN 19.85

-4.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 PEN 18.51

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.45 PEN 26.22

$6.91 PEN 24.32

7.81%

Apples (1kg)

$1.46 PEN 5.15

$0.79 PEN 2.79

84.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 PEN 4.28

$0.59 PEN 2.06

106.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 PEN 4.17

$0.81 PEN 2.85

46.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 PEN 2.71

$0.58 PEN 2.05

32.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 PEN 1.95

$0.85 PEN 3.01

-35.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PEN 1.90

$0.58 PEN 2.04

-6.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 PEN 1.55

$0.54 PEN 1.89

-18.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.66

$0.29 PEN 1.03

162.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.95 PEN 17.41

Wine (Bottle)

$4.87 PEN 17.14

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 PEN 8.43

$1.70 PEN 5.97

41.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 PEN 8.15

$1.92 PEN 6.75

20.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 1.03

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 PEN 7.33

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 PEN 7.44

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.82 PEN 45.12

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 PEN 5.64

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

$18.7K PEN 65.9K

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

$25.0K PEN 88.0K

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

$39.83 PEN 140

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

$10.73 PEN 37.77

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.64 PEN 108

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.47 PEN 75.6

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.22 PEN 28.93

Cinema Ticket

$4.39 PEN 15.44

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

$59.9 PEN 211

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,271 PEN 22.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.93 PEN 130

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.01 PEN 77.5

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.6 PEN 217

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.1 PEN 194

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$245 PEN 861

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 PEN 549

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$542 PEN 1,908

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 PEN 1,350

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 PEN 7,023

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,002 PEN 3,526

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$631 PEN 2,222

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Arequipa: April 27, 2026

Last update for Huaraz: April 28, 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 483% 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 $975 per month in Arequipa and $167 in Huaraz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $650 in Arequipa and $111 in Huaraz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 50% 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 $650 in Arequipa and $111 in Huaraz, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Huaraz costs $111 versus $650 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.