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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $641 per month in Arequipa vs $111 in Huaraz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,058 per month in Arequipa vs $189 in Huaraz, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,475 per month in Arequipa vs $267 in Huaraz, rent included.

Arequipa costs about 475% 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

$4.14 PEN 13.98

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.18 PEN 95.1

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.51 PEN 18.58

Cappuccino

$2.49 PEN 8.42

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

$0.76 PEN 2.56

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 PEN 1.33

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 PEN 7.53

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.98 PEN 20.18

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 PEN 5.14

$1.90 PEN 6.40

-20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 PEN 4.17

$1.08 PEN 3.65

14.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.28

$0.85 PEN 2.86

49.41%

Eggs

$2.14 PEN 7.21

$1.35 PEN 4.56

58.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.36 PEN 18.10

$5.63 PEN 19.02

-4.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 PEN 17.74

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.72 PEN 26.06

$6.99 PEN 23.58

10.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.45 PEN 4.91

$0.82 PEN 2.76

76.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 PEN 4.01

$0.54 PEN 1.82

120.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 PEN 4.01

$0.86 PEN 2.90

38.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 PEN 2.75

$0.57 PEN 1.93

42.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 PEN 2.00

$0.85 PEN 2.86

-30.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 PEN 1.85

$0.57 PEN 1.94

-3.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 PEN 1.49

$0.58 PEN 1.95

-24.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.57

$0.29 PEN 0.98

162.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.07 PEN 17.11

Wine (Bottle)

$5.26 PEN 17.74

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 PEN 8.28

$1.69 PEN 5.70

44.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 PEN 7.55

$1.97 PEN 6.66

13.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 PEN 7.03

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 PEN 6.97

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.84 PEN 43.32

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 PEN 5.49

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

$18.6K PEN 62.7K

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

$25.2K PEN 85.0K

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

$39.89 PEN 135

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

$10.74 PEN 36.24

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.30 PEN 102

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.61 PEN 72.9

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.13 PEN 27.43

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PEN 14.62

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

$59.5 PEN 201

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,278 PEN 21.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.91 PEN 125

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.81 PEN 73.6

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.3 PEN 210

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.9 PEN 185

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 PEN 799

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 PEN 525

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$538 PEN 1,816

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$382 PEN 1,290

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,014 PEN 6,797

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$988 PEN 3,333

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$645 PEN 2,176

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Arequipa: July 26, 2026

Last update for Huaraz: July 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 475% 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 $961 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 $641 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 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 $641 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 $641 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.