Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Lima Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Lima

šŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Arequipa is 32.9% cheaper than Lima without rent, and 36.1% cheaper with rent.
šŸ™‚ Family of 3: Arequipa is 33% cheaper than Lima without rent, and 27.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
šŸ½ Eating Out
Arequipa
Lima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.15 PENĀ 14.05
$4.14 PENĀ 14.04
0.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.05 PENĀ 95.1
$33.95 PENĀ 115
-17.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.45 PENĀ 18.47
$7.04 PENĀ 23.85
-22.59%
Cappuccino
$2.52 PENĀ 8.55
$2.65 PENĀ 8.99
-4.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 PENĀ 2.58
$0.98 PENĀ 3.32
-22.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 PENĀ 1.34
$0.66 PENĀ 2.24
-39.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.25 PENĀ 7.63
$2.16 PENĀ 7.32
4.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.04 PENĀ 20.47
$3.88 PENĀ 13.15
55.67%
šŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Arequipa
Lima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 PENĀ 5.17
$1.43 PENĀ 4.84
6.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.28 PENĀ 4.34
$2.61 PENĀ 8.84
-50.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 PENĀ 4.30
$1.30 PENĀ 4.40
-2.31%
Eggs
$2.08 PENĀ 7.07
$2.83 PENĀ 9.58
-26.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.44 PENĀ 18.44
$8.14 PENĀ 27.60
-33.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.24 PENĀ 17.78
$5.57 PENĀ 18.88
-5.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.50 PENĀ 25.42
$10.55 PENĀ 35.76
-28.91%
Apples (1kg)
$1.49 PENĀ 5.06
$1.97 PENĀ 6.69
-24.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 PENĀ 4.00
$1.08 PENĀ 3.65
9.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.22 PENĀ 4.12
$1.15 PENĀ 3.88
6.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.82 PENĀ 2.78
$1.26 PENĀ 4.26
-34.92%
Potato (1kg)
$0.58 PENĀ 1.97
$1.03 PENĀ 3.50
-43.69%
Onion (1kg)
$0.55 PENĀ 1.85
$1.01 PENĀ 3.42
-45.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.44 PENĀ 1.50
$0.88 PENĀ 3.00
-50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 PENĀ 2.46
$0.93 PENĀ 3.14
-21.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.87 PENĀ 16.50
$5.54 PENĀ 18.77
-12.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.18 PENĀ 17.55
$8.84 PENĀ 29.98
-41.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.48 PENĀ 8.42
$1.72 PENĀ 5.82
44.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 PENĀ 7.54
$3.06 PENĀ 10.36
-27.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Arequipa
Lima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 PENĀ 0.90
$0.68 PENĀ 2.30
-60.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$30.85 PENĀ 105
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 PENĀ 6.96
$3.43 PENĀ 11.62
-40.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.06 PENĀ 6.97
$2.15 PENĀ 7.30
-4.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.90 PENĀ 43.74
$8.20 PENĀ 27.81
57.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 PENĀ 5.24
$1.35 PENĀ 4.57
14.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K PENĀ 64.0K
$19.7K PENĀ 66.8K
-4.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K PENĀ 85.5K
$24.1K PENĀ 81.6K
4.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arequipa
Lima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.50 PENĀ 134
$57.1 PENĀ 194
-30.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.48 PENĀ 35.54
$12.62 PENĀ 42.79
-16.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.17 PENĀ 102
$24.06 PENĀ 81.6
25.39%
šŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Arequipa
Lima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.27 PENĀ 72.1
$30.04 PENĀ 102
-29.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.50 PENĀ 28.81
$18.54 PENĀ 62.9
-54.15%
Cinema Ticket
$4.52 PENĀ 15.34
$6.75 PENĀ 22.87
-33.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arequipa
Lima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$59.6 PENĀ 202
$222 PENĀ 754
-73.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,330 PENĀ 21.5K
$8,031 PENĀ 27.2K
-21.18%
šŸ‘•šŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Arequipa
Lima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.11 PENĀ 129
$50.1 PENĀ 170
-23.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.08 PENĀ 74.9
$35.94 PENĀ 122
-38.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.4 PENĀ 215
$89.2 PENĀ 302
-28.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.1 PENĀ 187
$88.8 PENĀ 301
-37.93%
šŸ  Accommodation & Living
Arequipa
Lima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$244 PENĀ 826
$607 PENĀ 2,058
-59.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$160 PENĀ 543
$351 PENĀ 1,191
-54.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$539 PENĀ 1,827
$1,022 PENĀ 3,464
-47.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 PENĀ 1,322
$631 PENĀ 2,139
-38.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,038 PENĀ 6,908
$2,251 PENĀ 7,631
-9.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$990 PENĀ 3,356
$1,513 PENĀ 5,128
-34.55%
šŸ’µ Salaries & Financials
Arequipa
Lima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$658 PENĀ 2,229
$652 PENĀ 2,211
0.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15
10.11
48.37%

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

Last update for Arequipa: March 2, 2026

Last update for Lima: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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