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

🙂 Solo nomad: Arequipa is 29% cheaper than Lima without rent, and 35.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Arequipa is 22% cheaper than Lima without rent, and 29.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arequipa
Lima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.13 PEN 14.9
$4.19 PEN 15.14
-1.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.5 PEN 99.3
$32.69 PEN 118
-15.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.63 PEN 20.32
$6.77 PEN 24.44
-16.84%
Cappuccino
$2.51 PEN 9.05
$2.55 PEN 9.22
-1.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 PEN 2.75
$0.93 PEN 3.37
-18.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 PEN 1.34
$0.65 PEN 2.34
-43.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 PEN 7.92
$2.24 PEN 8.09
-2.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.92 PEN 21.38
$3.84 PEN 13.86
54.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arequipa
Lima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.6 PEN 5.78
$1.48 PEN 5.35
8.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.23 PEN 4.45
$2.68 PEN 9.66
-54.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 PEN 4.4
$1.32 PEN 4.76
-7.58%
Eggs
$2.09 PEN 7.54
$2.96 PEN 10.71
-29.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.39 PEN 19.49
$7.79 PEN 28.14
-30.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.42 PEN 19.58
$5.65 PEN 20.39
-4.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.73 PEN 27.92
$10.5 PEN 37.95
-26.38%
Apples (1kg)
$1.52 PEN 5.48
$2 PEN 7.22
-24.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 PEN 4.39
$1.07 PEN 3.88
13.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.22 PEN 4.41
$1.1 PEN 3.99
10.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.8 PEN 2.89
$1.21 PEN 4.36
-33.88%
Potato (1kg)
$0.58 PEN 2.11
$0.99 PEN 3.58
-41.41%
Onion (1kg)
$0.55 PEN 1.97
$0.93 PEN 3.36
-40.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.47 PEN 1.71
$0.83 PEN 3
-43.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 PEN 2.58
$0.89 PEN 3.21
-20.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.02 PEN 18.15
$5.72 PEN 20.66
-12.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.1 PEN 18.43
$8.77 PEN 31.68
-41.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.5 PEN 9.02
$1.75 PEN 6.31
42.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 PEN 8.11
$2.97 PEN 10.75
-24.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Arequipa
Lima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 PEN 0.97
$0.72 PEN 2.61
-62.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$30.78 PEN 111
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 PEN 7.73
$3.37 PEN 12.19
-36.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.06 PEN 7.45
$2.2 PEN 7.94
-6.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.93 PEN 46.71
$8.5 PEN 30.72
52.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 PEN 5.61
$1.37 PEN 4.94
13.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K PEN 69.5K
$19.4K PEN 70.2K
-1.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K PEN 89.8K
$24.1K PEN 87K
3.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arequipa
Lima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.77 PEN 144
$57.1 PEN 206
-30.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.54 PEN 38.09
$12.34 PEN 44.59
-14.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.12 PEN 112
$23.29 PEN 84.1
33.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arequipa
Lima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.83 PEN 78.9
$30.81 PEN 111
-29.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.56 PEN 30.91
$18.54 PEN 67
-53.83%
Cinema Ticket
$4.57 PEN 16.51
$6.97 PEN 25.17
-34.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arequipa
Lima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$60.1 PEN 217
$223 PEN 804
-72.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,375 PEN 23K
$7,985 PEN 28.8K
-20.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arequipa
Lima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.87 PEN 133
$50.6 PEN 183
-27.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.42 PEN 81
$35.76 PEN 129
-37.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.2 PEN 225
$90.9 PEN 328
-31.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.2 PEN 199
$88.5 PEN 320
-37.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arequipa
Lima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$239 PEN 865
$618 PEN 2,234
-61.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 PEN 562
$350 PEN 1,265
-55.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$532 PEN 1,921
$1,041 PEN 3,761
-48.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$396 PEN 1,429
$623 PEN 2,252
-36.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,431 PEN 8,781
$1,941 PEN 7,012
25.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,336 PEN 4,826
$1,845 PEN 6,665
-27.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arequipa
Lima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$637 PEN 2,301
$594 PEN 2,145
7.28%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Lima: October 27, 2025

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