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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $652 per month in Arequipa vs $999 in Lima, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,071 per month in Arequipa vs $1,561 in Lima, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,490 per month in Arequipa vs $2,124 in Lima, rent included.

Arequipa is about 35% cheaper than Lima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arequipa and Lima are more affordable than the global median – Arequipa 51% lower, Lima 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.07 PEN 13.78

$4.06 PEN 13.76

0.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.88 PEN 94.5

$33.99 PEN 115

-17.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.47 PEN 18.52

$6.74 PEN 22.84

-18.84%

Cappuccino

$2.58 PEN 8.73

$2.52 PEN 8.55

2.38%

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

$0.82 PEN 2.76

$0.94 PEN 3.18

-12.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 PEN 1.25

$0.65 PEN 2.21

-43.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 PEN 7.59

$2.17 PEN 7.34

3.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.11 PEN 20.70

$3.95 PEN 13.37

54.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 PEN 5.25

$1.41 PEN 4.78

9.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 PEN 4.29

$2.72 PEN 9.21

-53.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PEN 4.36

$1.37 PEN 4.63

-5.84%

Eggs

$2.07 PEN 7.00

$2.94 PEN 9.97

-29.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.57 PEN 18.87

$7.92 PEN 26.84

-29.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.27 PEN 17.87

$5.76 PEN 19.52

-8.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.58 PEN 25.68

$10.71 PEN 36.28

-29.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.46 PEN 4.96

$1.98 PEN 6.71

-26.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 PEN 3.99

$1.08 PEN 3.66

9.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.22 PEN 4.14

$1.10 PEN 3.72

10.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.78 PEN 2.63

$1.19 PEN 4.05

-34.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 PEN 2.01

$1.04 PEN 3.51

-43.27%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 PEN 1.97

$1.00 PEN 3.38

-42.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 PEN 1.52

$0.87 PEN 2.93

-48.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 PEN 2.44

$0.86 PEN 2.93

-16.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.05 PEN 17.10

$5.59 PEN 18.94

-9.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.21 PEN 17.65

$8.99 PEN 30.48

-42.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.48 PEN 8.39

$1.77 PEN 5.98

40.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 PEN 7.47

$3.07 PEN 10.41

-28.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 PEN 0.91

$0.68 PEN 2.29

-60.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.68 PEN 107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 PEN 7.08

$3.37 PEN 11.41

-37.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 PEN 6.92

$2.22 PEN 7.53

-8.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.92 PEN 43.79

$8.26 PEN 27.98

56.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 PEN 5.48

$1.35 PEN 4.58

20.00%

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

$18.7K PEN 63.5K

$19.4K PEN 65.8K

-3.49%

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

$25.4K PEN 85.9K

$24.3K PEN 82.2K

4.51%

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

$39.23 PEN 133

$56.4 PEN 191

-30.49%

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

$10.33 PEN 34.99

$12.57 PEN 42.59

-17.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.48 PEN 103

$23.66 PEN 80.2

28.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.96 PEN 74.4

$31.04 PEN 105

-29.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.17 PEN 27.70

$18.69 PEN 63.4

-56.29%

Cinema Ticket

$4.46 PEN 15.11

$6.83 PEN 23.15

-34.70%

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

$59.9 PEN 203

$219 PEN 742

-72.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,380 PEN 21.6K

$8,096 PEN 27.4K

-21.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.74 PEN 128

$49.58 PEN 168

-23.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.29 PEN 75.5

$35.59 PEN 121

-37.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.2 PEN 214

$89.3 PEN 302

-29.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.5 PEN 191

$88.9 PEN 301

-36.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$244 PEN 826

$623 PEN 2,113

-60.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 PEN 533

$344 PEN 1,166

-54.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$546 PEN 1,851

$1,027 PEN 3,481

-46.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 PEN 1,322

$618 PEN 2,095

-36.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,023 PEN 6,856

$2,315 PEN 7,844

-12.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$994 PEN 3,369

$1,395 PEN 4,729

-28.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$649 PEN 2,198

$625 PEN 2,118

3.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.11

48.37%

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

Last update for Arequipa: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lima: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Arequipa versus $623 in Lima. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 4% higher in Arequipa, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Arequipa versus $34.00 in Lima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $171 vs $222 – making Arequipa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lima costs about 53% more than Arequipa, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $977 per month in Arequipa and $1,498 in Lima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arequipa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Arequipa and $34.00 in Lima. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% more in Lima, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Arequipa, where all-in costs run around $652, than in Lima at $999. In Arequipa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lima it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Arequipa costs $652 versus $999 in Lima. 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 Arequipa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lima makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.