Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Tacna Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Tacna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $641 per month in Arequipa vs $353 in Tacna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,058 per month in Arequipa vs $465 in Tacna, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,475 per month in Arequipa vs $577 in Tacna, rent included.

Arequipa costs about 82% more than Tacna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Arequipa and Tacna are more affordable than the global median – Arequipa 52% lower, Tacna 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.14 PEN 14.06

$1.89 PEN 6.41

119.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.18 PEN 95.7

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.51 PEN 18.69

Cappuccino

$2.49 PEN 8.47

$2.48 PEN 8.43

0.40%

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

$0.76 PEN 2.58

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 PEN 1.33

$0.29 PEN 0.99

34.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 PEN 7.57

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.98 PEN 20.31

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 PEN 5.17

$0.92 PEN 3.12

65.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 PEN 4.19

$1.38 PEN 4.68

-10.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.31

$0.87 PEN 2.94

45.98%

Eggs

$2.14 PEN 7.25

$1.41 PEN 4.80

51.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.36 PEN 18.21

$4.19 PEN 14.22

27.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 PEN 17.84

$3.55 PEN 12.04

48.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.72 PEN 26.22

$8.36 PEN 28.37

-7.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.45 PEN 4.94

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 PEN 4.04

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 PEN 4.03

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 PEN 2.76

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 PEN 2.01

$0.54 PEN 1.84

9.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 PEN 1.86

$0.44 PEN 1.50

25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 PEN 1.50

$0.29 PEN 0.99

51.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.59

$0.72 PEN 2.46

5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.07 PEN 17.21

$4.22 PEN 14.32

20.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.26 PEN 17.85

$6.59 PEN 22.36

-20.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 PEN 8.33

$2.44 PEN 8.28

0.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 PEN 7.59

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 PEN 7.07

$1.37 PEN 4.66

51.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 PEN 7.02

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.84 PEN 43.58

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 PEN 5.52

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

$18.6K PEN 63.1K

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

$25.2K PEN 85.5K

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 36.45

$19.64 PEN 66.7

-45.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.30 PEN 103

$24.84 PEN 84.3

21.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.61 PEN 73.4

$28.28 PEN 96.0

-23.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.13 PEN 27.60

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PEN 14.70

$2.46 PEN 8.35

76.02%

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

$59.5 PEN 202

$56.3 PEN 191

5.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,278 PEN 21.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.91 PEN 125

$19.09 PEN 64.8

93.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.81 PEN 74.0

$19.62 PEN 66.6

11.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.3 PEN 211

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.9 PEN 186

$25.17 PEN 85.5

117.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 PEN 804

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 PEN 528

$65.8 PEN 223

136.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$538 PEN 1,827

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$382 PEN 1,297

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,014 PEN 6,838

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$988 PEN 3,353

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$645 PEN 2,189

$462 PEN 1,567

39.66%

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 Tacna: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 40% higher in Arequipa, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Tacna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arequipa costs about 82% more than Tacna, 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 $530 in Tacna. 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 $353 in Tacna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 37% more in Arequipa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $641 in Arequipa and $353 in Tacna, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tacna costs $353 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 Tacna. 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.