Cost of Living Comparison Between Argentina and Peru Cost of Living Comparison Between Argentina and Peru

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $968 in Argentina versus $423 in Peru.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,579 in Argentina versus $670 in Peru.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,189 in Argentina versus $917 in Peru.

Living in Argentina is roughly 129% more expensive than Peru on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Argentina 28% lower, Peru 68% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Argentina
Peru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.01 ARS 17.1K
$4.24 PEN 14.43
183.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.1 ARS 71.5K
$27.35 PEN 93.1
83.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.03 ARS 14.3K
$6.04 PEN 20.56
66.06%
Cappuccino
$3.43 ARS 4,890
$2.66 PEN 9.06
28.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ARS 2,791
$0.83 PEN 2.84
136.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 ARS 2,087
$0.52 PEN 1.77
180.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 ARS 4,217
$2.16 PEN 7.34
37.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 ARS 4,299
$3.81 PEN 12.97
-21.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Argentina
Peru
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 ARS 1,974
$1.39 PEN 4.72
-0.72%
White Bread (500g)
$1.99 ARS 2,840
$2.46 PEN 8.37
-19.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.04 ARS 2,904
$1.30 PEN 4.42
56.92%
Eggs
$2.70 ARS 3,857
$2.67 PEN 9.10
1.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.98 ARS 14.2K
$7.03 PEN 23.92
41.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.82 ARS 9,727
$5.53 PEN 18.80
23.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.69 ARS 12.4K
$9.14 PEN 31.10
-4.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 ARS 3,092
$1.75 PEN 5.94
24.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 ARS 2,869
$1.02 PEN 3.46
97.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.36 ARS 1,937
$1.01 PEN 3.43
34.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.48 ARS 3,533
$1.09 PEN 3.70
127.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 ARS 1,849
$0.96 PEN 3.26
35.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 ARS 1,772
$0.89 PEN 3.04
39.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.53 ARS 2,182
$0.72 PEN 2.46
112.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 ARS 2,106
$0.77 PEN 2.61
92.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95 ARS 4,201
$5.66 PEN 19.24
-47.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.86 ARS 6,927
$7.68 PEN 26.13
-36.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 ARS 2,678
$1.85 PEN 6.29
1.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 ARS 4,268
$2.66 PEN 9.05
12.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Argentina
Peru
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.78 ARS 1,114
$0.58 PEN 1.98
34.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.92 ARS 29.8K
$16.93 PEN 57.6
23.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.53 ARS 2,181
$2.25 PEN 7.64
-32.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.97 ARS 1,389
$1.85 PEN 6.29
-47.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.88 ARS 8,388
$5.41 PEN 18.40
8.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ARS 1,604
$1.35 PEN 4.58
-17.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ARS 35.0M
$20.3K PEN 69.1K
20.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3K ARS 43.2M
$24.6K PEN 83.8K
23.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Argentina
Peru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.0 ARS 121.2K
$47.97 PEN 163
77.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.93 ARS 24.1K
$12.27 PEN 41.75
37.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.33 ARS 33.3K
$25.91 PEN 88.2
-9.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Argentina
Peru
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.26 ARS 43.2K
$29.93 PEN 102
1.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.40 ARS 19.1K
$16.31 PEN 55.5
-17.84%
Cinema Ticket
$7.02 ARS 10.0K
$5.48 PEN 18.65
28.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Argentina
Peru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$255 ARS 363.3K
$166 PEN 565
53.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,767 ARS 5.4M
$5,590 PEN 19.0K
-32.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Argentina
Peru
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.2 ARS 138.6K
$47.41 PEN 161
105.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$77.8 ARS 110.9K
$30.38 PEN 103
155.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 ARS 173.2K
$83.3 PEN 283
45.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 ARS 170.1K
$77.4 PEN 263
54.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Argentina
Peru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 ARS 688.6K
$477 PEN 1,622
1.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$330 ARS 470.6K
$272 PEN 926
21.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$888 ARS 1.3M
$814 PEN 2,771
9.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 ARS 902.3K
$485 PEN 1,651
30.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,078 ARS 3.0M
$2,182 PEN 7,423
-4.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,376 ARS 2.0M
$1,204 PEN 4,097
14.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Argentina
Peru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$737 ARS 1.1M
$577 PEN 1,963
27.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
65.53
10.63
516.46%

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

Last update for Argentina: June 1, 2026

Last update for Peru: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $352 in Argentina, $142 in Peru. Capital cities: $658 in Buenos Aires vs $606 in Lima.

National salary averages: $722 in Argentina, $536 in Peru. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 148% higher in Argentina.

Dining out costs 106% more in Argentina.

Public transport is 25% more expensive in Argentina.

Salaries are 35% higher in Argentina, giving Peru stronger purchasing power.

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
Argentina vs Peru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Argentina and Peru?
At $1,005 per month in Argentina and $529 in Peru, there's a 90% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Peru is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Argentina beats Peru across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Argentina or Peru?
In Peru, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Argentina, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Argentina or Peru?
It depends on what you're after. Peru wins on affordability; Argentina may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Argentina vs other spots: cost of living compared

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