Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, MN and Lima

For one person, living is cheaper in Lima: $1,042 a month against $2,529 in Austin, MN, rent and utilities included – about $17,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, MN, United States
Lima, Peru
Austin, MN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,529
/mo nomad
Lima
🇵🇪 Peru
$1,042
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, MN and in Lima

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, MN and in Lima actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,529 per month in Austin, MN vs $1,042 in Lima, rent included.

  • Austin, MN $2,529
  • Lima $1,042

A couple spends around $3,726 per month in Austin, MN vs $1,651 in Lima, rent included.

  • Austin, MN $3,726
  • Lima $1,651

A family of three spends $4,923 per month in Austin, MN vs $2,259 in Lima, rent included.

  • Austin, MN $4,923
  • Lima $2,259

Austin, MN costs about 143% more than Lima, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Austin, MN sits 87% above the global median, while Lima is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, MN
Lima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.85 $19.85
$4.64 PEN 15.95
327.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.2 $99.2
$34.34 PEN 118
188.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.06 $12.06
$7.01 PEN 24.12
72.04%
Cappuccino
$4.90 $4.90
$3.22 PEN 11.09
52.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$1.13 PEN 3.90
163.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$0.61 PEN 2.09
232.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.85 $4.85
$2.93 PEN 10.08
65.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.68 $5.68
$4.25 PEN 14.63
33.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, MN
Lima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.58 PEN 5.44
-48.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.61 PEN 8.98
9.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.30 PEN 4.47
50.77%
Eggs
$2.55 $2.55
$2.92 PEN 10.05
-12.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.65 $9.65
$9.54 PEN 32.82
1.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.65 $6.65
$5.71 PEN 19.66
16.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.85 $18.85
$9.47 PEN 32.58
99.05%
Apples (1kg)
$5.45 $5.45
$2.01 PEN 6.91
171.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.02 PEN 3.52
15.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.68 $3.68
$1.45 PEN 4.99
153.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.49 PEN 5.14
12.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.91 PEN 3.14
174.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.89 PEN 3.07
149.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 $1.46
$0.86 PEN 2.97
69.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$0.89 PEN 3.06
129.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.11 $10.11
$5.47 PEN 18.83
84.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.05 $3.05
$10.17 PEN 35.00
-70.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.81 PEN 6.21
-6.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 $2.99
$3.15 PEN 10.84
-5.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, MN
Lima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.83 $1.83
$0.66 PEN 2.28
177.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.7 $53.7
$31.89 PEN 110
68.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 $2.05
$3.43 PEN 11.79
-40.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.20 $1.20
$1.98 PEN 6.80
-39.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.10 $20.10
$9.60 PEN 33.04
109.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.71 PEN 5.89
-40.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$21.9K PEN 75.3K
20.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$29.0K PEN 100.0K
-12.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, MN
Lima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$65.8 PEN 227
185.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.1 $52.1
$15.26 PEN 52.5
241.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.6 $75.6
$26.87 PEN 92.5
181.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, MN
Lima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.21 $42.21
$32.91 PEN 113
28.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.12 PEN 69.2
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.15 $10.15
$7.12 PEN 24.49
42.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, MN
Lima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,304 $1,304
$309 PEN 1,064
321.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K $14.9K
$21.4K PEN 73.5K
-30.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, MN
Lima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.8 $76.8
$52.0 PEN 179
47.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.0 $55.0
$35.69 PEN 123
54.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 $103
$81.8 PEN 281
26.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$164 $164
$78.0 PEN 268
109.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, MN
Lima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,456 $1,456
$727 PEN 2,501
100.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,299 $1,299
$373 PEN 1,284
248.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,523 $2,523
$1,249 PEN 4,297
102.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,075 $2,075
$739 PEN 2,544
180.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,441 $2,441
$2,380 PEN 8,191
2.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,247 $2,247
$1,365 PEN 4,697
64.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, MN
Lima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$650 PEN 2,238
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
8.38
-21.60%

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

Last update for Austin, MN: November 1, 2026

Last update for Lima: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, MN
$1.3K
Lima
$373 71.3% $926
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, MN
$315
Lima
$108 65.8% $207
Eating Out
Austin, MN
$310
Lima
$127 59% $183
Groceries & Markets
Austin, MN
$294
Lima
$228 22.4% $66
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, MN
$179
Lima
$111 38% $68
Getting Around
Austin, MN
$69
Lima
$48 30.7% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, MN
$63
Lima
$47 24.6% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,456 in Austin, MN versus $727 in Lima. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99 in Austin, MN versus $34 in Lima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $228 – making Lima the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, MN
🇵🇪 Lima
🕒 Local time
21:28 9:28 PM
22:28 10:28 PM
1 h ahead of Austin, MN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
9,989,369 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PEN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.891 EUR).

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3.44 PEN (1 PEN = 0.291 USD). 1 EUR = 3.86 PEN (1 PEN = 0.259 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, MN Lima 6,400 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, MN
  • Lima

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Austin, MN vs Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lima cheaper than Austin, MN?
Yes – Austin, MN is pricier by about 143%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,794 per month in Austin, MN and $1,564 in Lima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lima, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $727 there versus $1,456 in Austin, MN.
Is eating out cheaper in Austin, MN or in Lima?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $99 in Austin, MN and $34 in Lima. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Austin, MN and in Lima?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,529 in Austin, MN and $1,042 in Lima. That makes Lima about 59% cheaper.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Austin, MN or in Lima?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lima, where all-in costs run around $1,042, than in Austin, MN at $2,529. In Lima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Austin, MN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Austin, MN or Lima more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Lima – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Lima is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 59% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Austin, MN vs other spots: cost of living compared

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