Cost of Living Comparison Between Ayacucho and Arequipa Cost of Living Comparison Between Ayacucho and Arequipa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $491 per month in Ayacucho vs $726 in Arequipa, rent included.

A couple spends around $793 per month in Ayacucho vs $1,150 in Arequipa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,095 per month in Ayacucho vs $1,573 in Arequipa, rent included.

Ayacucho is about 32% cheaper than Arequipa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ayacucho and Arequipa are more affordable than the global median – Ayacucho 64% lower, Arequipa 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.76 PEN 5.90

$3.59 PEN 12.04

-50.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.83 PEN 100

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 PEN 19.63

Cappuccino

$1.76 PEN 5.89

$2.61 PEN 8.75

-32.57%

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

$0.86 PEN 2.89

$0.83 PEN 2.79

3.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 PEN 1.05

$0.36 PEN 1.22

-13.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 PEN 5.04

$2.21 PEN 7.40

-32.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 PEN 14.72

$4.34 PEN 14.56

1.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 PEN 4.59

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 PEN 4.85

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.61 PEN 2.06

$1.53 PEN 5.13

-60.13%

Eggs

$1.73 PEN 5.81

$2.36 PEN 7.91

-26.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.92 PEN 9.78

$6.46 PEN 21.66

-54.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.41 PEN 14.78

$4.47 PEN 14.98

-1.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.91 PEN 19.80

$7.44 PEN 24.95

-20.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 PEN 4.08

$1.83 PEN 6.14

-33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$0.61 PEN 2.05

$1.25 PEN 4.20

-51.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.60 PEN 2.02

$1.16 PEN 3.91

-48.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 PEN 1.88

$1.02 PEN 3.43

-45.10%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PEN 0.97

$0.67 PEN 2.26

-56.72%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 PEN 1.04

$0.72 PEN 2.42

-56.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 PEN 1.06

$0.56 PEN 1.89

-44.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PEN 2.86

$0.77 PEN 2.57

10.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.22 PEN 17.51

Wine (Bottle)

$5.77 PEN 19.36

$5.29 PEN 17.74

9.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 PEN 10.01

$2.89 PEN 9.69

3.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 PEN 14.91

$2.40 PEN 8.04

85.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 PEN 2.02

$0.29 PEN 0.97

106.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.11 PEN 121

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 PEN 7.80

$2.10 PEN 7.05

10.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 PEN 4.06

$2.05 PEN 6.86

-40.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 PEN 15.35

$12.85 PEN 43.08

-64.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.79 PEN 6.01

$1.52 PEN 5.08

17.76%

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

$10.5K PEN 35.1K

$18.6K PEN 62.3K

-43.65%

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

$12.6K PEN 42.1K

$26.0K PEN 87.3K

-51.74%

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

$24.42 PEN 81.9

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

$11.94 PEN 40.05

$10.19 PEN 34.16

17.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.97 PEN 60.3

$23.41 PEN 78.5

-23.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.11 PEN 50.7

$25.53 PEN 85.6

-40.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.03 PEN 101

$8.36 PEN 28.04

259.21%

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 PEN 14.57

$7.50 PEN 25.16

-42.00%

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

$73.7 PEN 247

$75.6 PEN 253

-2.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,836 PEN 22.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.68 PEN 59.3

$49.44 PEN 166

-64.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.24 PEN 88.0

$26.25 PEN 88.0

-0.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 PEN 344

$69.3 PEN 232

47.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 PEN 354

$59.7 PEN 200

76.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$353 PEN 1,184

$362 PEN 1,214

-2.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.4 PEN 300

$240 PEN 804

-62.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$880 PEN 2,951

$731 PEN 2,452

20.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$234 PEN 784

$421 PEN 1,412

-44.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,981 PEN 6,644

$1,995 PEN 6,688

-0.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,755 PEN 5,885

$1,016 PEN 3,406

72.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$490 PEN 1,643

$656 PEN 2,198

-25.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Ayacucho: August 30, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $353 in Ayacucho versus $362 in Arequipa. 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 34% 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

Ayacucho vs Arequipa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arequipa costs about 48% more than Ayacucho, 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 $736 per month in Ayacucho and $1,089 in Arequipa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $491 in Ayacucho and $726 in Arequipa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 48% 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 $491 in Ayacucho and $726 in Arequipa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ayacucho costs $491 versus $726 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 Ayacucho. 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.