Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cedar Rapids, IA and Lima

For one person, living is cheaper in Lima: $1,042 a month against $2,045 in Cedar Rapids, IA, rent and utilities included – about $12,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Cedar Rapids, IA, United States
Lima, Peru
Cedar Rapids, IA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,045
/mo nomad
Lima
🇵🇪 Peru
$1,042
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cedar Rapids, IA 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 Cedar Rapids, IA and in Lima actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,045 per month in Cedar Rapids, IA vs $1,042 in Lima, rent included.

  • Cedar Rapids, IA $2,045
  • Lima $1,042

A couple spends around $3,071 per month in Cedar Rapids, IA vs $1,651 in Lima, rent included.

  • Cedar Rapids, IA $3,071
  • Lima $1,651

A family of three spends $4,097 per month in Cedar Rapids, IA vs $2,259 in Lima, rent included.

  • Cedar Rapids, IA $4,097
  • Lima $2,259

Cedar Rapids, IA costs about 96% more than Lima, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Cedar Rapids, IA sits 51% above the global median, while Lima is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cedar Rapids, IA
Lima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.23 $15.23
$4.64 PEN 15.95
228.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.8 $70.8
$34.34 PEN 118
106.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.89 $10.89
$7.01 PEN 24.12
55.35%
Cappuccino
$5.72 $5.72
$3.22 PEN 11.09
77.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 $2.75
$1.13 PEN 3.90
143.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 $1.90
$0.61 PEN 2.09
211.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.93 PEN 10.07
50.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.82 $5.82
$4.25 PEN 14.63
36.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cedar Rapids, IA
Lima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.74 $0.74
$1.58 PEN 5.44
-53.16%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.61 PEN 8.98
-5.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.75 $4.75
$1.30 PEN 4.46
265.38%
Eggs
$2.53 $2.53
$2.92 PEN 10.04
-13.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.31 $14.31
$9.54 PEN 32.82
50.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.86 $10.86
$5.71 PEN 19.66
90.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.11 $16.11
$9.47 PEN 32.57
70.12%
Apples (1kg)
$4.88 $4.88
$2.01 PEN 6.91
142.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.02 PEN 3.52
8.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.36 $5.36
$1.45 PEN 4.99
269.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.73 $4.73
$1.49 PEN 5.14
217.45%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 $2.57
$0.91 PEN 3.14
182.42%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 $2.27
$0.89 PEN 3.07
155.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 $1.96
$0.86 PEN 2.97
127.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$0.89 PEN 3.05
151.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.16 $10.16
$5.47 PEN 18.83
85.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.85 $10.85
$10.17 PEN 34.99
6.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$1.81 PEN 6.21
19.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 $3.40
$3.15 PEN 10.83
7.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Cedar Rapids, IA
Lima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 $1.02
$0.66 PEN 2.28
54.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.42 $30.42
$31.89 PEN 110
-4.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.55 $3.55
$3.43 PEN 11.79
3.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.98 PEN 6.80
-5.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$45.13 $45.13
$9.60 PEN 33.03
370.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.71 PEN 5.89
-46.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K $32.6K
$21.9K PEN 75.2K
49.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K $26.9K
$29.0K PEN 99.9K
-7.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cedar Rapids, IA
Lima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$204 $204
$65.8 PEN 227
210.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.6 $54.6
$15.26 PEN 52.5
257.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.4 $69.4
$26.87 PEN 92.5
158.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cedar Rapids, IA
Lima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.1 $71.1
$32.91 PEN 113
116.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73 $18.73
$20.12 PEN 69.2
-6.91%
Cinema Ticket
$12.79 $12.79
$7.12 PEN 24.49
79.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cedar Rapids, IA
Lima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$891 $891
$309 PEN 1,063
188.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K $11.3K
$21.4K PEN 73.5K
-47.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cedar Rapids, IA
Lima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.8 $61.8
$52.0 PEN 179
18.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.7 $62.7
$35.69 PEN 123
75.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$128 $128
$81.8 PEN 281
55.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 $150
$78.0 PEN 268
92.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cedar Rapids, IA
Lima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,129 $1,129
$727 PEN 2,501
55.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$747 $747
$373 PEN 1,284
100.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,568 $1,568
$1,249 PEN 4,296
25.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,253 $1,253
$739 PEN 2,543
69.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,774 $1,774
$2,380 PEN 8,190
-25.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,500 $1,500
$1,365 PEN 4,696
9.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cedar Rapids, IA
Lima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,652 $3,652
$650 PEN 2,237
461.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.63
8.38
-20.88%

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

Last update for Cedar Rapids, IA: November 2, 2026

Last update for Lima: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cedar Rapids, IA
$747
Lima
$373 50.1% $374
Groceries & Markets
Cedar Rapids, IA
$369
Lima
$228 38.2% $141
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cedar Rapids, IA
$328
Lima
$108 67.1% $220
Eating Out
Cedar Rapids, IA
$275
Lima
$127 53.9% $149
Clothing & Footwear
Cedar Rapids, IA
$181
Lima
$111 38.5% $70
Sport & Entertainment
Cedar Rapids, IA
$97
Lima
$47 51.2% $50
Getting Around
Cedar Rapids, IA
$47
Lima
$48 0.8% $0.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,129 in Cedar Rapids, IA 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.

Salaries in Cedar Rapids, IA are about 5.6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71 in Cedar Rapids, IA versus $34 in Lima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $369 vs $228 – making Lima the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Cedar Rapids, IA
🇵🇪 Lima
🕒 Local time
08:30 8:30 AM
09:30 9:30 AM
1 h ahead of Cedar Rapids, IA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
137,710
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 = 0.89 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
  • Cedar Rapids, IA Lima 6,190 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cedar Rapids, IA
  • 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
Cedar Rapids, IA vs Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lima cheaper than Cedar Rapids, IA?
Yes – Cedar Rapids, IA is pricier by about 96%, 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 $3,067 per month in Cedar Rapids, IA 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 $1,129 in Cedar Rapids, IA.
How do food prices compare in Cedar Rapids, IA and in Lima?
Groceries cost about 62% more in Cedar Rapids, IA, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is eating out cheaper in Cedar Rapids, IA or in Lima?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $71 in Cedar Rapids, IA and $34 in Lima. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Cedar Rapids, IA or in Lima?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lima, where all-in costs run around $1,042, than in Cedar Rapids, IA at $2,045. In Lima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cedar Rapids, IA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cedar Rapids, IA 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 the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Lima. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cedar Rapids, IA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Cedar Rapids, IA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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