Cost of Living Comparison Between Cerro de Pasco and Lima Cost of Living Comparison Between Cerro de Pasco and Lima

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $515 per month in Cerro de Pasco vs $998 in Lima, rent included.

A couple spends around $852 per month in Cerro de Pasco vs $1,550 in Lima, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,189 per month in Cerro de Pasco vs $2,101 in Lima, rent included.

Cerro de Pasco is about 48% cheaper than Lima, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Cerro de Pasco and Lima are more affordable than the global median – Cerro de Pasco 62% lower, Lima 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.76 PEN 9.73

$4.19 PEN 14.74

-34.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.58 PEN 97.1

$33.47 PEN 118

-17.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.12 PEN 25.07

$7.07 PEN 24.89

0.71%

Cappuccino

$1.92 PEN 6.76

$2.59 PEN 9.11

-25.87%

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

$0.71 PEN 2.50

$0.91 PEN 3.19

-21.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 PEN 1.41

$0.60 PEN 2.12

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 PEN 7.92

$2.17 PEN 7.63

3.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 PEN 13.66

$3.83 PEN 13.49

1.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 PEN 5.01

$1.43 PEN 5.05

-0.70%

White Bread (500g)

$2.19 PEN 7.71

$2.72 PEN 9.56

-19.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PEN 4.36

$1.31 PEN 4.61

-5.34%

Eggs

$2.30 PEN 8.08

$2.92 PEN 10.27

-21.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 PEN 27.50

$8.07 PEN 28.41

-3.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.68 PEN 19.99

$5.64 PEN 19.84

0.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.76 PEN 27.31

$10.49 PEN 36.92

-26.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 PEN 7.28

$2.00 PEN 7.04

3.50%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PEN 2.36

$1.11 PEN 3.92

-39.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.40 PEN 1.42

$1.14 PEN 4.03

-64.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 PEN 4.02

$1.24 PEN 4.38

-8.06%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 PEN 2.51

$1.00 PEN 3.51

-29.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PEN 1.80

$0.93 PEN 3.28

-45.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 PEN 2.85

$0.83 PEN 2.93

-2.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 PEN 2.96

$0.87 PEN 3.05

-3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.65 PEN 19.89

$5.46 PEN 19.22

3.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.08 PEN 24.92

$8.61 PEN 30.32

-17.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 PEN 6.21

$1.71 PEN 6.02

2.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 PEN 8.71

$3.09 PEN 10.87

-20.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 PEN 2.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.22 PEN 110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 PEN 12.05

$3.29 PEN 11.59

3.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 PEN 7.44

$2.20 PEN 7.74

-4.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.08 PEN 28.46

$8.31 PEN 29.24

-2.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 PEN 4.78

$1.31 PEN 4.62

3.82%

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

$19.7K PEN 69.4K

$19.4K PEN 68.3K

1.53%

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

$24.5K PEN 86.3K

$24.5K PEN 86.4K

-0.09%

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

$56.8 PEN 200

-0.04%

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

$12.63 PEN 44.47

$12.44 PEN 43.80

1.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.62 PEN 83.2

$24.14 PEN 85.0

-2.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.15 PEN 106

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.93 PEN 66.6

Cinema Ticket

$6.83 PEN 24.04

$7.09 PEN 24.96

-3.67%

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

$216 PEN 762

$219 PEN 770

-1.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,926 PEN 27.9K

$8,119 PEN 28.6K

-2.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.94 PEN 176

$49.52 PEN 174

0.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 PEN 128

$36.79 PEN 130

-1.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.8 PEN 316

$92.1 PEN 324

-2.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.9 PEN 316

$88.5 PEN 311

1.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$610 PEN 2,148

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 PEN 1,229

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 PEN 1,375

$1,016 PEN 3,577

-61.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$625 PEN 2,199

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,185 PEN 7,693

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,328 PEN 4,676

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$460 PEN 1,617

$625 PEN 2,199

-26.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.11

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

Last update for Cerro de Pasco: April 26, 2026

Last update for Lima: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 36% higher in Lima, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Cerro de Pasco versus $33.00 in Lima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $220 – making Cerro de Pasco the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Cerro de Pasco vs Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lima is pricier by about 94%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $772 per month in Cerro de Pasco and $1,498 in Lima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Cerro de Pasco and $33.00 in Lima. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Lima, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cerro de Pasco, where all-in costs run around $515, than in Lima at $998. In Cerro de Pasco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lima it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cerro de Pasco – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Cerro de Pasco. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lima makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.