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 $524 per month in Cerro de Pasco vs $967 in Lima, rent included.

A couple spends around $854 per month in Cerro de Pasco vs $1,518 in Lima, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,183 per month in Cerro de Pasco vs $2,069 in Lima, rent included.

Cerro de Pasco is about 46% cheaper than Lima, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Cerro de Pasco and Lima are more affordable than the global median – Cerro de Pasco 61% lower, Lima 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.81 PEN 9.55

$4.09 PEN 13.89

-31.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.35 PEN 93.0

$33.09 PEN 113

-17.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 PEN 23.88

$7.02 PEN 23.87

Cappuccino

$1.91 PEN 6.48

$2.65 PEN 9.00

-27.92%

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

$0.71 PEN 2.41

$0.96 PEN 3.27

-26.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 PEN 1.36

$0.66 PEN 2.25

-39.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 PEN 7.72

$2.16 PEN 7.34

5.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 PEN 13.44

$3.98 PEN 13.53

-0.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 PEN 4.81

$1.48 PEN 5.02

-4.05%

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 PEN 7.69

$2.67 PEN 9.09

-15.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PEN 4.26

$1.31 PEN 4.44

-4.58%

Eggs

$2.29 PEN 7.77

$2.93 PEN 9.96

-21.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.02 PEN 27.27

$7.78 PEN 26.46

3.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.72 PEN 19.44

$5.73 PEN 19.48

-0.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.93 PEN 26.94

$10.80 PEN 36.71

-26.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 PEN 6.67

$2.04 PEN 6.93

-3.92%

Banana (1kg)

$0.72 PEN 2.45

$1.09 PEN 3.70

-33.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.44 PEN 1.48

$1.14 PEN 3.88

-61.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 PEN 3.88

$1.20 PEN 4.09

-5.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 PEN 2.46

$0.99 PEN 3.36

-27.27%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PEN 1.78

$0.98 PEN 3.34

-46.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 PEN 2.99

$0.87 PEN 2.95

1.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PEN 2.91

$0.88 PEN 2.98

-3.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.42 PEN 18.41

$5.59 PEN 19.02

-3.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.04 PEN 23.94

$8.75 PEN 29.76

-19.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PEN 5.73

$1.70 PEN 5.79

-0.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 PEN 8.59

$3.09 PEN 10.49

-18.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.66 PEN 2.25

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.56 PEN 107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.27 PEN 11.12

$3.36 PEN 11.44

-2.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 PEN 7.26

$2.12 PEN 7.21

0.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.37 PEN 28.46

$8.24 PEN 28.00

1.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.60

$1.36 PEN 4.62

-0.74%

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

$19.2K PEN 65.2K

$19.1K PEN 65.1K

0.11%

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

$25.0K PEN 84.9K

$24.8K PEN 84.5K

0.53%

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

$55.8 PEN 190

$57.3 PEN 195

-2.58%

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

$12.40 PEN 42.16

$12.39 PEN 42.13

0.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.47 PEN 79.8

$23.34 PEN 79.4

0.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.84 PEN 105

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.08 PEN 64.9

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 PEN 22.92

$7.09 PEN 24.12

-4.94%

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

$221 PEN 751

$217 PEN 737

1.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,138 PEN 27.7K

$7,885 PEN 26.8K

3.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.25 PEN 167

$49.27 PEN 168

-0.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.69 PEN 121

$36.56 PEN 124

-2.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.8 PEN 312

$89.4 PEN 304

2.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.9 PEN 299

$88.4 PEN 300

-0.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$624 PEN 2,123

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 PEN 1,175

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 PEN 1,332

$1,056 PEN 3,589

-62.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$637 PEN 2,164

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,329 PEN 7,917

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,403 PEN 4,771

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$453 PEN 1,538

$616 PEN 2,093

-26.49%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Lima: June 9, 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 $27.00 in Cerro de Pasco versus $33.00 in Lima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $221 – 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 85%, 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 $786 per month in Cerro de Pasco and $1,450 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 $27.00 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 14% 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 $524, than in Lima at $967. 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.