Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chihuahua and Lima

For one person, living is cheaper in Lima: $996 a month against $1,235 in Chihuahua, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Chihuahua
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,235
/mo nomad
Lima
🇵🇪 Peru
$996
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,235 per month in Chihuahua vs $996 in Lima, rent included.

  • Chihuahua $1,235
  • Lima $996

A couple spends around $1,838 per month in Chihuahua vs $1,594 in Lima, rent included.

  • Chihuahua $1,838
  • Lima $1,594

A family of three spends $2,441 per month in Chihuahua vs $2,191 in Lima, rent included.

  • Chihuahua $2,441
  • Lima $2,191

Chihuahua costs about 24% more than Lima, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chihuahua and Lima are more affordable than the global median – Chihuahua 8% lower, Lima 26% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chihuahua
Lima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.89 MX$200
$4.42 PEN 15.16
146.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.13 MX$608
$35.04 PEN 120
-5.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.03 MX$202
$6.84 PEN 23.44
61.26%
Cappuccino
$2.43 MX$44.60
$3.27 PEN 11.22
-25.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 MX$22.55
$1.10 PEN 3.78
11.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 MX$13.90
$0.65 PEN 2.22
16.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 MX$44.37
$2.58 PEN 8.85
-6.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.12 MX$75.6
$4.47 PEN 15.34
-7.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chihuahua
Lima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$30.23
$1.59 PEN 5.46
3.77%
White Bread (500g)
$3.27 MX$60.0
$2.58 PEN 8.86
26.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 MX$39.08
$1.36 PEN 4.65
56.62%
Eggs
$2.58 MX$47.33
$2.95 PEN 10.11
-12.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.32 MX$171
$9.10 PEN 31.19
2.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.99 MX$128
$5.81 PEN 19.91
20.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.49 MX$229
$9.83 PEN 33.68
27.06%
Apples (1kg)
$2.53 MX$46.42
$2.01 PEN 6.89
25.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 MX$29.85
$1.08 PEN 3.69
50.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.05 MX$37.63
$1.37 PEN 4.70
49.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.90 MX$53.3
$1.48 PEN 5.06
95.95%
Potato (1kg)
$2.42 MX$44.47
$0.96 PEN 3.30
152.08%
Onion (1kg)
$2.65 MX$48.64
$0.85 PEN 2.92
211.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 MX$24.85
$0.88 PEN 3.02
53.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 MX$21.33
$0.87 PEN 2.97
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 MX$82.8
$5.90 PEN 20.24
-23.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.53 MX$193
$8.81 PEN 30.21
19.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 MX$27.09
$1.92 PEN 6.57
-22.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 MX$53.3
$3.20 PEN 10.98
-9.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Chihuahua
Lima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MX$10.48
$0.68 PEN 2.33
-16.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.79 MX$620
$26.74 PEN 91.7
26.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.72 MX$50.0
$3.81 PEN 13.06
-28.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 MX$14.42
$2.04 PEN 7.00
-61.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.03 MX$184
$7.14 PEN 24.49
40.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 MX$27.69
$1.65 PEN 5.65
-8.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K MX$391.7K
$22.2K PEN 76.0K
-3.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K MX$444.2K
$25.7K PEN 88.0K
-5.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chihuahua
Lima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.2 MX$1,527
$73.0 PEN 250
13.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.01 MX$386
$16.26 PEN 55.7
29.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.02 MX$441
$27.60 PEN 94.6
-12.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chihuahua
Lima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.14 MX$517
$33.07 PEN 113
-14.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.49 PEN 66.8
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.89 MX$89.7
$7.39 PEN 25.33
-33.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chihuahua
Lima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$269 MX$4,939
$182 PEN 624
47.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,353 MX$61.6K
$13.3K PEN 45.7K
-74.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chihuahua
Lima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.73 MX$895
$52.6 PEN 180
-7.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.25 MX$464
$34.23 PEN 117
-26.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,893
$83.8 PEN 287
23.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3 MX$1,657
$79.0 PEN 271
14.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chihuahua
Lima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$605 MX$11.1K
$723 PEN 2,479
-16.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$463 MX$8,506
$340 PEN 1,166
36.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,119 MX$20.6K
$1,184 PEN 4,060
-5.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$718 MX$13.2K
$635 PEN 2,176
13.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,385 MX$62.1K
$2,449 PEN 8,394
38.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,112 MX$20.4K
$1,372 PEN 4,702
-18.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chihuahua
Lima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$863 MX$15.8K
$653 PEN 2,237
32.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.84
8.94
21.25%

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

Last update for Chihuahua: October 6, 2026

Last update for Lima: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chihuahua
$463
Lima
$340 26.6% $123
Groceries & Markets
Chihuahua
$280
Lima
$226 19.1% $53
Eating Out
Chihuahua
$178
Lima
$124 30.1% $54
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chihuahua
$128
Lima
$117 8.8% $11
Clothing & Footwear
Chihuahua
$120
Lima
$112 6.6% $8
Getting Around
Chihuahua
$43
Lima
$43 1.8% $0.8
Sport & Entertainment
Chihuahua
$38
Lima
$48 26.2% $9.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $605 in Chihuahua versus $723 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 run about 32% higher in Chihuahua, 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 $33.00 in Chihuahua versus $35.00 in Lima. Groceries tell a different story – $280 in Chihuahua vs $226 in Lima – so Lima wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Chihuahua
🇵🇪 Lima
🕒 Local time
02:44 2:44 AM
03:44 3:44 AM
1 h ahead of Chihuahua
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
925,762
9,989,369 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PEN, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 18.36 MXN (100 MXN = 5.45 USD). 1 EUR = 20.59 MXN (100 MXN = 4.86 EUR).

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3.43 PEN (1 PEN = 0.292 USD). 1 EUR = 3.84 PEN (1 PEN = 0.26 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chihuahua Lima 5,500 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chihuahua
  • 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
Chihuahua vs Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chihuahua or Lima?
Chihuahua costs about 24% more than Lima, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chihuahua and in Lima?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,852 per month in Chihuahua and $1,494 in Lima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chihuahua or Lima?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lima, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chihuahua and in Lima?
Kindergarten costs $269 per month in Chihuahua and $182 in Lima. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chihuahua or in Lima?
Groceries cost about 24% more in Chihuahua, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Chihuahua or in Lima?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lima, where all-in costs run around $996, than in Chihuahua at $1,235. In Lima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chihuahua it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chihuahua or Lima?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lima costs $996 versus $1,235 in Chihuahua. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Chihuahua or to Lima?
If budget matters most, go with Lima. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chihuahua makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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