Cost of Living Comparison Between Chimbote and Arequipa Cost of Living Comparison Between Chimbote and Arequipa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $19.63 per month in Chimbote vs $719 in Arequipa, rent included.

A couple spends around $31.00 per month in Chimbote vs $1,114 in Arequipa, rent included.

A family of three spends $42.74 per month in Chimbote vs $1,510 in Arequipa, rent included.

Chimbote is about 97% cheaper than Arequipa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chimbote and Arequipa are more affordable than the global median – Chimbote 99% lower, Arequipa 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.41 PEN 11.74

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.27 PEN 93.9

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.68 PEN 19.55

Cappuccino

$2.47 PEN 8.49

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

$0.82 PEN 2.83

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 PEN 1.32

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 PEN 7.13

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 PEN 15.15

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 PEN 4.59

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 PEN 4.70

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 PEN 5.23

Eggs

$2.25 PEN 7.76

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.39 PEN 21.99

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.37 PEN 15.05

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.48 PEN 25.77

Apples (1kg)

$1.77 PEN 6.09

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 PEN 4.20

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 PEN 3.90

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 PEN 3.54

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 PEN 2.20

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 PEN 2.31

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 PEN 1.87

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.61

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.18 PEN 17.84

Wine (Bottle)

$5.04 PEN 17.34

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 PEN 9.38

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 PEN 7.59

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 PEN 3.27

$0.28 PEN 0.95

239.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 PEN 5.21

$2.01 PEN 6.91

-24.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.91 PEN 10.01

$1.97 PEN 6.79

47.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 PEN 10.23

$13.00 PEN 44.76

-77.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 PEN 5.29

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

$19.2K PEN 66.0K

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

$25.0K PEN 86.2K

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

$24.05 PEN 82.8

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

$10.15 PEN 34.96

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.01 PEN 79.3

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.05 PEN 86.3

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.13 PEN 28.01

Cinema Ticket

$7.41 PEN 25.51

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

$74.8 PEN 257

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,596 PEN 22.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.85 PEN 168

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.46 PEN 91.1

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.0 PEN 234

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.3 PEN 197

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 PEN 1,219

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$236 PEN 813

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$714 PEN 2,461

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$418 PEN 1,438

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,991 PEN 6,856

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$974 PEN 3,355

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 PEN 2,124

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chimbote: October 4, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: October 5, 2026

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

Chimbote vs Arequipa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arequipa costs about 3561% more than Chimbote, 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 $29.45 per month in Chimbote and $1,078 in Arequipa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $19.63 in Chimbote and $719 in Arequipa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chimbote costs $19.63 versus $719 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 Chimbote. 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.