Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Elk Grove, CA and Lima

For one person, living is cheaper in Lima: $1,014 a month against $4,216 in Elk Grove, CA, rent and utilities included – about $38,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Elk Grove, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$4,216
/mo nomad
Lima
🇵🇪 Peru
$1,014
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,216 in Elk Grove, CA versus $1,014 in Lima.

  • Elk Grove, CA $4,216
  • Lima $1,014

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,106 in Elk Grove, CA versus $1,613 in Lima.

  • Elk Grove, CA $6,106
  • Lima $1,613

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,995 in Elk Grove, CA versus $2,211 in Lima.

  • Elk Grove, CA $7,995
  • Lima $2,211

Living in Elk Grove, CA is roughly 316% more expensive than in Lima, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Elk Grove, CA is 211% above, Lima is 25% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Elk Grove, CA
Lima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.18 $22.18
$4.42 PEN 15.19
401.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.0 $65.0
$34.56 PEN 119
88.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.03 $12.03
$6.80 PEN 23.37
76.91%
Cappuccino
$7.04 $7.04
$3.30 PEN 11.34
113.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.06 PEN 3.64
101.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$0.66 PEN 2.26
292.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.64 $10.64
$2.54 PEN 8.71
318.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.60 $10.60
$4.24 PEN 14.55
150.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Elk Grove, CA
Lima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 $1.62
$1.58 PEN 5.43
2.53%
White Bread (500g)
$4.02 $4.02
$2.61 PEN 8.97
54.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.65 $8.65
$1.34 PEN 4.60
545.52%
Eggs
$5.47 $5.47
$2.93 PEN 10.08
86.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.48 $17.48
$9.45 PEN 32.45
84.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$30.55 $30.55
$5.75 PEN 19.75
431.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.72 $27.72
$9.69 PEN 33.29
186.07%
Apples (1kg)
$9.64 $9.64
$2.02 PEN 6.95
377.23%
Banana (1kg)
$3.27 $3.27
$1.07 PEN 3.66
205.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$10.00 $10.00
$1.37 PEN 4.70
629.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$8.03 $8.03
$1.47 PEN 5.05
446.26%
Potato (1kg)
$7.55 $7.55
$0.95 PEN 3.25
694.74%
Onion (1kg)
$6.16 $6.16
$0.91 PEN 3.14
576.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.04 $3.04
$0.90 PEN 3.10
237.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.89 PEN 3.04
119.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.09 $13.09
$5.74 PEN 19.71
128.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.61 $20.61
$9.21 PEN 31.64
123.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.84 PEN 6.31
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.98 $8.98
$3.11 PEN 10.67
188.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Elk Grove, CA
Lima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$8.09 $8.09
$0.72 PEN 2.46
1023.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$148 $148
$26.03 PEN 89.4
468.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.88 $6.88
$3.54 PEN 12.17
94.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.66 $3.66
$2.07 PEN 7.12
76.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$7.75 PEN 26.62
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.71 PEN 5.86
-19.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K $31.2K
$21.6K PEN 74.1K
44.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K $22.5K
$28.6K PEN 98.2K
-21.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elk Grove, CA
Lima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$255 $255
$68.2 PEN 234
273.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$108 $108
$15.73 PEN 54.0
585.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$136 $136
$26.48 PEN 90.9
412.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Elk Grove, CA
Lima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$102 $102
$33.94 PEN 117
201.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.76 $24.76
$20.10 PEN 69.0
23.18%
Cinema Ticket
$17.69 $17.69
$7.22 PEN 24.80
145.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Elk Grove, CA
Lima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,436 $1,436
$201 PEN 689
615.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.9K $17.9K
$12.9K PEN 44.3K
38.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Elk Grove, CA
Lima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.1 $91.1
$53.7 PEN 184
69.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$89.7 $89.7
$35.88 PEN 123
150.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$171 $171
$83.8 PEN 288
104.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 $130
$78.8 PEN 271
64.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Elk Grove, CA
Lima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,269 $2,269
$729 PEN 2,505
211.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,088 $2,088
$349 PEN 1,197
498.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,368 $3,368
$1,186 PEN 4,073
183.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,473 $3,473
$696 PEN 2,391
398.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,900 $3,900
$2,360 PEN 8,105
65.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,165 $3,165
$1,356 PEN 4,657
133.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Elk Grove, CA
Lima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,827 $7,827
$663 PEN 2,278
1080.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
8.78
-25.63%

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

Last update for Elk Grove, CA: October 17, 2026

Last update for Lima: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Elk Grove, CA
$2.1K
Lima
$349 83.3% $1.7K
Groceries & Markets
Elk Grove, CA
$679 *
Lima
$227 66.5% $452
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elk Grove, CA
$498
Lima
$110 77.9% $388
Eating Out
Elk Grove, CA
$391
Lima
$123 68.5% $268
Clothing & Footwear
Elk Grove, CA
$217
Lima
$113 47.7% $103
Getting Around
Elk Grove, CA
$205
Lima
$43 79.2% $163
Sport & Entertainment
Elk Grove, CA
$138
Lima
$48 64.8% $89

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,269 in Elk Grove, CA and $729 in Lima. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Elk Grove, CA pays 1080% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $65.0 in Elk Grove, CA vs $35.00 in Lima for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $679 vs $227 per month, with Lima cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Elk Grove, CA
🇵🇪 Lima
🕒 Local time
12:12 12:12 PM
14:12 2:12 PM
2 h ahead of Elk Grove, CA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
166,913
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 October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3.43 PEN (1 PEN = 0.291 USD). 1 EUR = 3.86 PEN (1 PEN = 0.259 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Elk Grove, CA Lima 7,260 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Elk Grove, CA
  • 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
Elk Grove, CA vs Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lima cheaper than Elk Grove, CA?
Lima is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 316% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Elk Grove, CA or Lima?
Average pay runs 1080% higher in Elk Grove, CA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Elk Grove, CA and Lima?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,269 in Elk Grove, CA versus $729 in Lima. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Lima runs roughly 468% less than in Elk Grove, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,436 in Elk Grove, CA versus $201 in Lima. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Elk Grove, CA or in Lima?
At $1,014 in Lima versus $4,216 in Elk Grove, CA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lima but tight or insufficient in Elk Grove, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Lima the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Elk Grove, CA or Lima more family-friendly?
For families, Lima is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Elk Grove, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Elk Grove, CA or Lima?
Safety-wise, Elk Grove, CA and Lima are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Lima gentler on the wallet – expenses run 316% less than in Elk Grove, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Elk Grove, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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