Cost of Living Comparison Between Huancayo and Lima Cost of Living Comparison Between Huancayo and Lima

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $476 per month in Huancayo vs $985 in Lima, rent included.

A couple spends around $804 per month in Huancayo vs $1,537 in Lima, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,133 per month in Huancayo vs $2,089 in Lima, rent included.

Huancayo is about 52% cheaper than Lima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Huancayo and Lima are more affordable than the global median – Huancayo 65% lower, Lima 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PEN 7.49

$4.11 PEN 13.98

-46.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.86 PEN 115

$32.93 PEN 112

2.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.99 PEN 23.78

$7.00 PEN 23.81

-0.14%

Cappuccino

$2.53 PEN 8.59

$2.54 PEN 8.64

-0.39%

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

$0.99 PEN 3.38

$0.92 PEN 3.13

7.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 PEN 2.25

$0.61 PEN 2.06

8.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 PEN 7.59

$2.24 PEN 7.62

-0.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 PEN 12.91

$3.84 PEN 13.07

-1.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 PEN 3.88

$1.41 PEN 4.79

-19.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 PEN 3.14

$2.73 PEN 9.30

-66.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 PEN 4.49

$1.30 PEN 4.44

1.54%

Eggs

$2.32 PEN 7.89

$2.96 PEN 10.06

-21.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.04 PEN 17.14

$7.97 PEN 27.11

-36.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.44 PEN 18.52

$5.67 PEN 19.30

-4.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.88 PEN 16.61

$10.58 PEN 36.00

-53.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.37 PEN 4.65

$2.02 PEN 6.87

-32.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 PEN 3.80

$1.07 PEN 3.65

4.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.57 PEN 1.96

$1.13 PEN 3.85

-49.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 PEN 3.72

$1.25 PEN 4.26

-12.80%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 PEN 2.76

$1.03 PEN 3.51

-21.36%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 PEN 2.73

$0.96 PEN 3.25

-16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 PEN 1.95

$0.87 PEN 2.96

-34.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 PEN 2.77

$0.88 PEN 3.00

-6.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.54 PEN 18.85

$5.46 PEN 18.58

1.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.32 PEN 18.10

$8.98 PEN 30.55

-40.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 PEN 5.77

$1.75 PEN 5.96

-2.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 PEN 10.07

$3.08 PEN 10.47

-3.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 PEN 1.81

$0.67 PEN 2.26

-20.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.51 PEN 56.2

$30.61 PEN 104

-46.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 PEN 5.98

$3.38 PEN 11.51

-47.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.18 PEN 7.42

$2.21 PEN 7.53

-1.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.54 PEN 29.05

$8.22 PEN 27.96

3.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 PEN 4.46

$1.35 PEN 4.60

-2.96%

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

$19.7K PEN 66.9K

$19.3K PEN 65.7K

1.82%

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

$24.8K PEN 84.5K

$24.3K PEN 82.7K

2.14%

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

$33.15 PEN 113

$56.7 PEN 193

-41.54%

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

$10.94 PEN 37.21

$12.64 PEN 43.00

-13.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.00 PEN 37.42

$24.00 PEN 81.7

-54.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.10 PEN 102

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.95 PEN 64.5

Cinema Ticket

$6.84 PEN 23.27

$6.74 PEN 22.92

1.48%

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

$217 PEN 737

$218 PEN 740

-0.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,980 PEN 27.1K

$7,895 PEN 26.9K

1.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.90 PEN 170

$49.95 PEN 170

-0.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.52 PEN 124

$36.59 PEN 125

-0.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 PEN 309

$89.7 PEN 305

1.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.0 PEN 299

$88.1 PEN 300

-0.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$302 PEN 1,028

$606 PEN 2,062

-50.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 PEN 1,189

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,036 PEN 3,524

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$628 PEN 2,135

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,367 PEN 8,054

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,434 PEN 4,880

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$626 PEN 2,131

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 Huancayo: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lima: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $302 in Huancayo versus $606 in Lima. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Huancayo versus $33.00 in Lima. Groceries tell a different story – $155 in Huancayo vs $222 in Lima – so Huancayo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Huancayo vs Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lima costs about 107% more than Huancayo, 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 $713 per month in Huancayo and $1,477 in Lima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Huancayo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $476 in Huancayo and $985 in Lima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 85% less in Huancayo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Huancayo, where all-in costs run around $476, than in Lima at $985. In Huancayo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lima it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Huancayo costs $476 versus $985 in Lima. 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 Huancayo. 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.