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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $471 per month in Huancayo vs $999 in Lima, rent included.

A couple spends around $806 per month in Huancayo vs $1,561 in Lima, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,142 per month in Huancayo vs $2,124 in Lima, rent included.

Huancayo is about 53% cheaper than Lima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Huancayo and Lima are more affordable than the global median – Huancayo 65% lower, Lima 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.25 PEN 7.62

$4.06 PEN 13.76

-44.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.57 PEN 114

$33.99 PEN 115

-1.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 PEN 24.03

$6.74 PEN 22.85

5.19%

Cappuccino

$2.62 PEN 8.89

$2.52 PEN 8.55

3.97%

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

$0.94 PEN 3.18

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 PEN 2.22

$0.65 PEN 2.21

1.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 PEN 7.71

$2.17 PEN 7.34

4.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 PEN 12.90

$3.95 PEN 13.38

-3.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 PEN 3.66

$1.41 PEN 4.78

-23.40%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 PEN 3.20

$2.72 PEN 9.21

-65.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PEN 4.38

$1.37 PEN 4.64

-5.84%

Eggs

$2.30 PEN 7.79

$2.94 PEN 9.98

-21.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.10 PEN 17.27

$7.92 PEN 26.85

-35.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.59 PEN 18.94

$5.76 PEN 19.53

-2.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 PEN 17.25

$10.71 PEN 36.29

-52.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 PEN 4.59

$1.98 PEN 6.71

-31.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.65

$1.08 PEN 3.66

Oranges (1kg)

$0.54 PEN 1.83

$1.10 PEN 3.72

-50.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 PEN 3.70

$1.19 PEN 4.05

-8.40%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 PEN 2.88

$1.04 PEN 3.51

-18.27%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 PEN 2.76

$1.00 PEN 3.38

-19.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 PEN 1.98

$0.87 PEN 2.93

-32.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 PEN 2.90

$0.86 PEN 2.93

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.43 PEN 18.41

$5.59 PEN 18.95

-2.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.20 PEN 17.62

$8.99 PEN 30.49

-42.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 PEN 5.80

$1.77 PEN 5.98

-3.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 PEN 10.16

$3.07 PEN 10.41

-2.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 PEN 1.83

$0.68 PEN 2.29

-20.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.38 PEN 55.5

$31.68 PEN 107

-48.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.84 PEN 6.22

$3.37 PEN 11.42

-45.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 PEN 7.42

$2.22 PEN 7.53

-1.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.51 PEN 28.86

$8.26 PEN 27.98

3.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 PEN 4.61

$1.35 PEN 4.58

0.74%

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

$19.7K PEN 66.9K

$19.4K PEN 65.8K

1.75%

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

$24.6K PEN 83.5K

$24.3K PEN 82.2K

1.60%

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

$32.83 PEN 111

$56.4 PEN 191

-41.83%

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

$11.16 PEN 37.84

$12.57 PEN 42.60

-11.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.05 PEN 37.46

$23.66 PEN 80.2

-53.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.04 PEN 105

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 PEN 63.4

Cinema Ticket

$6.79 PEN 23.01

$6.83 PEN 23.16

-0.59%

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

$216 PEN 734

$219 PEN 742

-1.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,090 PEN 27.4K

$8,096 PEN 27.4K

-0.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.1 PEN 170

$49.58 PEN 168

0.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.36 PEN 123

$35.59 PEN 121

2.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.3 PEN 306

$89.3 PEN 303

1.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.5 PEN 303

$88.9 PEN 301

0.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$305 PEN 1,035

$623 PEN 2,113

-51.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 PEN 1,167

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 PEN 3,482

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$618 PEN 2,096

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,315 PEN 7,846

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,395 PEN 4,730

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 PEN 2,119

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lima: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $305 in Huancayo versus $623 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 $34.00 in Lima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $156 vs $222 – making Huancayo 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

Huancayo vs Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lima costs about 112% 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 $706 per month in Huancayo and $1,498 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 $471 in Huancayo and $999 in Lima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 93% 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 $471, than in Lima at $999. 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 $471 versus $999 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.