Cost of Living Comparison Between Huánuco and Lima Cost of Living Comparison Between Huánuco and Lima

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $125 in Huánuco versus $998 in Lima.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $216 in Huánuco versus $1,550 in Lima.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $307 in Huánuco versus $2,101 in Lima.

Living in Huánuco costs roughly 87% less than in Lima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Huánuco 91% lower, Lima 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.42 PEN 12.02

$4.19 PEN 14.70

-18.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.82 PEN 62.6

$33.47 PEN 117

-46.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.07 PEN 24.82

Cappuccino

$2.59 PEN 9.08

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

$0.79 PEN 2.77

$0.91 PEN 3.18

-13.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 PEN 1.87

$0.60 PEN 2.12

-11.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 PEN 7.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 PEN 13.46

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 PEN 5.03

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 PEN 9.53

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.60

Eggs

$1.54 PEN 5.39

$2.92 PEN 10.24

-47.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.07 PEN 28.33

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.64 PEN 19.79

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.49 PEN 36.81

Apples (1kg)

$2.41 PEN 8.47

$2.00 PEN 7.02

20.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.91

Oranges (1kg)

$0.55 PEN 1.92

$1.14 PEN 4.02

-51.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 PEN 4.37

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 PEN 2.05

$1.00 PEN 3.50

-42.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 PEN 3.27

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PEN 1.03

$0.83 PEN 2.93

-65.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 PEN 2.04

$0.87 PEN 3.05

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 PEN 19.16

Wine (Bottle)

$6.45 PEN 22.65

$8.61 PEN 30.23

-25.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 PEN 6.00

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 PEN 10.84

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 PEN 2.52

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.22 PEN 110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 PEN 11.55

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 PEN 1.85

$2.20 PEN 7.71

-75.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.31 PEN 29.16

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.74

$1.31 PEN 4.61

3.05%

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

$19.4K PEN 68.1K

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

$24.5K PEN 86.2K

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

$24.89 PEN 87.4

$56.8 PEN 199

-56.20%

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

$12.44 PEN 43.68

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.38 PEN 68.0

$24.14 PEN 84.7

-19.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.15 PEN 106

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.93 PEN 66.4

Cinema Ticket

$7.09 PEN 24.89

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

$219 PEN 768

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,119 PEN 28.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.52 PEN 174

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.79 PEN 129

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.1 PEN 323

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 PEN 311

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$610 PEN 2,142

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 PEN 1,226

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PEN 695

$1,016 PEN 3,567

-80.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$625 PEN 2,193

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,377 PEN 4,834

$2,185 PEN 7,671

-36.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,328 PEN 4,662

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 PEN 2,192

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 Huánuco: April 28, 2026

Last update for Lima: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $18.00 in Huánuco vs $33.00 in Lima for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $43.00 vs $220 per month, with Huánuco cheaper across the board.

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

Huánuco vs Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Huánuco is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear. The 699% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $187 in Huánuco and $1,498 in Lima to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 410% higher in Lima. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Huánuco – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $33.00 in Lima. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $125 in Huánuco versus $998 in Lima, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Huánuco but tight or insufficient in Lima. The gap between the two cities makes Huánuco the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Huánuco is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lima, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Huánuco 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.

Expats usually find Huánuco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 699% less than in Lima. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.