Cost of Living Comparison Between Huaraz and Arequipa Cost of Living Comparison Between Huaraz and Arequipa

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 PEN 11.92

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.40 PEN 95.8

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.06 PEN 20.46

Cappuccino

$2.59 PEN 8.75

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

$0.85 PEN 2.86

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 PEN 1.25

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.10 PEN 7.07

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 PEN 14.82

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 PEN 4.60

White Bread (500g)

$1.39 PEN 4.69

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 PEN 5.01

Eggs

$2.35 PEN 7.93

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.51 PEN 21.97

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 PEN 15.44

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.68 PEN 25.92

Apples (1kg)

$1.77 PEN 5.98

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 PEN 4.26

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 PEN 3.97

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 PEN 3.59

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 PEN 2.30

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 PEN 2.30

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 PEN 1.90

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.56

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.09 PEN 17.19

Wine (Bottle)

$5.12 PEN 17.27

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.76 PEN 9.30

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 PEN 7.82

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 PEN 1.05

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 PEN 7.06

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 PEN 7.14

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.12 PEN 44.26

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 PEN 5.27

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

$19.1K PEN 64.6K

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

$25.8K PEN 87.0K

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

$24.60 PEN 83.0

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

$10.35 PEN 34.93

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.49 PEN 79.3

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.85 PEN 83.9

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.04 PEN 27.13

Cinema Ticket

$7.34 PEN 24.77

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

$76.7 PEN 259

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,936 PEN 23.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.48 PEN 167

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.26 PEN 92.0

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.3 PEN 227

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.6 PEN 204

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$358 PEN 1,207

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 PEN 803

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$746 PEN 2,517

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 PEN 1,455

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,005 PEN 6,765

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,007 PEN 3,397

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$630 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 Huaraz: September 14, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: September 14, 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

Huaraz vs Arequipa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Families tend to lean toward Huaraz – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Huaraz. 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.