Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Itapema and Lima

For one person, living is cheaper in Itapema: $772 a month against $1,014 in Lima, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Itapema
🇧🇷 Brazil
$772
/mo nomad
Lima
🇵🇪 Peru
$1,014
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $772 in Itapema versus $1,014 in Lima.

  • Itapema $772
  • Lima $1,014

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,233 in Itapema versus $1,613 in Lima.

  • Itapema $1,233
  • Lima $1,613

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,694 in Itapema versus $2,211 in Lima.

  • Itapema $1,694
  • Lima $2,211

Living in Itapema costs roughly 24% less than in Lima, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Itapema 43% lower, Lima 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Itapema
Lima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.55 R$28.13
$4.42 PEN 15.19
25.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.67 R$140
$34.56 PEN 119
-19.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.45 R$32.69
$6.80 PEN 23.37
-5.15%
Cappuccino
$1.75 R$8.89
$3.30 PEN 11.34
-46.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 R$5.46
$1.06 PEN 3.64
1.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 R$3.26
$0.66 PEN 2.26
-3.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.79 R$9.05
$2.54 PEN 8.71
-29.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 R$13.45
$4.24 PEN 14.55
-37.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Itapema
Lima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 R$5.03
$1.58 PEN 5.43
-37.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.50 R$7.59
$2.61 PEN 8.97
-42.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.14 R$5.79
$1.34 PEN 4.60
-14.93%
Eggs
$2.03 R$10.28
$2.93 PEN 10.08
-30.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.39 R$42.52
$9.45 PEN 32.45
-11.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 R$18.52
$5.75 PEN 19.75
-36.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.28 R$36.90
$9.69 PEN 33.29
-24.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.06 R$10.46
$2.02 PEN 6.95
1.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 R$6.30
$1.07 PEN 3.66
15.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.16 R$5.87
$1.37 PEN 4.70
-15.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 R$7.57
$1.47 PEN 5.05
1.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 R$5.82
$0.95 PEN 3.25
21.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.05 R$5.33
$0.91 PEN 3.14
15.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 R$3.42
$0.90 PEN 3.10
-24.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 R$3.19
$0.89 PEN 3.04
-29.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.09 R$10.62
$5.74 PEN 19.71
-63.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.45 R$37.75
$9.21 PEN 31.64
-19.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 R$6.30
$1.84 PEN 6.31
-32.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 R$10.43
$3.11 PEN 10.67
-33.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Itapema
Lima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 R$4.67
$0.72 PEN 2.46
27.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.79 R$192
$26.03 PEN 89.4
45.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.09 R$5.54
$3.54 PEN 12.17
-69.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 R$3.57
$2.07 PEN 7.12
-66.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.54 R$33.18
$7.75 PEN 26.62
-15.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 R$5.25
$1.71 PEN 5.86
-39.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K R$106.5K
$21.6K PEN 74.1K
-2.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K R$142.6K
$28.6K PEN 98.2K
-1.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Itapema
Lima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$59.5 R$302
$68.2 PEN 234
-12.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.32 R$67.5
$15.73 PEN 54.0
-15.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.44 R$93.5
$26.48 PEN 90.9
-30.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Itapema
Lima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.93 R$116
$33.94 PEN 117
-32.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.84 R$111
$20.10 PEN 69.0
8.66%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 R$32.89
$7.22 PEN 24.80
-10.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Itapema
Lima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$278 R$1,410
$201 PEN 689
38.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,357 R$32.2K
$12.9K PEN 44.3K
-50.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Itapema
Lima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.61 R$236
$53.7 PEN 184
-13.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.86 R$217
$35.88 PEN 123
19.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.2 R$386
$83.8 PEN 288
-9.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.5 R$317
$78.8 PEN 271
-20.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Itapema
Lima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$320 R$1,623
$729 PEN 2,505
-56.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$217 R$1,099
$349 PEN 1,197
-37.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$571 R$2,897
$1,186 PEN 4,073
-51.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$427 R$2,164
$696 PEN 2,391
-38.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,472 R$7,464
$2,360 PEN 8,105
-37.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,044 R$5,292
$1,356 PEN 4,657
-23.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Itapema
Lima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$663 PEN 2,278
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.92
8.78
24.37%

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

Last update for Itapema: October 20, 2026

Last update for Lima: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Itapema
$217
Lima
$349 60.8% $132
Groceries & Markets
Itapema
$174
Lima
$227 30.8% $54
Eating Out
Itapema
$106
Lima
$123 16.6% $18
Clothing & Footwear
Itapema
$103
Lima
$113 10.5% $11
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Itapema
$91
Lima
$110 20.9% $19
Getting Around
Itapema
$46
Lima
$43 7.1% $3.3
Sport & Entertainment
Itapema
$36
Lima
$48 34.8% $12

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $320 in Itapema and $729 in Lima. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $28.00 in Itapema vs $35.00 in Lima for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $227 per month, with Itapema cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Itapema
🇵🇪 Lima
🕒 Local time
19:35 7:35 PM
17:35 5:35 PM
2 h behind Itapema
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
75,940
9,989,369 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PEN, USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 21, 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
  • Itapema Lima 3,400 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Itapema
  • 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
Itapema vs Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lima cheaper than Itapema?
Itapema is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,159 in Itapema and $1,522 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.
What is the rent difference between Itapema and Lima?
Rent for a central apartment: $320 in Itapema versus $729 in Lima. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Itapema and in Lima?
All in, you'll spend $772 per month in Itapema versus $1,014 in Lima – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Itapema runs roughly 45% less than in Lima. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Itapema or in Lima?
At $772 in Itapema versus $1,014 in Lima, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Itapema but tight or insufficient in Lima. The gap between the two cities makes Itapema the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Itapema or Lima more family-friendly?
For families, Itapema 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.
Which city is safer, Itapema or Lima?
Safety-wise, Itapema 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 Itapema gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Lima. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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