Cost of Living Comparison Between La Merced and Lima Cost of Living Comparison Between La Merced and Lima

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $531 per month in La Merced vs $975 in Lima, rent included.

A couple spends around $868 per month in La Merced vs $1,515 in Lima, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,205 per month in La Merced vs $2,055 in Lima, rent included.

La Merced is about 46% cheaper than Lima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both La Merced and Lima are more affordable than the global median – La Merced 60% lower, Lima 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.07 PEN 13.85

$4.24 PEN 14.42

-4.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.86 PEN 115

$33.85 PEN 115

0.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.08 PEN 24.09

$7.10 PEN 24.15

-0.28%

Cappuccino

$2.65 PEN 9.00

$2.58 PEN 8.79

2.71%

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

$0.93 PEN 3.15

$0.90 PEN 3.08

3.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 PEN 2.20

$0.64 PEN 2.19

1.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 PEN 7.77

$2.24 PEN 7.61

2.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 PEN 13.54

$3.92 PEN 13.32

1.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 PEN 5.07

$1.47 PEN 5.00

1.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 PEN 6.47

$2.63 PEN 8.93

-27.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PEN 4.16

$1.31 PEN 4.47

-6.87%

Eggs

$2.26 PEN 7.70

$2.96 PEN 10.08

-23.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.11 PEN 24.17

$8.03 PEN 27.30

-11.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.64 PEN 19.17

$5.59 PEN 19.00

0.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.54 PEN 29.03

$10.56 PEN 35.92

-19.13%

Apples (1kg)

$0.96 PEN 3.27

$2.00 PEN 6.79

-52.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.43 PEN 1.48

$1.11 PEN 3.78

-61.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.27 PEN 0.91

$1.14 PEN 3.86

-76.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 PEN 2.42

$1.26 PEN 4.29

-43.65%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

$0.98 PEN 3.34

-70.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.44 PEN 1.50

$1.01 PEN 3.43

-56.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 PEN 1.81

$0.82 PEN 2.80

-35.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PEN 3.18

$0.87 PEN 2.97

6.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.69 PEN 19.35

$5.48 PEN 18.65

3.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.22 PEN 24.54

$8.85 PEN 30.11

-18.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 PEN 5.94

$1.71 PEN 5.81

2.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 PEN 10.10

$2.93 PEN 9.95

1.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 PEN 2.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.86 PEN 105

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 PEN 11.39

$3.39 PEN 11.51

-1.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 PEN 7.21

$2.12 PEN 7.22

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.19 PEN 27.84

$8.48 PEN 28.85

-3.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 PEN 4.57

$1.32 PEN 4.49

1.52%

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

$19.3K PEN 65.6K

$19.7K PEN 66.9K

-2.00%

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

$24.7K PEN 84.1K

$24.9K PEN 84.8K

-0.84%

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

$55.4 PEN 189

$57.0 PEN 194

-2.75%

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

$12.60 PEN 42.83

$12.83 PEN 43.62

-1.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.56 PEN 80.1

$23.68 PEN 80.5

-0.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.09 PEN 106

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.87 PEN 64.2

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 PEN 22.90

$6.84 PEN 23.26

-1.61%

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

$215 PEN 732

$223 PEN 758

-3.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,145 PEN 27.7K

$7,847 PEN 26.7K

3.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.4 PEN 171

$50.3 PEN 171

0.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.94 PEN 122

$35.93 PEN 122

0.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 PEN 306

$90.3 PEN 307

-0.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.5 PEN 308

$90.4 PEN 308

0.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 PEN 2,113

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$352 PEN 1,199

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,037 PEN 3,525

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$622 PEN 2,117

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 PEN 8,037

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,424 PEN 4,844

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$636 PEN 2,164

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 La Merced: July 28, 2026

Last update for Lima: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in La Merced versus $34.00 in Lima. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $220 – making La Merced 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

La Merced vs Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lima costs about 84% more than La Merced, 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 $796 per month in La Merced and $1,463 in Lima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $531 in La Merced and $975 in Lima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $215 per month in La Merced and $223 in Lima. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in La Merced, where all-in costs run around $531, than in Lima at $975. In La Merced it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lima it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. La Merced costs $531 versus $975 in Lima. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with La Merced. 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.