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 $528 per month in La Merced vs $998 in Lima, rent included.

A couple spends around $879 per month in La Merced vs $1,550 in Lima, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,231 per month in La Merced vs $2,101 in Lima, rent included.

La Merced is about 47% cheaper than Lima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both La Merced and Lima are more affordable than the global median – La Merced 61% lower, Lima 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.09 PEN 14.39

$4.19 PEN 14.74

-2.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.89 PEN 119

$33.47 PEN 118

1.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 PEN 23.92

$7.07 PEN 24.89

-3.82%

Cappuccino

$2.62 PEN 9.23

$2.59 PEN 9.11

1.16%

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

$0.92 PEN 3.25

$0.91 PEN 3.19

1.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 PEN 2.14

$0.60 PEN 2.12

1.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 PEN 8.03

$2.17 PEN 7.63

5.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 PEN 13.42

$3.83 PEN 13.49

-0.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 PEN 5.16

$1.43 PEN 5.05

2.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 PEN 6.95

$2.72 PEN 9.56

-27.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PEN 4.34

$1.31 PEN 4.61

-6.11%

Eggs

$2.25 PEN 7.93

$2.92 PEN 10.27

-22.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.83 PEN 24.06

$8.07 PEN 28.41

-15.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.66 PEN 19.94

$5.64 PEN 19.84

0.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.51 PEN 29.95

$10.49 PEN 36.92

-18.88%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 PEN 3.10

$2.00 PEN 7.04

-56.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.41 PEN 1.44

$1.11 PEN 3.92

-63.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.27 PEN 0.94

$1.14 PEN 4.03

-76.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 PEN 2.47

$1.24 PEN 4.38

-43.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.27 PEN 0.95

$1.00 PEN 3.51

-73.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 PEN 1.41

$0.93 PEN 3.28

-56.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 PEN 2.06

$0.83 PEN 2.93

-28.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PEN 3.25

$0.87 PEN 3.05

5.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.41 PEN 19.05

$5.46 PEN 19.22

-0.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.27 PEN 25.58

$8.61 PEN 30.32

-15.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 PEN 6.14

$1.71 PEN 6.02

1.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 PEN 10.91

$3.09 PEN 10.87

0.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 PEN 2.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.22 PEN 110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.39 PEN 11.93

$3.29 PEN 11.59

3.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.16 PEN 7.60

$2.20 PEN 7.74

-1.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.56 PEN 30.13

$8.31 PEN 29.24

3.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 PEN 4.81

$1.31 PEN 4.62

4.58%

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

$19.7K PEN 69.2K

$19.4K PEN 68.3K

1.35%

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

$24.1K PEN 84.8K

$24.5K PEN 86.4K

-1.87%

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

$56.5 PEN 199

$56.8 PEN 200

-0.51%

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

$12.55 PEN 44.18

$12.44 PEN 43.80

0.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.20 PEN 85.2

$24.14 PEN 85.0

0.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.15 PEN 106

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.93 PEN 66.6

Cinema Ticket

$6.85 PEN 24.10

$7.09 PEN 24.96

-3.39%

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

$219 PEN 772

$219 PEN 770

0.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,883 PEN 27.7K

$8,119 PEN 28.6K

-2.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 PEN 179

$49.52 PEN 174

2.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.18 PEN 127

$36.79 PEN 130

-1.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.9 PEN 320

$92.1 PEN 324

-1.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.7 PEN 319

$88.5 PEN 311

2.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$610 PEN 2,148

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 PEN 1,229

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,016 PEN 3,577

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$625 PEN 2,199

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,185 PEN 7,693

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,328 PEN 4,676

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 PEN 2,199

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Lima: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in La Merced versus $33.00 in Lima. Groceries tell a different story – $179 in La Merced vs $220 in Lima – so La Merced wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 89% 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 $793 per month in La Merced and $1,498 in Lima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $528 in La Merced and $998 in Lima. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $219 per month in La Merced and $219 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 $528, than in Lima at $998. 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 $528 versus $998 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.