Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Albuquerque, NM

For one person, living is cheaper in Lima: $996 a month against $2,381 in Albuquerque, NM, rent and utilities included – about $16,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lima
🇵🇪 Peru
$996
/mo nomad
Albuquerque, NM
🇺🇸 United States
$2,381
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lima and in Albuquerque, NM

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lima and in Albuquerque, NM actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $996 per month in Lima vs $2,381 in Albuquerque, NM, rent included.

  • Lima $996
  • Albuquerque, NM $2,381

A couple spends around $1,594 per month in Lima vs $3,551 in Albuquerque, NM, rent included.

  • Lima $1,594
  • Albuquerque, NM $3,551

A family of three spends $2,191 per month in Lima vs $4,721 in Albuquerque, NM, rent included.

  • Lima $2,191
  • Albuquerque, NM $4,721

Lima is about 58% cheaper than Albuquerque, NM, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Lima sits 26% below the global median, while Albuquerque, NM is 78% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lima
Albuquerque, NM
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.42 PEN 15.16
$16.88 $16.88
-73.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.04 PEN 120
$69.0 $69.0
-49.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.84 PEN 23.44
$10.12 $10.12
-32.41%
Cappuccino
$3.27 PEN 11.22
$4.94 $4.94
-33.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 PEN 3.78
$2.85 $2.85
-61.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 PEN 2.22
$2.47 $2.47
-73.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.58 PEN 8.85
$5.91 $5.91
-56.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 PEN 15.34
$8.15 $8.15
-45.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lima
Albuquerque, NM
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 PEN 5.46
$0.92 $0.92
72.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.58 PEN 8.86
$3.19 $3.19
-19.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.36 PEN 4.65
$4.57 $4.57
-70.24%
Eggs
$2.95 PEN 10.11
$4.72 $4.72
-37.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.10 PEN 31.19
$11.76 $11.76
-22.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.81 PEN 19.91
$9.61 $9.61
-39.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.83 PEN 33.68
$20.63 $20.63
-52.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 PEN 6.89
$4.66 $4.66
-56.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 PEN 3.69
$1.49 $1.49
-27.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 PEN 4.70
$4.26 $4.26
-67.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.48 PEN 5.06
$5.31 $5.31
-72.13%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 PEN 3.30
$3.13 $3.13
-69.33%
Onion (1kg)
$0.85 PEN 2.92
$3.21 $3.21
-73.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 PEN 3.02
$2.06 $2.06
-57.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 PEN 2.97
$2.81 $2.81
-69.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.90 PEN 20.24
$10.44 $10.44
-43.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.81 PEN 30.21
$13.81 $13.81
-36.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 PEN 6.57
$2.42 $2.42
-20.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 PEN 10.98
$3.71 $3.71
-13.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Lima
Albuquerque, NM
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 PEN 2.33
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.74 PEN 91.7
$3.98 $3.98
571.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.81 PEN 13.06
$3.58 $3.58
6.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.04 PEN 7.00
$2.05 $2.05
-0.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.14 PEN 24.49
$31.88 $31.88
-77.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.65 PEN 5.65
$0.97 $0.97
70.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2K PEN 76.0K
$31.2K $31.2K
-29.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K PEN 88.0K
$24.3K $24.3K
5.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lima
Albuquerque, NM
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.0 PEN 250
$158 $158
-53.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.26 PEN 55.7
$63.6 $63.6
-74.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.60 PEN 94.6
$71.9 $71.9
-61.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lima
Albuquerque, NM
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.07 PEN 113
$48.45 $48.45
-31.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.49 PEN 66.8
$14.35 $14.35
35.82%
Cinema Ticket
$7.39 PEN 25.33
$12.88 $12.88
-42.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lima
Albuquerque, NM
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$182 PEN 624
$1,484 $1,484
-87.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K PEN 45.7K
$24.8K $24.8K
-46.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lima
Albuquerque, NM
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 PEN 180
$55.3 $55.3
-4.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.23 PEN 117
$42.89 $42.89
-20.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.8 PEN 287
$106 $106
-21.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.0 PEN 271
$118 $118
-33.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lima
Albuquerque, NM
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$723 PEN 2,479
$1,181 $1,181
-38.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$340 PEN 1,166
$1,119 $1,119
-69.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,184 PEN 4,060
$2,339 $2,339
-49.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$635 PEN 2,176
$1,963 $1,963
-67.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,449 PEN 8,394
$2,496 $2,496
-1.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 PEN 4,702
$2,214 $2,214
-38.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lima
Albuquerque, NM
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$653 PEN 2,237
$3,942 $3,942
-83.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.94
6.57
36.07%

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

Last update for Lima: October 4, 2026

Last update for Albuquerque, NM: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lima
$340
Albuquerque, NM
$1.1K 229% $779
Groceries & Markets
Lima
$226
Albuquerque, NM
$404 78.6% $178
Eating Out
Lima
$124
Albuquerque, NM
$292 135% $168
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lima
$117
Albuquerque, NM
$294 151% $177
Clothing & Footwear
Lima
$112
Albuquerque, NM
$145 29.2% $33
Sport & Entertainment
Lima
$48
Albuquerque, NM
$74 55.1% $26
Getting Around
Lima
$43
Albuquerque, NM
$18 * 59.1% $26

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $723 in Lima versus $1,181 in Albuquerque, NM. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 504% higher in Albuquerque, NM, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Lima versus $69.0 in Albuquerque, NM. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $404 – making Lima the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇪 Lima
🇺🇸 Albuquerque, NM
🕒 Local time
04:05 4:05 AM
03:05 3:05 AM
1 h behind Lima
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,989,369 Capital
564,559
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PEN – Peruvian Sol Converter

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3.43 PEN (1 PEN = 0.292 USD). 1 EUR = 3.84 PEN (1 PEN = 0.26 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lima Albuquerque, NM 6,090 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lima
  • Albuquerque, NM

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
Lima vs Albuquerque, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lima or Albuquerque, NM?
Albuquerque, NM costs about 139% more than Lima, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Lima and in Albuquerque, NM?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,494 per month in Lima and $3,571 in Albuquerque, NM. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Lima or Albuquerque, NM?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Lima, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Lima compared to Albuquerque, NM?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $996 in Lima and $2,381 in Albuquerque, NM. That's a gap of about 139%.
How expensive is transport in Lima compared to Albuquerque, NM?
Public transport costs about 572% less in Lima. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lima or in Albuquerque, NM?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lima, where all-in costs run around $996, than in Albuquerque, NM at $2,381. In Lima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Albuquerque, NM it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lima or Albuquerque, NM?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lima costs $996 versus $2,381 in Albuquerque, NM. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Lima or to Albuquerque, NM?
If budget matters most, go with Lima. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Albuquerque, NM makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Lima vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?