Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Arequipa Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Arequipa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $999 per month in Lima vs $652 in Arequipa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,561 per month in Lima vs $1,071 in Arequipa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,124 per month in Lima vs $1,490 in Arequipa, rent included.

Lima costs about 53% more than Arequipa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lima and Arequipa are more affordable than the global median – Lima 25% lower, Arequipa 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.06 PEN 13.77

$4.07 PEN 13.80

-0.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.99 PEN 115

$27.88 PEN 94.6

21.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.74 PEN 22.86

$5.47 PEN 18.54

23.22%

Cappuccino

$2.52 PEN 8.56

$2.58 PEN 8.74

-2.33%

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

$0.94 PEN 3.18

$0.82 PEN 2.77

14.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 PEN 2.21

$0.37 PEN 1.25

75.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 PEN 7.35

$2.24 PEN 7.59

-3.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 PEN 13.39

$6.11 PEN 20.72

-35.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 PEN 4.78

$1.55 PEN 5.26

-9.03%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 PEN 9.22

$1.27 PEN 4.30

114.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 PEN 4.64

$1.29 PEN 4.36

6.20%

Eggs

$2.94 PEN 9.98

$2.07 PEN 7.01

42.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 PEN 26.87

$5.57 PEN 18.89

42.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.76 PEN 19.54

$5.27 PEN 17.89

9.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.71 PEN 36.32

$7.58 PEN 25.71

41.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 PEN 6.72

$1.46 PEN 4.97

35.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.66

$1.18 PEN 4.00

-8.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 PEN 3.72

$1.22 PEN 4.14

-9.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 PEN 4.05

$0.78 PEN 2.63

52.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 PEN 3.51

$0.59 PEN 2.02

76.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.38

$0.58 PEN 1.98

72.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 PEN 2.94

$0.45 PEN 1.52

93.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 PEN 2.93

$0.72 PEN 2.44

19.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.59 PEN 18.96

$5.05 PEN 17.12

10.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.99 PEN 30.51

$5.21 PEN 17.67

72.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 PEN 5.99

$2.48 PEN 8.40

-28.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 PEN 10.42

$2.20 PEN 7.47

39.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 PEN 2.29

$0.27 PEN 0.91

151.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.68 PEN 107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.37 PEN 11.43

$2.09 PEN 7.08

61.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 PEN 7.54

$2.04 PEN 6.92

8.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.26 PEN 28.00

$12.92 PEN 43.84

-36.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.58

$1.62 PEN 5.49

-16.67%

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

$19.4K PEN 65.8K

$18.7K PEN 63.5K

3.61%

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

$24.3K PEN 82.3K

$25.4K PEN 86.0K

-4.31%

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

$56.4 PEN 191

$39.23 PEN 133

43.87%

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

$12.57 PEN 42.63

$10.33 PEN 35.03

21.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.66 PEN 80.3

$30.48 PEN 103

-22.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.04 PEN 105

$21.96 PEN 74.5

41.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 PEN 63.4

$8.17 PEN 27.73

128.76%

Cinema Ticket

$6.83 PEN 23.17

$4.46 PEN 15.12

53.14%

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

$219 PEN 743

$59.9 PEN 203

265.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,096 PEN 27.5K

$6,380 PEN 21.6K

26.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.58 PEN 168

$37.74 PEN 128

31.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.59 PEN 121

$22.29 PEN 75.6

59.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.3 PEN 303

$63.2 PEN 214

41.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 PEN 302

$56.5 PEN 192

57.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$623 PEN 2,115

$244 PEN 827

155.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 PEN 1,167

$157 PEN 533

118.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 PEN 3,484

$546 PEN 1,853

88.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$618 PEN 2,098

$390 PEN 1,324

58.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,315 PEN 7,852

$2,023 PEN 6,863

14.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,395 PEN 4,734

$994 PEN 3,373

40.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 PEN 2,120

$649 PEN 2,201

-3.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.11

-32.60%

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

Last update for Lima: July 12, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $623 in Lima versus $244 in Arequipa. 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 4% higher in Arequipa, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Lima versus $28.00 in Arequipa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $171 – making Arequipa 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

Lima vs Arequipa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lima costs about 53% more than Arequipa, 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 $1,498 per month in Lima and $977 in Arequipa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arequipa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Lima and $28.00 in Arequipa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% more in Lima, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Arequipa, where all-in costs run around $652, than in Lima at $999. In Arequipa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lima it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Arequipa costs $652 versus $999 in Lima. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Arequipa. 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.