Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Ayacucho Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Ayacucho

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $985 in Lima versus $110 in Ayacucho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,537 in Lima versus $191 in Ayacucho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,089 in Lima versus $272 in Ayacucho.

Living in Lima is roughly 798% more expensive than Ayacucho, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lima 27% lower, Ayacucho 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.11 PEN 13.98

$1.64 PEN 5.57

150.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.93 PEN 112

$13.75 PEN 46.77

139.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.00 PEN 23.81

$4.07 PEN 13.84

71.99%

Cappuccino

$2.54 PEN 8.64

$2.25 PEN 7.66

12.89%

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

$0.92 PEN 3.13

$0.80 PEN 2.71

15.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 PEN 2.06

$0.29 PEN 1.00

110.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 PEN 7.62

$1.89 PEN 6.42

18.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 PEN 13.07

$2.25 PEN 7.66

70.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 PEN 4.79

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 PEN 9.30

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PEN 4.44

Eggs

$2.96 PEN 10.06

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.97 PEN 27.11

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.67 PEN 19.30

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 PEN 36.00

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 PEN 6.87

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 PEN 3.65

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 PEN 3.85

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 PEN 4.26

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 PEN 3.51

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 PEN 3.25

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 PEN 2.96

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 PEN 3.00

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 PEN 18.58

Wine (Bottle)

$8.98 PEN 30.55

$5.80 PEN 19.73

54.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 PEN 5.96

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 PEN 10.47

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 PEN 2.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.61 PEN 104

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 PEN 11.51

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 PEN 7.53

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.22 PEN 27.96

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.60

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

$19.3K PEN 65.7K

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

$24.3K PEN 82.7K

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

$56.7 PEN 193

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

$12.64 PEN 43.00

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.00 PEN 81.7

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.10 PEN 102

$24.55 PEN 83.5

22.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.95 PEN 64.5

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 PEN 22.92

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

$218 PEN 740

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,895 PEN 26.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.95 PEN 170

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.59 PEN 125

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 PEN 305

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.1 PEN 300

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$606 PEN 2,062

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 PEN 1,189

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,036 PEN 3,524

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$628 PEN 2,135

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,367 PEN 8,054

$1,944 PEN 6,615

21.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,434 PEN 4,880

$1,747 PEN 5,942

-17.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$626 PEN 2,131

$492 PEN 1,675

27.20%

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 Lima: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ayacucho: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lima pays 27% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Lima vs $14.00 in Ayacucho for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 vs $12.00 per month, with Ayacucho cheaper across the board.

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 Ayacucho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ayacucho wins on cost – living expenses run 798% lower than in Lima. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ayacucho the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Lima pays 27% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

All in, you'll spend $985 per month in Lima versus $110 in Ayacucho – a 798% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1812% higher in Lima. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $110 in Ayacucho versus $985 in Lima, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ayacucho but tight or insufficient in Lima. The gap between the two cities makes Ayacucho the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ayacucho delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $110 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ayacucho hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Lima and Ayacucho are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ayacucho gentler on the wallet – expenses run 798% less than in Lima. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.