Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Boise, ID

For one person, living is cheaper in Lima: $996 a month against $2,555 in Boise, ID, rent and utilities included – about $18,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

49

Cost of Living Index in Lima
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Lima Living Index
126

Cost of Living Index in Boise, ID
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Boise, ID Living Index

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Lima

🇵🇪 Peru

$996

/mo nomad

Boise, ID

🇺🇸 United States

$2,555

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lima and in Boise, ID

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 Boise, ID actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $996 per month in Lima vs $2,555 in Boise, ID, rent included.

Lima $996
Boise, ID $2,555

A couple spends around $1,594 per month in Lima vs $3,640 in Boise, ID, rent included.

Lima $1,594
Boise, ID $3,640

A family of three spends $2,191 per month in Lima vs $4,725 in Boise, ID, rent included.

Lima $2,191
Boise, ID $4,725

Lima is about 61% cheaper than Boise, ID, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Lima sits 26% below the global median, while Boise, ID is 91% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.42 PEN 15.16

$19.91 $19.91

-77.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.04 PEN 120

$71.3 $71.3

-50.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 PEN 23.44

$12.85 $12.85

-46.77%

Cappuccino

$3.27 PEN 11.22

$6.00 $6.00

-45.50%

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

$1.10 PEN 3.78

$2.71 $2.71

-59.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 PEN 2.22

$1.97 $1.97

-67.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.58 PEN 8.85

$6.62 $6.62

-61.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 PEN 15.34

$6.62 $6.62

-32.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 PEN 5.46

$0.92 $0.92

72.83%

White Bread (500g)

$2.58 PEN 8.86

$3.71 $3.71

-30.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 PEN 4.65

$6.21 $6.21

-78.10%

Eggs

$2.95 PEN 10.11

$4.40 $4.40

-32.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.10 PEN 31.19

$15.99 $15.99

-43.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.81 PEN 19.91

$11.14 $11.14

-47.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.83 PEN 33.68

$17.52 $17.52

-43.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 PEN 6.89

$4.76 $4.76

-57.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.69

$1.74 $1.74

-37.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.37 PEN 4.70

$3.91 $3.91

-64.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 PEN 5.06

$5.06 $5.06

-70.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 PEN 3.30

$2.90 $2.90

-66.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.85 PEN 2.92

$2.62 $2.62

-67.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 PEN 3.02

$2.39 $2.39

-63.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PEN 2.97

$2.52 $2.52

-65.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.90 PEN 20.24

$9.07 $9.07

-34.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.81 PEN 30.21

$15.45 $15.45

-42.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 PEN 6.57

$2.04 $2.04

-5.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 PEN 10.98

$3.21 $3.21

-0.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 PEN 2.33

$1.52 $1.52

-55.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.74 PEN 91.7

$42.11 $42.11

-36.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.81 PEN 13.06

$2.62 $2.62

45.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 PEN 7.00

$1.49 $1.49

36.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.14 PEN 24.49

$23.80 $23.80

-70.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.65 PEN 5.65

$1.20 $1.20

37.50%

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

$22.2K PEN 76.0K

$35.7K $35.7K

-37.88%

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

$25.7K PEN 88.0K

$25.3K $25.3K

1.29%

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

$73.0 PEN 250

$173 $173

-57.75%

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

$16.26 PEN 55.7

$57.8 $57.8

-71.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 PEN 94.6

$76.9 $76.9

-64.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.07 PEN 113

$40.56 $40.56

-18.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.49 PEN 66.8

$37.63 $37.63

-48.21%

Cinema Ticket

$7.39 PEN 25.33

$12.34 $12.34

-40.11%

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

$182 PEN 624

$979 $979

-81.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K PEN 45.7K

$24.2K $24.2K

-44.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.6 PEN 180

$55.0 $55.0

-4.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.23 PEN 117

$40.53 $40.53

-15.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 PEN 287

$87.8 $87.8

-4.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.0 PEN 271

$110 $110

-28.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$723 PEN 2,479

$1,604 $1,604

-54.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 PEN 1,166

$1,297 $1,297

-73.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,184 PEN 4,060

$2,398 $2,398

-50.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$635 PEN 2,176

$1,795 $1,795

-64.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 PEN 8,394

$7,339 $7,339

-66.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 PEN 4,702

$3,076 $3,076

-55.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$653 PEN 2,237

$4,367 $4,367

-85.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.94

6.68

33.83%

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

Last update for Lima: October 4, 2026

Last update for Boise, ID: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Lima

$340 33.6%

Boise, ID

$1.3K 49.6% 281% $956

Groceries & Markets

Lima

$226 22.4%

Boise, ID

$421 16.1% 86.1% $195

Eating Out

Lima

$124 12.3%

Boise, ID

$335 12.8% 170% $211

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Lima

$117 11.6%

Boise, ID

$308 11.8% 163% $191

Clothing & Footwear

Lima

$112 11.1%

Boise, ID

$132 5.1% 17.6% $20

Sport & Entertainment

Lima

$48 4.7%

Boise, ID

$65 2.5% 36.3% $17

Getting Around

Lima

$43 4.3%

Boise, ID

$58 2.2% 33.9% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $723 in Lima versus $1,604 in Boise, ID. 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 569% higher in Boise, ID, 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 $71.0 in Boise, ID. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $421 – making Lima the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇪 Lima

🇺🇸 Boise, ID

🕒 Local time

02:11 2:11 AM

01:11 1:11 AM

1 h behind Lima

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

9,989,369 Capital

235,684

💱 Currency

Peruvian Sol PEN S/

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PEN = 0.292 USD

1 PEN = 0.26 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PEN – Peruvian Sol Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇪 Peruvian Sol (S/)

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).

USD to PEN in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Lima Boise, ID 7,350 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

From you

Lima
Boise, ID

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 Boise, ID: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boise, ID costs about 157% more than Lima, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,494 per month in Lima and $3,833 in Boise, ID. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $182 per month in Lima and $979 in Boise, ID. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 86% more in Boise, ID, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lima, where all-in costs run around $996, than in Boise, ID at $2,555. In Lima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Boise, ID it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lima costs $996 versus $2,555 in Boise, ID. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Lima. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Boise, ID makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.