Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Cayenne

For one person, living is cheaper in Lima: $996 a month against $2,348 in Cayenne, rent and utilities included – about $16,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Lima
🇵🇪 Peru
$996
/mo nomad
Cayenne
🇬🇫 French Guiana
$2,348
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lima and in Cayenne

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $996 in Lima versus $2,348 in Cayenne.

  • Lima $996
  • Cayenne $2,348

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,594 in Lima versus $3,903 in Cayenne.

  • Lima $1,594
  • Cayenne $3,903

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,191 in Lima versus $5,458 in Cayenne.

  • Lima $2,191
  • Cayenne $5,458

Living in Lima costs roughly 58% less than in Cayenne, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lima is 26% below, Cayenne is 75% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lima
Cayenne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.42 PEN 15.16
$13.05 €11.64
-66.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.04 PEN 120
$114 €102
-69.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.84 PEN 23.44
$10.81 €9.65
-36.73%
Cappuccino
$3.27 PEN 11.22
$4.02 €3.58
-18.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 PEN 3.78
$3.48 €3.11
-68.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 PEN 2.22
$3.01 €2.69
-78.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.58 PEN 8.85
$3.78 €3.37
-31.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 PEN 15.34
$4.66 €4.16
-4.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lima
Cayenne
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 PEN 5.46
$3.11 €2.77
-48.87%
White Bread (500g)
$2.58 PEN 8.86
$5.27 €4.70
-51.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.36 PEN 4.65
$3.08 €2.75
-55.84%
Eggs
$2.95 PEN 10.11
$7.72 €6.89
-61.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.10 PEN 31.19
$28.46 €25.40
-68.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.81 PEN 19.91
$16.80 €14.99
-65.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.83 PEN 33.68
$33.69 €30.07
-70.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 PEN 6.89
$4.84 €4.32
-58.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 PEN 3.69
$5.25 €4.68
-79.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 PEN 4.70
$5.53 €4.93
-75.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.48 PEN 5.06
$9.96 €8.89
-85.14%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 PEN 3.30
$5.23 €4.67
-81.64%
Onion (1kg)
$0.85 PEN 2.92
$6.55 €5.84
-87.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 PEN 3.02
$3.87 €3.45
-77.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 PEN 2.97
$1.87 €1.67
-53.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.90 PEN 20.24
$9.33 €8.33
-36.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.81 PEN 30.21
$8.14 €7.26
8.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 PEN 6.57
$2.77 €2.47
-30.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 PEN 10.98
$2.30 €2.05
39.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Lima
Cayenne
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 PEN 2.33
$2.26 €2.02
-69.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.74 PEN 91.7
$33.55 €29.94
-20.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.81 PEN 13.06
$5.82 €5.20
-34.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.04 PEN 7.00
$3.98 €3.55
-48.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.14 PEN 24.49
$8.19 €7.31
-12.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.65 PEN 5.65
$2.25 €2.01
-26.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2K PEN 76.0K
$44.6K €39.8K
-50.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K PEN 88.0K
$45.3K €40.5K
-43.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lima
Cayenne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.0 PEN 250
$222 €198
-67.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.26 PEN 55.7
$45.27 €40.40
-64.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.60 PEN 94.6
$69.1 €61.7
-60.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lima
Cayenne
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.07 PEN 113
$43.52 €38.84
-24.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.49 PEN 66.8
$28.38 €25.32
-31.32%
Cinema Ticket
$7.39 PEN 25.33
$10.32 €9.21
-28.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lima
Cayenne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$182 PEN 624
$674 €601
-73.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K PEN 45.7K
$10.5K €9,395
26.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lima
Cayenne
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 PEN 180
$102 €90.8
-48.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.23 PEN 117
$68.3 €61.0
-49.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.8 PEN 287
$129 €115
-35.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.0 PEN 271
$101 €90.2
-21.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lima
Cayenne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$723 PEN 2,479
$885 €790
-18.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$340 PEN 1,166
$867 €774
-60.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,184 PEN 4,060
$1,541 €1,375
-23.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$635 PEN 2,176
$1,844 €1,646
-65.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,449 PEN 8,394
$3,109 €2,774
-21.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 PEN 4,702
$3,523 €3,144
-61.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lima
Cayenne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$653 PEN 2,237
$2,261 €2,018
-71.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.94
4.5
98.67%

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

Last update for Lima: October 4, 2026

Last update for Cayenne: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lima
$340
Cayenne
$867 155% $527
Groceries & Markets
Lima
$226
Cayenne
$626 177% $400
Eating Out
Lima
$124
Cayenne
$239 92.8% $115
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lima
$117
Cayenne
$336 187% $219
Clothing & Footwear
Lima
$112
Cayenne
$180 60.4% $68
Sport & Entertainment
Lima
$48
Cayenne
$64 34.1% $16
Getting Around
Lima
$43
Cayenne
$68 57.1% $25

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $723 in Lima and $885 in Cayenne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cayenne pays 247% 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: $35.00 in Lima vs $114 in Cayenne for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $226 vs $626 per month, with Lima cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇪 Lima
🇬🇫 Cayenne
🕒 Local time
01:13 1:13 AM
03:13 3:13 AM
2 h ahead of Lima
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,989,369 Capital
65,493 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD 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).

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

On the map
Between locations
  • Lima Cayenne 3,320 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lima
  • Cayenne

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 Cayenne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cayenne cheaper than Lima?
Lima is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 136% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lima or Cayenne?
On paper, salaries run 247% lower in Cayenne. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Lima and Cayenne?
Rent for a central apartment: $723 in Lima versus $885 in Cayenne. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Lima or in Cayenne?
Dining out is cheaper in Lima – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $114 in Cayenne. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Lima and in Cayenne?
All in, you'll spend $996 per month in Lima versus $2,348 in Cayenne – a 136% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Lima or in Cayenne?
At $996 in Lima versus $2,348 in Cayenne, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lima but tight or insufficient in Cayenne. The gap between the two cities makes Lima the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lima or Cayenne more family-friendly?
For families, Lima is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cayenne, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Lima gentler on the wallet – expenses run 136% less than in Cayenne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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