Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Chimbote Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Chimbote

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,032 in Lima versus $20.03 in Chimbote.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,582 in Lima versus $32.00 in Chimbote.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,132 in Lima versus $43.17 in Chimbote.

Living in Lima is roughly 5054% more expensive than in Chimbote, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lima 25% lower, Chimbote 99% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.44 PEN 14.88

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.44 PEN 109

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 PEN 24.37

Cappuccino

$3.15 PEN 10.58

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

$1.11 PEN 3.73

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 PEN 2.11

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.71 PEN 9.07

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 PEN 14.78

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 PEN 5.46

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 PEN 8.95

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 PEN 4.69

Eggs

$2.92 PEN 9.79

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.55 PEN 28.68

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.03 PEN 20.21

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.17 PEN 34.08

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 PEN 6.83

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 PEN 3.58

Oranges (1kg)

$1.34 PEN 4.49

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 PEN 4.88

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 PEN 3.20

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 PEN 2.96

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 PEN 2.88

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 PEN 3.16

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.77 PEN 19.35

Wine (Bottle)

$8.75 PEN 29.34

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 PEN 6.36

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 PEN 11.47

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 PEN 2.47

$1.00 PEN 3.36

-26.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.55 PEN 92.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.10 PEN 13.76

$1.46 PEN 4.89

180.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 PEN 7.15

$3.04 PEN 10.19

-29.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.31 PEN 24.50

$2.98 PEN 10.00

145.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.72 PEN 5.76

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

$21.8K PEN 72.9K

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

$25.8K PEN 86.5K

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

$70.2 PEN 235

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

$15.90 PEN 53.3

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.63 PEN 85.9

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.94 PEN 110

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.93 PEN 66.8

Cinema Ticket

$7.30 PEN 24.48

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

$180 PEN 604

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.6K PEN 45.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 PEN 178

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.18 PEN 118

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 PEN 286

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.0 PEN 272

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$756 PEN 2,533

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 PEN 1,146

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,264 PEN 4,238

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 PEN 2,167

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,374 PEN 7,958

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,398 PEN 4,687

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 PEN 2,077

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.94

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

Last update for Lima: August 16, 2026

Last update for Chimbote: August 17, 2026

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 Chimbote: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chimbote is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 5054% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,548 in Lima and $30.05 in Chimbote to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

At $20.03 in Chimbote versus $1,032 in Lima, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Chimbote but tight or insufficient in Lima. The gap between the two cities makes Chimbote the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Chimbote is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lima, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Lima and Chimbote 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 Chimbote gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5054% less than in Lima. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.