Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Cordoba

For one person, living is cheaper in Lima: $996 a month against $1,351 in Cordoba, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Lima
🇵🇪 Peru
$996
/mo nomad
Cordoba
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,351
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lima and in Cordoba

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

A single person spends $996 per month in Lima vs $1,351 in Cordoba, rent included.

  • Lima $996
  • Cordoba $1,351

A couple spends around $1,594 per month in Lima vs $2,281 in Cordoba, rent included.

  • Lima $1,594
  • Cordoba $2,281

A family of three spends $2,191 per month in Lima vs $3,211 in Cordoba, rent included.

  • Lima $2,191
  • Cordoba $3,211

Lima is about 26% cheaper than Cordoba, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Lima sits 26% below the global median, while Cordoba is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lima
Cordoba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.42 PEN 15.21
$13.74 ARS 20.8K
-67.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.04 PEN 121
$53.3 ARS 80.8K
-34.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.84 PEN 23.52
$13.21 ARS 20.0K
-48.22%
Cappuccino
$3.27 PEN 11.26
$3.70 ARS 5,608
-11.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 PEN 3.80
$2.56 ARS 3,879
-57.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 PEN 2.23
$2.03 ARS 3,073
-67.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.58 PEN 8.88
$3.36 ARS 5,097
-23.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 PEN 15.39
$3.64 ARS 5,515
22.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lima
Cordoba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 PEN 5.48
$1.63 ARS 2,470
-2.45%
White Bread (500g)
$2.58 PEN 8.89
$2.82 ARS 4,282
-8.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.36 PEN 4.67
$2.06 ARS 3,120
-33.98%
Eggs
$2.95 PEN 10.14
$2.45 ARS 3,721
20.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.10 PEN 31.30
$10.14 ARS 15.4K
-10.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.81 PEN 19.98
$8.19 ARS 12.4K
-29.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.83 PEN 33.80
$11.48 ARS 17.4K
-14.37%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 PEN 6.92
$2.56 ARS 3,885
-21.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 PEN 3.70
$2.30 ARS 3,489
-53.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 PEN 4.71
$1.66 ARS 2,511
-17.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.48 PEN 5.08
$2.75 ARS 4,169
-46.18%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 PEN 3.32
$1.17 ARS 1,779
-17.95%
Onion (1kg)
$0.85 PEN 2.93
$1.35 ARS 2,040
-37.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 PEN 3.03
$1.26 ARS 1,908
-30.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 PEN 2.98
$1.68 ARS 2,554
-48.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.90 PEN 20.31
$4.99 ARS 7,562
18.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.81 PEN 30.31
$4.86 ARS 7,365
81.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 PEN 6.59
$2.26 ARS 3,431
-15.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 PEN 11.02
$3.66 ARS 5,552
-12.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Lima
Cordoba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 PEN 2.33
$1.27 ARS 1,930
-46.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.74 PEN 92.0
$57.3 ARS 86.8K
-53.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.81 PEN 13.10
$1.28 ARS 1,946
197.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.04 PEN 7.02
$1.94 ARS 2,944
5.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.14 PEN 24.57
$7.12 ARS 10.8K
0.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.65 PEN 5.67
$1.16 ARS 1,760
42.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2K PEN 76.3K
$35.0K ARS 53.1M
-36.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K PEN 88.3K
$36.1K ARS 54.7M
-28.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lima
Cordoba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.0 PEN 251
$159 ARS 241.2K
-54.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.26 PEN 55.9
$17.46 ARS 26.5K
-6.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.60 PEN 94.9
$32.30 ARS 49.0K
-14.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lima
Cordoba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.07 PEN 114
$28.56 ARS 43.3K
15.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.49 PEN 67.1
$23.34 ARS 35.4K
-16.50%
Cinema Ticket
$7.39 PEN 25.41
$10.11 ARS 15.3K
-26.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lima
Cordoba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$182 PEN 626
$218 ARS 330.9K
-16.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K PEN 45.8K
$4,151 ARS 6.3M
220.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lima
Cordoba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 PEN 181
$127 ARS 192.7K
-58.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.23 PEN 118
$103 ARS 156.8K
-66.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.8 PEN 288
$141 ARS 213.1K
-40.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.0 PEN 272
$134 ARS 202.8K
-40.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lima
Cordoba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$723 PEN 2,488
$489 ARS 741.6K
47.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$340 PEN 1,170
$306 ARS 464.4K
11.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,184 PEN 4,074
$1,001 ARS 1.5M
18.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$635 PEN 2,183
$792 ARS 1.2M
-19.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,449 PEN 8,423
$2,762 ARS 4.2M
-11.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 PEN 4,718
$1,591 ARS 2.4M
-13.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lima
Cordoba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$653 PEN 2,245
$656 ARS 994.2K
-0.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.94
48.5
-81.57%

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

Last update for Lima: October 4, 2026

Last update for Cordoba: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lima
$340
Cordoba
$306 9.9% $34
Groceries & Markets
Lima
$226
Cordoba
$275 21.6% $49
Eating Out
Lima
$124
Cordoba
$236 90.6% $112
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lima
$117
Cordoba
$209 78.7% $92
Clothing & Footwear
Lima
$112
Cordoba
$227 102% $115
Sport & Entertainment
Lima
$48
Cordoba
$49 2% $0.9
Getting Around
Lima
$43
Cordoba
$73 68.7% $30

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $723 in Lima versus $489 in Cordoba. 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 0% higher in Cordoba, 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 $53.0 in Cordoba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $275 – making Lima the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇪 Lima
🇦🇷 Cordoba
🕒 Local time
22:49 10:49 PM
00:49 12:49 AM
2 h ahead of Lima
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,989,369 Capital
1,655,481
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ARS, USD, EUR to PEN – Peruvian Sol Converter

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3.44 PEN (1 PEN = 0.291 USD). 1 EUR = 3.86 PEN (1 PEN = 0.259 EUR).

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,516 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.6 USD). 1 EUR = 1,700 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.88 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lima Cordoba 2,520 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lima
  • Cordoba

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 Cordoba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cordoba cheaper than Lima?
Yes – Cordoba is pricier by about 36%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,494 per month in Lima and $2,027 in Cordoba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Lima or in Cordoba?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Lima and $53.0 in Cordoba. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Lima and in Cordoba?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $996 in Lima and $1,351 in Cordoba. That's a gap of about 36%.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Lima or in Cordoba?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lima, where all-in costs run around $996, than in Cordoba at $1,351. In Lima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cordoba it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lima or Cordoba more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Lima – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Lima or Cordoba?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Lima. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cordoba makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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