Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Denver, CO

For one person, living is cheaper in Lima: $996 a month against $3,160 in Denver, CO, rent and utilities included – about $26,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lima
🇵🇪 Peru
$996
/mo nomad
Denver, CO
🇺🇸 United States
$3,160
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lima and in Denver, CO

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $996 in Lima versus $3,160 in Denver, CO.

  • Lima $996
  • Denver, CO $3,160

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,594 in Lima versus $4,580 in Denver, CO.

  • Lima $1,594
  • Denver, CO $4,580

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,191 in Lima versus $6,000 in Denver, CO.

  • Lima $2,191
  • Denver, CO $6,000

Living in Lima costs roughly 68% less than in Denver, CO, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lima is 26% below, Denver, CO is 136% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lima
Denver, CO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.42 PEN 15.21
$19.90 $19.90
-77.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.04 PEN 121
$87.7 $87.7
-60.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.84 PEN 23.52
$11.72 $11.72
-41.64%
Cappuccino
$3.27 PEN 11.26
$5.84 $5.84
-44.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 PEN 3.80
$3.00 $3.00
-63.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 PEN 2.23
$2.29 $2.29
-71.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.58 PEN 8.88
$7.01 $7.01
-63.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 PEN 15.39
$7.94 $7.94
-43.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lima
Denver, CO
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 PEN 5.48
$1.16 $1.16
37.07%
White Bread (500g)
$2.58 PEN 8.89
$5.26 $5.26
-50.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.36 PEN 4.67
$7.19 $7.19
-81.08%
Eggs
$2.95 PEN 10.14
$5.24 $5.24
-43.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.10 PEN 31.30
$16.13 $16.13
-43.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.81 PEN 19.98
$17.04 $17.04
-65.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.83 PEN 33.80
$17.89 $17.89
-45.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 PEN 6.92
$5.24 $5.24
-61.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 PEN 3.70
$2.07 $2.07
-47.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 PEN 4.71
$4.88 $4.88
-71.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.48 PEN 5.08
$5.34 $5.34
-72.28%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 PEN 3.32
$2.63 $2.63
-63.50%
Onion (1kg)
$0.85 PEN 2.93
$2.78 $2.78
-69.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 PEN 3.03
$2.27 $2.27
-61.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 PEN 2.98
$2.49 $2.49
-65.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.90 PEN 20.31
$10.41 $10.41
-43.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.81 PEN 30.31
$19.12 $19.12
-53.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 PEN 6.59
$2.78 $2.78
-30.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 PEN 11.02
$3.60 $3.60
-11.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Lima
Denver, CO
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 PEN 2.33
$2.71 $2.71
-74.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.74 PEN 92.0
$88.6 $88.6
-69.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.81 PEN 13.10
$3.51 $3.51
8.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.04 PEN 7.02
$1.71 $1.71
19.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.14 PEN 24.57
$30.38 $30.38
-76.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.65 PEN 5.67
$1.08 $1.08
52.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2K PEN 76.3K
$34.8K $34.8K
-36.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K PEN 88.3K
$25.4K $25.4K
0.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lima
Denver, CO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.0 PEN 251
$167 $167
-56.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.26 PEN 55.9
$75.9 $75.9
-78.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.60 PEN 94.9
$69.1 $69.1
-60.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lima
Denver, CO
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.07 PEN 114
$61.5 $61.5
-46.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.49 PEN 67.1
$24.75 $24.75
-21.25%
Cinema Ticket
$7.39 PEN 25.41
$14.82 $14.82
-50.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lima
Denver, CO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$182 PEN 626
$2,416 $2,416
-92.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K PEN 45.8K
$34.5K $34.5K
-61.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lima
Denver, CO
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 PEN 181
$71.6 $71.6
-26.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.23 PEN 118
$45.65 $45.65
-25.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.8 PEN 288
$103 $103
-18.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.0 PEN 272
$129 $129
-38.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lima
Denver, CO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$723 PEN 2,488
$2,012 $2,012
-64.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$340 PEN 1,170
$1,713 $1,713
-80.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,184 PEN 4,074
$3,277 $3,277
-63.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$635 PEN 2,183
$2,619 $2,619
-75.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,449 PEN 8,423
$5,649 $5,649
-56.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 PEN 4,718
$3,760 $3,760
-63.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lima
Denver, CO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$653 PEN 2,245
$4,413 $4,413
-85.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.94
6.9
29.57%

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

Last update for Lima: October 4, 2026

Last update for Denver, CO: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lima
$340
Denver, CO
$1.7K 404% $1.4K
Groceries & Markets
Lima
$226
Denver, CO
$498 120% $271
Eating Out
Lima
$124
Denver, CO
$337 171% $213
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lima
$117
Denver, CO
$312 167% $195
Clothing & Footwear
Lima
$112
Denver, CO
$157 39.9% $45
Sport & Entertainment
Lima
$48
Denver, CO
$91 90.6% $43
Getting Around
Lima
$43
Denver, CO
$111 156% $68

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $723 in Lima and $2,012 in Denver, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denver, CO pays 576% 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 $88.0 in Denver, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $226 vs $498 per month, with Lima cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇪 Lima
🇺🇸 Denver, CO
🕒 Local time
21:48 9:48 PM
20:48 8:48 PM
1 h behind Lima
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,989,369 Capital
715,522
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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).

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

On the map
Between locations
  • Lima Denver, CO 6,440 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lima
  • Denver, CO

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 Denver, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lima or Denver, CO?
Lima wins on cost – living expenses run 217% lower than in Denver, CO. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lima the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lima or in Denver, CO?
On paper, salaries run 576% lower in Denver, CO. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lima compared to Denver, CO?
Rent for a central apartment: $723 in Lima versus $2,012 in Denver, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lima or in Denver, CO?
Supermarket bills run roughly 120% higher in Denver, CO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Lima and in Denver, CO?
Dining out is cheaper in Lima – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $88.0 in Denver, CO. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lima or in Denver, CO?
At $996 in Lima versus $3,160 in Denver, CO, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lima but tight or insufficient in Denver, CO. The gap between the two cities makes Lima the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lima or Denver, CO?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lima delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $996 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lima hard to pass up.
How safe is Lima compared to Denver, CO?
Safety-wise, Lima and Denver, CO are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lima gentler on the wallet – expenses run 217% less than in Denver, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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