Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Edwardsville, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Lima: $1,042 a month against $2,453 in Edwardsville, IL, rent and utilities included – about $16,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lima, Peru
Edwardsville, IL, United States
Lima
🇵🇪 Peru
$1,042
/mo nomad
Edwardsville, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,453
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lima and in Edwardsville, IL

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

A single person spends $1,042 per month in Lima vs $2,453 in Edwardsville, IL, rent included.

  • Lima $1,042
  • Edwardsville, IL $2,453

A couple spends around $1,651 per month in Lima vs $3,818 in Edwardsville, IL, rent included.

  • Lima $1,651
  • Edwardsville, IL $3,818

A family of three spends $2,259 per month in Lima vs $5,183 in Edwardsville, IL, rent included.

  • Lima $2,259
  • Edwardsville, IL $5,183

Lima is about 57% cheaper than Edwardsville, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Lima sits 23% below the global median, while Edwardsville, IL is 81% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lima
Edwardsville, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.64 PEN 15.95
$19.01 $19.01
-75.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.34 PEN 118
$81.1 $81.1
-57.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.01 PEN 24.12
$11.72 $11.72
-40.19%
Cappuccino
$3.22 PEN 11.09
$4.87 $4.87
-33.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 PEN 3.90
$2.99 $2.99
-62.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 PEN 2.09
$2.02 $2.02
-69.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 PEN 10.08
$6.18 $6.18
-52.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 PEN 14.63
$6.36 $6.36
-33.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lima
Edwardsville, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 PEN 5.44
$1.13 $1.13
39.82%
White Bread (500g)
$2.61 PEN 8.98
$3.96 $3.96
-34.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 PEN 4.47
$4.83 $4.83
-73.08%
Eggs
$2.92 PEN 10.05
$3.82 $3.82
-23.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.54 PEN 32.82
$10.68 $10.68
-10.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 PEN 19.66
$12.81 $12.81
-55.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.47 PEN 32.58
$15.75 $15.75
-39.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 PEN 6.91
$5.70 $5.70
-64.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.02 PEN 3.52
$1.59 $1.59
-35.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 PEN 4.99
$4.07 $4.07
-64.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 PEN 5.14
$4.51 $4.51
-66.96%
Potato (1kg)
$0.91 PEN 3.14
$2.47 $2.47
-63.16%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 PEN 3.07
$2.54 $2.54
-64.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.86 PEN 2.97
$1.90 $1.90
-54.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 PEN 3.06
$2.02 $2.02
-55.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.47 PEN 18.83
$11.38 $11.38
-51.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 PEN 35.00
$14.95 $14.95
-31.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 PEN 6.21
$1.85 $1.85
-2.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 PEN 10.84
$3.59 $3.59
-12.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Lima
Edwardsville, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.66 PEN 2.28
$2.14 $2.14
-69.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.89 PEN 110
$60.0 $60.0
-46.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 PEN 11.79
$2.93 $2.93
17.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.98 PEN 6.80
$1.64 $1.64
20.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.60 PEN 33.04
$34.23 $34.23
-71.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 PEN 5.89
$1.08 $1.08
58.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9K PEN 75.3K
$29.4K $29.4K
-25.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K PEN 100.0K
$27.7K $27.7K
4.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lima
Edwardsville, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.8 PEN 227
$207 $207
-68.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.26 PEN 52.5
$57.7 $57.7
-73.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.87 PEN 92.5
$70.1 $70.1
-61.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lima
Edwardsville, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.91 PEN 113
$40.23 $40.23
-18.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.12 PEN 69.2
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.12 PEN 24.49
$12.35 $12.35
-42.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lima
Edwardsville, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 PEN 1,064
$1,394 $1,394
-77.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.4K PEN 73.5K
$21.2K $21.2K
0.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lima
Edwardsville, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.0 PEN 179
$52.3 $52.3
-0.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.69 PEN 123
$41.06 $41.06
-13.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.8 PEN 281
$89.8 $89.8
-8.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.0 PEN 268
$113 $113
-30.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lima
Edwardsville, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$727 PEN 2,501
$1,636 $1,636
-55.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$373 PEN 1,284
$1,134 $1,134
-67.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,249 PEN 4,297
$2,766 $2,766
-54.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$739 PEN 2,544
$2,267 $2,267
-67.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,380 PEN 8,191
$2,645 $2,645
-10.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,365 PEN 4,697
$2,031 $2,031
-32.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lima
Edwardsville, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$650 PEN 2,238
$4,901 $4,901
-86.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.38
6.59
27.16%

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

Last update for Lima: October 31, 2026

Last update for Edwardsville, IL: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lima
$373
Edwardsville, IL
$1.1K 204% $761
Groceries & Markets
Lima
$228
Edwardsville, IL
$396 73.8% $168
Eating Out
Lima
$127
Edwardsville, IL
$309 144% $183
Clothing & Footwear
Lima
$111
Edwardsville, IL
$133 19.6% $22
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lima
$108
Edwardsville, IL
$335 210% $227
Getting Around
Lima
$48
Edwardsville, IL
$80 66.5% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Lima
$47
Edwardsville, IL
$65 37.7% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $727 in Lima versus $1,636 in Edwardsville, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Edwardsville, IL are about 7.5 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34 in Lima versus $81 in Edwardsville, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $228 vs $396 – making Lima the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇪 Lima
🇺🇸 Edwardsville, IL
🕒 Local time
05:04 5:04 AM
04:04 4:04 AM
1 h behind Lima
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,989,369 Capital
26,808
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PEN – Peruvian Sol Converter

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3.44 PEN (1 PEN = 0.291 USD). 1 EUR = 3.87 PEN (1 PEN = 0.259 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lima Edwardsville, IL 5,810 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lima
  • Edwardsville, IL

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 Edwardsville, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lima cheaper than Edwardsville, IL?
Yes – Edwardsville, IL is pricier by about 135%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,564 per month in Lima and $3,679 in Edwardsville, IL. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $727 there versus $1,636 in Edwardsville, IL.
What are total monthly expenses in Lima and in Edwardsville, IL?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,042 in Lima and $2,453 in Edwardsville, IL. That makes Lima about 57% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 47% less in Lima. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Lima or in Edwardsville, IL?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lima, where all-in costs run around $1,042, than in Edwardsville, IL at $2,453. In Lima it covers expenses comfortably, while in Edwardsville, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lima or Edwardsville, IL 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 the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Lima. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Edwardsville, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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