Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and El Salvador

For one person, living is cheaper in Lima: $996 a month against $1,466 in El Salvador, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lima
🇵🇪 Peru
$996
/mo nomad
🇸🇻 El Salvador
$1,466
/mo nomad
🙂 Solo nomad: Lima is 17.2% cheaper than El Salvador without rent, and 32.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Lima is 17.2% cheaper than El Salvador without rent, and 18.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lima
El Salvador
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.42 PEN 15.16
$6.68 $6.68
-33.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.04 PEN 120
$44.84 $44.84
-21.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.84 PEN 23.44
$7.08 $7.08
-3.39%
Cappuccino
$3.27 PEN 11.22
$3.57 $3.57
-8.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 PEN 3.78
$1.14 $1.14
-3.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 PEN 2.22
$0.92 $0.92
-29.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.58 PEN 8.85
$2.03 $2.03
27.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 PEN 15.34
$3.49 $3.49
28.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lima
El Salvador
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 PEN 5.46
$1.84 $1.84
-13.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.58 PEN 8.86
$2.40 $2.40
7.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.36 PEN 4.65
$1.55 $1.55
-12.26%
Eggs
$2.95 PEN 10.11
$2.76 $2.76
6.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.10 PEN 31.19
$7.61 $7.61
19.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.81 PEN 19.91
$5.95 $5.95
-2.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.83 PEN 33.68
$8.99 $8.99
9.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 PEN 6.89
$3.81 $3.81
-47.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 PEN 3.69
$1.74 $1.74
-37.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.37 PEN 4.70
$2.96 $2.96
-53.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.48 PEN 5.06
$2.93 $2.93
-49.49%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 PEN 3.30
$2.85 $2.85
-66.32%
Onion (1kg)
$0.85 PEN 2.92
$2.32 $2.32
-63.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 PEN 3.02
$0.97 $0.97
-9.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 PEN 2.97
$0.95 $0.95
-8.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.90 PEN 20.24
$3.97 $3.97
48.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.81 PEN 30.21
$11.90 $11.90
-25.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 PEN 6.57
$1.90 $1.90
1.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 PEN 10.98
$2.77 $2.77
15.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Lima
El Salvador
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 PEN 2.33
$0.36 $0.36
88.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.74 PEN 91.7
$35.46 $35.46
-24.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.81 PEN 13.06
$6.51 $6.51
-41.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.04 PEN 7.00
$3.09 $3.09
-33.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.14 PEN 24.49
$20.04 $20.04
-64.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.65 PEN 5.65
$1.19 $1.19
38.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2K PEN 76.0K
$25.2K $25.2K
-12.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K PEN 88.0K
$28.3K $28.3K
-9.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lima
El Salvador
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.0 PEN 250
$104 $104
-29.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.26 PEN 55.7
$22.38 $22.38
-27.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.60 PEN 94.6
$41.65 $41.65
-33.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lima
El Salvador
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.07 PEN 113
$31.73 $31.73
4.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.49 PEN 66.8
$16.60 $16.60
17.41%
Cinema Ticket
$7.39 PEN 25.33
$4.96 $4.96
48.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lima
El Salvador
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$182 PEN 624
$167 $167
8.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K PEN 45.7K
$4,427 $4,427
200.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lima
El Salvador
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 PEN 180
$63.2 $63.2
-16.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.23 PEN 117
$49.16 $49.16
-30.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.8 PEN 287
$119 $119
-29.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.0 PEN 271
$103 $103
-23.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lima
El Salvador
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$723 PEN 2,479
$733 $733
-1.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$340 PEN 1,166
$655 $655
-48.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,184 PEN 4,060
$1,261 $1,261
-6.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$635 PEN 2,176
$881 $881
-27.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,449 PEN 8,394
$2,730 $2,730
-10.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 PEN 4,702
$1,601 $1,601
-14.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lima
El Salvador
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$653 PEN 2,237
$440 $440
48.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.94
8.48
5.42%

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

Last update for Lima: October 4, 2026

Last update for El Salvador: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lima
$340
El Salvador
$655 92.6% $315
Groceries & Markets
Lima
$226
El Salvador
$262 16% $36
Eating Out
Lima
$124
El Salvador
$143 15.2% $19
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lima
$117
El Salvador
$168 43.9% $51
Clothing & Footwear
Lima
$112
El Salvador
$150 33.9% $38
Sport & Entertainment
Lima
$48
El Salvador
$42 13% $6.2
Getting Around
Lima
$43
El Salvador
$59 35.3% $15
Good to know
🇵🇪 Lima
🇸🇻 El Salvador
🕒 Local time
07:59 7:59 AM
06:59 6:59 AM
1 h behind Lima
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,989,369 Capital
6,029,976
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PEN – Peruvian Sol Converter

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3.43 PEN (1 PEN = 0.292 USD). 1 EUR = 3.84 PEN (1 PEN = 0.26 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 El Salvador 3,160 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Lima
  • El Salvador

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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