Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Huánuco Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Huánuco

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $980 in Lima versus $112 in Huánuco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,520 in Lima versus $200 in Huánuco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,061 in Lima versus $288 in Huánuco.

Living in Lima is roughly 773% more expensive than in Huánuco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lima 27% lower, Huánuco 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.12 PEN 13.94

$3.54 PEN 11.98

16.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.17 PEN 112

$17.69 PEN 59.8

87.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 PEN 22.96

Cappuccino

$2.63 PEN 8.91

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

$0.94 PEN 3.16

$0.86 PEN 2.90

9.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 PEN 2.03

$0.54 PEN 1.81

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 PEN 7.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PEN 12.92

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 PEN 4.99

White Bread (500g)

$2.60 PEN 8.78

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.43

Eggs

$2.87 PEN 9.70

$1.59 PEN 5.38

80.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.84 PEN 26.52

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.51 PEN 18.65

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.60 PEN 35.86

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 PEN 6.97

$2.42 PEN 8.19

-14.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 PEN 3.81

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 PEN 3.74

$0.54 PEN 1.82

103.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 PEN 4.21

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 PEN 3.45

$0.54 PEN 1.83

88.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 PEN 3.15

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 PEN 2.76

$0.29 PEN 0.99

182.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 PEN 3.01

$0.59 PEN 1.98

50.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.49 PEN 18.55

Wine (Bottle)

$8.64 PEN 29.20

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 PEN 5.94

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 PEN 10.09

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.66 PEN 2.25

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.53 PEN 103

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 PEN 11.30

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.15 PEN 7.28

$0.51 PEN 1.74

321.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.49 PEN 28.70

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 PEN 4.39

$1.33 PEN 4.51

-2.26%

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

$19.2K PEN 64.9K

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

$24.1K PEN 81.6K

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

$55.8 PEN 189

$24.66 PEN 83.4

126.28%

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

$12.35 PEN 41.76

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.96 PEN 81.0

$19.06 PEN 64.5

25.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.52 PEN 103

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.57 PEN 62.8

Cinema Ticket

$6.76 PEN 22.87

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

$220 PEN 745

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,863 PEN 26.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 PEN 172

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.62 PEN 120

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 PEN 306

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.0 PEN 301

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$622 PEN 2,103

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$352 PEN 1,190

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,019 PEN 3,446

$195 PEN 660

422.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$637 PEN 2,154

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,318 PEN 7,839

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,411 PEN 4,772

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$649 PEN 2,193

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.11

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

Last update for Lima: June 15, 2026

Last update for Huánuco: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $33.00 in Lima vs $18.00 in Huánuco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $30.00 per month, with Huánuco cheaper across the board.

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 Huánuco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Huánuco is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 773% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,469 in Lima and $168 in Huánuco 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 619% higher in Lima. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Huánuco – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $33.00 in Lima. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $112 in Huánuco versus $980 in Lima, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Huánuco but tight or insufficient in Lima. The gap between the two cities makes Huánuco the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Huánuco 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 Huánuco 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 Huánuco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 773% less than in Lima. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.