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: $998 in Lima versus $125 in Huánuco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,550 in Lima versus $216 in Huánuco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,101 in Lima versus $307 in Huánuco.

Living in Lima is roughly 699% more expensive than Huánuco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lima 25% lower, Huánuco 91% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.19 PEN 14.74

$3.42 PEN 12.05

22.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.47 PEN 118

$17.82 PEN 62.7

87.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.07 PEN 24.89

Cappuccino

$2.59 PEN 9.11

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

$0.91 PEN 3.19

$0.79 PEN 2.78

15.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 PEN 2.12

$0.53 PEN 1.88

13.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 PEN 7.63

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 PEN 13.49

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 PEN 5.05

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 PEN 9.56

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.61

Eggs

$2.92 PEN 10.27

$1.54 PEN 5.41

89.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.07 PEN 28.41

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.64 PEN 19.84

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.49 PEN 36.92

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 PEN 7.04

$2.41 PEN 8.49

-17.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.92

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 PEN 4.03

$0.55 PEN 1.93

107.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 PEN 4.38

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.51

$0.58 PEN 2.05

72.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 PEN 3.28

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 PEN 2.93

$0.29 PEN 1.03

186.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PEN 3.05

$0.58 PEN 2.04

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 PEN 19.22

Wine (Bottle)

$8.61 PEN 30.32

$6.45 PEN 22.71

33.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 PEN 6.02

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 PEN 10.87

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 PEN 2.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.22 PEN 110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 PEN 11.59

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 PEN 7.74

$0.53 PEN 1.86

315.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.31 PEN 29.24

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 PEN 4.62

$1.35 PEN 4.76

-2.96%

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

$19.4K PEN 68.3K

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

$24.5K PEN 86.4K

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

$56.8 PEN 200

$24.89 PEN 87.6

128.28%

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

$12.44 PEN 43.80

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.14 PEN 85.0

$19.38 PEN 68.2

24.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.15 PEN 106

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.93 PEN 66.6

Cinema Ticket

$7.09 PEN 24.96

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

$219 PEN 770

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,119 PEN 28.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.52 PEN 174

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.79 PEN 130

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.1 PEN 324

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 PEN 311

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$610 PEN 2,148

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 PEN 1,229

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,016 PEN 3,577

$198 PEN 697

412.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$625 PEN 2,199

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,185 PEN 7,693

$1,377 PEN 4,848

58.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,328 PEN 4,676

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 PEN 2,199

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Huánuco: April 28, 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 $220 vs $43.00 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 699% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,498 in Lima and $187 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 410% 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 $125 in Huánuco versus $998 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 699% less than in Lima. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.