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: $1,014 in Lima versus $26.91 in Huánuco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,605 in Lima versus $81.0 in Huánuco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,196 in Lima versus $135 in Huánuco.

Living in Lima is roughly 3668% more expensive than in Huánuco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lima 26% lower, Huánuco 98% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.36 PEN 14.71

$3.07 PEN 10.35

42.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.98 PEN 121

$14.59 PEN 49.23

146.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.14 PEN 24.09

Cappuccino

$3.39 PEN 11.45

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

$1.09 PEN 3.68

$0.63 PEN 2.12

73.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 PEN 2.09

$0.29 PEN 0.98

113.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.72 PEN 9.16

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 PEN 15.28

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 PEN 5.48

White Bread (500g)

$2.70 PEN 9.11

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 PEN 4.65

Eggs

$2.95 PEN 9.95

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 PEN 31.91

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.05 PEN 20.41

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.99 PEN 33.71

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 PEN 6.83

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 PEN 3.57

Oranges (1kg)

$1.42 PEN 4.79

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 PEN 5.04

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 PEN 3.14

Onion (1kg)

$0.86 PEN 2.90

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 PEN 2.84

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 PEN 3.16

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.04 PEN 20.39

Wine (Bottle)

$8.99 PEN 30.34

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 PEN 6.49

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 PEN 10.97

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 PEN 2.30

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.60 PEN 93.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.05 PEN 13.67

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 PEN 6.83

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.23 PEN 24.40

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 PEN 5.83

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

$21.9K PEN 73.7K

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

$26.3K PEN 88.8K

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

$71.6 PEN 242

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

$16.89 PEN 57.0

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.92 PEN 94.2

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.23 PEN 112

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.13 PEN 67.9

Cinema Ticket

$7.52 PEN 25.37

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

$183 PEN 618

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K PEN 45.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.0 PEN 186

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.32 PEN 123

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.4 PEN 295

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.8 PEN 269

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$764 PEN 2,578

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$352 PEN 1,186

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,277 PEN 4,308

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$657 PEN 2,215

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,497 PEN 8,423

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,403 PEN 4,733

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$656 PEN 2,214

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.94

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

Last update for Lima: September 12, 2026

Last update for Huánuco: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $36.00 in Lima vs $15.00 in Huánuco for two.

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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 3668% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,521 in Lima and $40.37 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Huánuco – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $36.00 in Lima. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,014 per month in Lima versus $26.91 in Huánuco – a 3668% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $26.91 in Huánuco versus $1,014 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 3668% less than in Lima. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.