Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Huaraz Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Huaraz

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $975 in Lima versus $111 in Huaraz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,515 in Lima versus $189 in Huaraz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,055 in Lima versus $267 in Huaraz.

Living in Lima is roughly 776% more expensive than in Huaraz, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.24 PEN 14.42

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.85 PEN 115

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.10 PEN 24.15

Cappuccino

$2.58 PEN 8.79

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

$0.90 PEN 3.08

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 PEN 2.19

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 PEN 7.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 PEN 13.32

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 PEN 5.00

$1.90 PEN 6.45

-22.63%

White Bread (500g)

$2.63 PEN 8.93

$1.08 PEN 3.68

143.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.47

$0.85 PEN 2.88

54.12%

Eggs

$2.96 PEN 10.08

$1.35 PEN 4.60

119.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.03 PEN 27.30

$5.63 PEN 19.16

42.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.59 PEN 19.00

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.56 PEN 35.92

$6.99 PEN 23.76

51.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 PEN 6.79

$0.82 PEN 2.78

143.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.78

$0.54 PEN 1.84

105.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 PEN 3.86

$0.86 PEN 2.92

32.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 PEN 4.29

$0.57 PEN 1.94

121.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 PEN 3.34

$0.85 PEN 2.88

15.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.43

$0.57 PEN 1.96

77.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 PEN 2.80

$0.58 PEN 1.96

41.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PEN 2.97

$0.29 PEN 0.99

200.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.48 PEN 18.65

Wine (Bottle)

$8.85 PEN 30.11

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 PEN 5.81

$1.69 PEN 5.74

1.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 PEN 9.95

$1.97 PEN 6.71

48.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 PEN 2.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.86 PEN 105

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.39 PEN 11.51

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 PEN 7.22

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.48 PEN 28.85

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PEN 4.49

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

$19.7K PEN 66.9K

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

$24.9K PEN 84.8K

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

$57.0 PEN 194

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

$12.83 PEN 43.62

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.68 PEN 80.5

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.09 PEN 106

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.87 PEN 64.2

Cinema Ticket

$6.84 PEN 23.26

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

$223 PEN 758

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,847 PEN 26.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 PEN 171

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.93 PEN 122

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.3 PEN 307

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.4 PEN 308

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 PEN 2,113

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$352 PEN 1,199

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,037 PEN 3,525

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$622 PEN 2,117

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 PEN 8,037

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,424 PEN 4,844

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$636 PEN 2,164

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Huaraz: July 28, 2026

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 Huaraz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Huaraz is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 776% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,463 in Lima and $167 in Huaraz 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 97% higher in Lima. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $975 per month in Lima versus $111 in Huaraz – a 776% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $111 in Huaraz versus $975 in Lima, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Huaraz but tight or insufficient in Lima. The gap between the two cities makes Huaraz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Huaraz 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 Huaraz 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 Huaraz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 776% less than in Lima. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.