Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and La Merced Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and La Merced

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $975 per month in Lima vs $531 in La Merced, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,515 per month in Lima vs $868 in La Merced, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,055 per month in Lima vs $1,205 in La Merced, rent included.

Lima costs about 84% more than La Merced, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lima and La Merced are more affordable than the global median – Lima 27% lower, La Merced 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.24 PEN 14.40

$4.07 PEN 13.83

4.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.85 PEN 115

$33.86 PEN 115

-0.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.10 PEN 24.11

$7.08 PEN 24.05

0.28%

Cappuccino

$2.58 PEN 8.77

$2.65 PEN 8.98

-2.64%

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

$0.90 PEN 3.07

$0.93 PEN 3.14

-3.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 PEN 2.19

$0.65 PEN 2.20

-1.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 PEN 7.60

$2.29 PEN 7.76

-2.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 PEN 13.30

$3.98 PEN 13.51

-1.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 PEN 4.99

$1.49 PEN 5.06

-1.34%

White Bread (500g)

$2.63 PEN 8.91

$1.90 PEN 6.46

38.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.46

$1.22 PEN 4.15

7.38%

Eggs

$2.96 PEN 10.06

$2.26 PEN 7.68

30.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.03 PEN 27.26

$7.11 PEN 24.13

12.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.59 PEN 18.97

$5.64 PEN 19.14

-0.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.56 PEN 35.86

$8.54 PEN 28.98

23.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 PEN 6.77

$0.96 PEN 3.27

108.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.78

$0.43 PEN 1.48

158.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 PEN 3.86

$0.27 PEN 0.91

322.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 PEN 4.28

$0.71 PEN 2.42

77.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 PEN 3.33

$0.29 PEN 0.99

237.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.42

$0.44 PEN 1.50

129.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 PEN 2.80

$0.53 PEN 1.81

54.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PEN 2.97

$0.93 PEN 3.17

-6.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.48 PEN 18.62

$5.69 PEN 19.32

-3.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.85 PEN 30.06

$7.22 PEN 24.50

22.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 PEN 5.80

$1.75 PEN 5.93

-2.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 PEN 9.93

$2.97 PEN 10.09

-1.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 PEN 2.42

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.86 PEN 105

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.39 PEN 11.49

$3.35 PEN 11.37

1.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 PEN 7.20

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.48 PEN 28.80

$8.19 PEN 27.79

3.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PEN 4.48

$1.34 PEN 4.56

-1.49%

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

$19.7K PEN 66.8K

$19.3K PEN 65.4K

2.05%

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

$24.9K PEN 84.7K

$24.7K PEN 84.0K

0.85%

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

$57.0 PEN 194

$55.4 PEN 188

2.83%

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

$12.83 PEN 43.54

$12.60 PEN 42.76

1.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.68 PEN 80.4

$23.56 PEN 80.0

0.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.09 PEN 106

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.87 PEN 64.1

Cinema Ticket

$6.84 PEN 23.22

$6.73 PEN 22.86

1.63%

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

$223 PEN 757

$215 PEN 730

3.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,847 PEN 26.6K

$8,145 PEN 27.7K

-3.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 PEN 171

$50.4 PEN 171

-0.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.93 PEN 122

$35.94 PEN 122

-0.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.3 PEN 307

$90.0 PEN 305

0.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.4 PEN 307

$90.5 PEN 307

-0.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 PEN 2,109

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$352 PEN 1,197

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,037 PEN 3,519

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$622 PEN 2,113

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 PEN 8,023

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,424 PEN 4,836

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$636 PEN 2,160

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 La Merced: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Lima versus $34.00 in La Merced. Groceries tell a different story – $220 in Lima vs $179 in La Merced – so La Merced wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 La Merced: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lima costs about 84% more than La Merced, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,463 per month in Lima and $796 in La Merced. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $975 in Lima and $531 in La Merced. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $223 per month in Lima and $215 in La Merced. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in La Merced, where all-in costs run around $531, than in Lima at $975. In La Merced it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lima it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. La Merced costs $531 versus $975 in Lima. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with La Merced. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lima makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.