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 $998 per month in Lima vs $528 in La Merced, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,550 per month in Lima vs $879 in La Merced, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,101 per month in Lima vs $1,231 in La Merced, rent included.

Lima costs about 89% more than La Merced, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lima and La Merced are more affordable than the global median – Lima 25% lower, La Merced 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.19 PEN 14.74

$4.09 PEN 14.39

2.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.47 PEN 118

$33.89 PEN 119

-1.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.07 PEN 24.89

$6.80 PEN 23.92

3.97%

Cappuccino

$2.59 PEN 9.11

$2.62 PEN 9.23

-1.15%

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

$0.91 PEN 3.19

$0.92 PEN 3.25

-1.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 PEN 2.12

$0.61 PEN 2.14

-1.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 PEN 7.63

$2.28 PEN 8.03

-4.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 PEN 13.49

$3.81 PEN 13.42

0.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 PEN 5.05

$1.47 PEN 5.16

-2.72%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 PEN 9.56

$1.97 PEN 6.95

38.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.61

$1.23 PEN 4.34

6.50%

Eggs

$2.92 PEN 10.27

$2.25 PEN 7.93

29.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.07 PEN 28.41

$6.83 PEN 24.06

18.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.64 PEN 19.84

$5.66 PEN 19.94

-0.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.49 PEN 36.92

$8.51 PEN 29.95

23.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 PEN 7.04

$0.88 PEN 3.10

127.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.92

$0.41 PEN 1.44

170.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 PEN 4.03

$0.27 PEN 0.94

322.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 PEN 4.38

$0.70 PEN 2.47

77.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.51

$0.27 PEN 0.95

270.37%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 PEN 3.28

$0.40 PEN 1.41

132.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 PEN 2.93

$0.59 PEN 2.06

40.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PEN 3.05

$0.92 PEN 3.25

-5.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 PEN 19.22

$5.41 PEN 19.05

0.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.61 PEN 30.32

$7.27 PEN 25.58

18.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 PEN 6.02

$1.74 PEN 6.14

-1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 PEN 10.87

$3.10 PEN 10.91

-0.32%

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

$3.39 PEN 11.93

-2.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 PEN 7.74

$2.16 PEN 7.60

1.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.31 PEN 29.24

$8.56 PEN 30.13

-2.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 PEN 4.62

$1.37 PEN 4.81

-4.38%

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

$19.4K PEN 68.3K

$19.7K PEN 69.2K

-1.33%

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

$24.5K PEN 86.4K

$24.1K PEN 84.8K

1.91%

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

$56.8 PEN 200

$56.5 PEN 199

0.51%

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

$12.44 PEN 43.80

$12.55 PEN 44.18

-0.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.14 PEN 85.0

$24.20 PEN 85.2

-0.25%

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

$6.85 PEN 24.10

3.50%

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

$219 PEN 770

$219 PEN 772

-0.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,119 PEN 28.6K

$7,883 PEN 27.7K

2.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.52 PEN 174

$50.9 PEN 179

-2.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.79 PEN 130

$36.18 PEN 127

1.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.1 PEN 324

$90.9 PEN 320

1.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 PEN 311

$90.7 PEN 319

-2.38%

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

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$625 PEN 2,199

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,185 PEN 7,693

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 La Merced: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 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 89% 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 $1,498 per month in Lima and $793 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 $998 in Lima and $528 in La Merced. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $219 per month in Lima and $219 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 $528, than in Lima at $998. 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 $528 versus $998 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.