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 $980 per month in Lima vs $523 in La Merced, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,520 per month in Lima vs $864 in La Merced, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,061 per month in Lima vs $1,205 in La Merced, rent included.

Lima costs about 87% 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 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.12 PEN 14.05

$4.08 PEN 13.93

0.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.17 PEN 113

$32.98 PEN 112

0.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 PEN 23.14

$6.88 PEN 23.46

-1.31%

Cappuccino

$2.63 PEN 8.98

$2.62 PEN 8.92

0.38%

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

$0.94 PEN 3.19

$0.96 PEN 3.28

-2.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 PEN 2.04

$0.64 PEN 2.20

-6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 PEN 7.68

$2.19 PEN 7.45

2.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PEN 13.02

$3.98 PEN 13.56

-4.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 PEN 5.03

$1.42 PEN 4.83

3.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.60 PEN 8.86

$1.98 PEN 6.75

31.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.47

$1.24 PEN 4.21

5.65%

Eggs

$2.87 PEN 9.78

$2.19 PEN 7.45

31.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.84 PEN 26.73

$6.89 PEN 23.49

13.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.51 PEN 18.80

$5.48 PEN 18.68

0.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.60 PEN 36.15

$8.54 PEN 29.11

24.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 PEN 7.03

$0.91 PEN 3.09

126.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 PEN 3.84

$0.40 PEN 1.36

182.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 PEN 3.77

$0.29 PEN 1.00

279.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 PEN 4.25

$0.67 PEN 2.27

86.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 PEN 3.48

$0.27 PEN 0.91

277.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 PEN 3.17

$0.43 PEN 1.47

116.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 PEN 2.78

$0.54 PEN 1.83

51.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 PEN 3.03

$0.86 PEN 2.95

3.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.49 PEN 18.70

$5.52 PEN 18.83

-0.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.64 PEN 29.44

$7.54 PEN 25.69

14.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 PEN 5.99

$1.76 PEN 6.00

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 PEN 10.17

$2.94 PEN 10.02

1.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.66 PEN 2.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.53 PEN 104

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 PEN 11.39

$3.31 PEN 11.27

0.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.15 PEN 7.34

$2.19 PEN 7.46

-1.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.49 PEN 28.93

$8.25 PEN 28.12

2.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 PEN 4.42

$1.31 PEN 4.46

-0.76%

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

$19.2K PEN 65.5K

$19.3K PEN 65.8K

-0.47%

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

$24.1K PEN 82.2K

$24.5K PEN 83.5K

-1.49%

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

$55.8 PEN 190

0.07%

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

$12.35 PEN 42.10

$12.38 PEN 42.22

-0.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.96 PEN 81.7

$23.63 PEN 80.6

1.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.52 PEN 104

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.57 PEN 63.3

Cinema Ticket

$6.76 PEN 23.06

$7.11 PEN 24.25

-4.92%

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

$220 PEN 751

$221 PEN 752

-0.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,863 PEN 26.8K

$7,855 PEN 26.8K

0.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 PEN 174

$50.5 PEN 172

0.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.62 PEN 121

$36.63 PEN 125

-2.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 PEN 309

$89.8 PEN 306

0.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.0 PEN 304

$91.1 PEN 310

-2.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$622 PEN 2,120

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$352 PEN 1,200

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,019 PEN 3,474

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$637 PEN 2,171

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,318 PEN 7,903

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,411 PEN 4,811

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$649 PEN 2,211

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for La Merced: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Lima versus $33.00 in La Merced. Groceries tell a different story – $219 in Lima vs $177 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 87% 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 $1,469 per month in Lima and $785 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 $980 in Lima and $523 in La Merced. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $220 per month in Lima and $221 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 $523, than in Lima at $980. 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 $523 versus $980 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.