Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $999 in Lima versus $2,291 in Lisbon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,561 in Lima versus $3,322 in Lisbon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,124 in Lima versus $4,354 in Lisbon.

Living in Lima costs roughly 56% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lima is 25% below, Lisbon is 71% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lima
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.06 PEN 13.76
$16.19 €14.15
-74.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.99 PEN 115
$63.3 €55.3
-46.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.74 PEN 22.85
$10.32 €9.02
-34.69%
Cappuccino
$2.52 PEN 8.55
$2.83 €2.47
-10.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 PEN 3.18
$2.29 €2.00
-58.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 PEN 2.21
$1.58 €1.38
-58.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.17 PEN 7.34
$3.40 €2.97
-36.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95 PEN 13.38
$4.03 €3.52
-1.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lima
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 PEN 4.78
$1.09 €0.95
29.36%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 PEN 9.21
$1.75 €1.53
55.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.37 PEN 4.64
$1.76 €1.54
-22.16%
Eggs
$2.94 PEN 9.98
$3.17 €2.77
-7.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.92 PEN 26.85
$13.19 €11.53
-39.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.76 PEN 19.53
$7.97 €6.96
-27.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.71 PEN 36.29
$15.53 €13.57
-31.04%
Apples (1kg)
$1.98 PEN 6.71
$2.37 €2.07
-16.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 PEN 3.66
$1.71 €1.49
-36.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.10 PEN 3.72
$2.01 €1.75
-45.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 PEN 4.05
$2.43 €2.12
-51.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 PEN 3.51
$1.76 €1.54
-40.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 PEN 3.38
$2.03 €1.78
-50.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.87 PEN 2.93
$1.92 €1.68
-54.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 PEN 2.93
$0.85 €0.74
1.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.59 PEN 18.95
$6.58 €5.75
-15.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.99 PEN 30.49
$5.58 €4.87
61.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 PEN 5.98
$1.33 €1.16
33.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 PEN 10.41
$2.97 €2.60
3.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Lima
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 PEN 2.29
$2.28 €1.99
-70.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.68 PEN 107
$45.79 €40.01
-30.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.37 PEN 11.42
$4.23 €3.69
-20.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.22 PEN 7.53
$0.81 €0.71
174.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.26 PEN 27.98
$18.44 €16.11
-55.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 PEN 4.58
$2.08 €1.82
-35.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K PEN 65.8K
$34.7K €30.3K
-44.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K PEN 82.2K
$39.2K €34.2K
-38.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lima
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.4 PEN 191
$148 €129
-61.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.57 PEN 42.60
$20.46 €17.88
-38.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.66 PEN 80.2
$39.56 €34.56
-40.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lima
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.04 PEN 105
$47.99 €41.93
-35.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 PEN 63.4
$18.60 €16.25
0.48%
Cinema Ticket
$6.83 PEN 23.16
$9.22 €8.06
-25.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lima
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$219 PEN 742
$616 €538
-64.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,096 PEN 27.4K
$16.4K €14.4K
-50.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lima
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.58 PEN 168
$103 €89.7
-51.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.59 PEN 121
$41.74 €36.47
-14.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.3 PEN 303
$94.8 €82.8
-5.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 PEN 301
$122 €107
-27.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lima
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$623 PEN 2,113
$1,633 €1,426
-61.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$344 PEN 1,167
$1,232 €1,077
-72.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 PEN 3,482
$3,098 €2,707
-66.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$618 PEN 2,096
$2,031 €1,775
-69.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,315 PEN 7,846
$7,831 €6,842
-70.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,395 PEN 4,730
$4,389 €3,835
-68.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lima
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$625 PEN 2,119
$1,607 €1,404
-61.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.11
3.81
165.35%

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

Last update for Lima: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $623 in Lima and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 157% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $34.00 in Lima vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 vs $267 per month, with Lima cheaper across the board.

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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lima and in Lisbon?
Lima and Lisbon differ by about 129% in total monthly costs ($999 vs $2,291 including rent). Lima is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 157% lower in Lisbon. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Lima and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $623 in Lima versus $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lima and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $219 in Lima versus $616 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $999 in Lima versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lima but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Lima the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lima and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lima or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lima and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lima or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lima gentler on the wallet – expenses run 129% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Lima vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities