Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Swift Current

For one person, living is cheaper in Lima: $1,012 a month against $2,155 in Swift Current, rent and utilities included – about $13,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Lima
🇵🇪 Peru
$1,012
/mo nomad
Swift Current
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,155
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lima and in Swift Current

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lima and in Swift Current actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,012 in Lima versus $2,155 in Swift Current.

  • Lima $1,012
  • Swift Current $2,155

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,589 in Lima versus $3,085 in Swift Current.

  • Lima $1,589
  • Swift Current $3,085

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Lima versus $4,015 in Swift Current.

  • Lima $2,167
  • Swift Current $4,015

Living in Lima costs roughly 53% less than in Swift Current, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lima is 25% below, Swift Current is 60% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lima
Swift Current
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40 PEN 15.13
$15.54 CA$22.09
-71.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.17 PEN 121
$55.2 CA$78.4
-36.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.89 PEN 23.69
$9.13 CA$12.98
-24.53%
Cappuccino
$3.26 PEN 11.22
$3.55 CA$5.05
-8.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 PEN 3.84
$1.71 CA$2.43
-34.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 PEN 2.12
$1.78 CA$2.54
-65.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 PEN 9.11
$4.22 CA$6.00
-37.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 PEN 15.17
$6.20 CA$8.81
-28.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lima
Swift Current
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 PEN 5.62
$2.57 CA$3.66
-36.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.56 PEN 8.79
$1.79 CA$2.54
43.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 PEN 4.66
$4.95 CA$7.04
-72.73%
Eggs
$2.90 PEN 9.97
$3.09 CA$4.40
-6.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.85 PEN 30.43
$8.20 CA$11.66
7.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.98 PEN 20.55
$8.17 CA$11.61
-26.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.78 PEN 33.65
$10.48 CA$14.90
-6.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.05 PEN 7.04
$2.15 CA$3.06
-4.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 PEN 3.66
$0.92 CA$1.30
15.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.35 PEN 4.65
$2.09 CA$2.97
-35.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 PEN 5.16
$2.39 CA$3.40
-37.24%
Potato (1kg)
$0.88 PEN 3.03
$2.83 CA$4.02
-68.90%
Onion (1kg)
$0.92 PEN 3.16
$2.11 CA$3.01
-56.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 PEN 3.08
$2.13 CA$3.03
-58.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 PEN 3.11
$1.42 CA$2.02
-36.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.90 PEN 20.31
$14.48 CA$20.58
-59.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.52 PEN 29.31
$13.64 CA$19.39
-37.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 PEN 6.46
$2.69 CA$3.82
-30.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 PEN 11.07
$3.38 CA$4.81
-4.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Lima
Swift Current
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 PEN 2.34
$2.21 CA$3.15
-69.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.86 PEN 92.4
$56.8 CA$80.8
-52.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.81 PEN 13.11
$4.34 CA$6.17
-12.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.02 PEN 6.94
$1.29 CA$1.83
56.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.11 PEN 24.45
$14.05 CA$19.98
-49.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.72 PEN 5.92
$1.06 CA$1.50
62.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K PEN 76.7K
$27.8K CA$39.6K
-19.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K PEN 87.7K
$20.3K CA$28.9K
25.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lima
Swift Current
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.1 PEN 251
$208 CA$296
-64.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.35 PEN 56.2
$46.06 CA$65.5
-64.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.47 PEN 94.5
$49.58 CA$70.5
-44.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lima
Swift Current
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.90 PEN 110
$41.00 CA$58.3
-22.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.41 PEN 66.8
$19.50 CA$27.73
-0.46%
Cinema Ticket
$7.05 PEN 24.27
$8.55 CA$12.16
-17.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lima
Swift Current
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$182 PEN 628
$476 CA$677
-61.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.0K PEN 44.9K
$14.4K CA$20.5K
-9.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lima
Swift Current
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 PEN 185
$48.49 CA$68.9
10.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.32 PEN 118
$43.18 CA$61.4
-20.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.8 PEN 285
$63.6 CA$90.4
30.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.2 PEN 269
$97.8 CA$139
-20.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lima
Swift Current
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$721 PEN 2,481
$1,180 CA$1,678
-38.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$343 PEN 1,181
$1,066 CA$1,516
-67.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,219 PEN 4,193
$2,138 CA$3,039
-42.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$651 PEN 2,239
$1,695 CA$2,410
-61.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,414 PEN 8,306
$3,598 CA$5,115
-32.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,357 PEN 4,668
$3,143 CA$4,468
-56.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lima
Swift Current
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$648 PEN 2,229
$1,767 CA$2,512
-63.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.94
4.8
86.25%

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

Last update for Lima: October 11, 2026

Last update for Swift Current: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Lima
$343
Swift Current
$1.1K 211% $723
Groceries & Markets
Lima
$226
Swift Current
$295 30.6% $69
Eating Out
Lima
$124
Swift Current
$242 95% $118
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lima
$117
Swift Current
$304 160% $187
Clothing & Footwear
Lima
$112
Swift Current
$114 1.6% $1.8
Sport & Entertainment
Lima
$46
Swift Current
$58 26.3% $12
Getting Around
Lima
$43
Swift Current
$76 75.8% $33

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $721 in Lima and $1,180 in Swift Current. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Swift Current pays 173% 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: $35.00 in Lima vs $55.0 in Swift Current for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $226 vs $295 per month, with Lima cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇪 Lima
🇨🇦 Swift Current
🕒 Local time
23:13 11:13 PM
22:13 10:13 PM
1 h behind Lima
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,989,369 Capital
18,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to PEN – Peruvian Sol Converter

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 3.44 PEN (1 PEN = 0.291 USD). 1 EUR = 3.85 PEN (1 PEN = 0.26 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.703 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.628 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lima Swift Current 7,550 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Lima
  • Swift Current

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Swift Current: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lima and in Swift Current?
Lima and Swift Current differ by about 113% in total monthly costs ($1,012 vs $2,155 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 173% lower in Swift Current. 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 Swift Current?
Rent for a central apartment: $721 in Lima versus $1,180 in Swift Current. 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 Swift Current?
Childcare runs $182 in Lima versus $476 in Swift Current. 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 31% higher in Swift Current. 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 $1,012 in Lima versus $2,155 in Swift Current, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lima but tight or insufficient in Swift Current. 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 Swift Current?
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.
Where should expats move: Lima or Swift Current?
Expats usually find Lima gentler on the wallet – expenses run 113% less than in Swift Current. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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