Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Tacna Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Tacna

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $998 in Lima versus $350 in Tacna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,550 in Lima versus $458 in Tacna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,101 in Lima versus $567 in Tacna.

Living in Lima is roughly 185% more expensive than Tacna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lima 25% lower, Tacna 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.19 PEN 14.74

$1.88 PEN 6.63

122.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.47 PEN 118

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.07 PEN 24.89

Cappuccino

$2.59 PEN 9.11

$2.57 PEN 9.06

0.78%

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

$0.91 PEN 3.19

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 PEN 2.12

$0.27 PEN 0.94

122.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 PEN 7.63

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 PEN 13.49

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 PEN 5.05

$0.87 PEN 3.07

64.37%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 PEN 9.56

$1.36 PEN 4.80

100.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.61

$0.91 PEN 3.20

43.96%

Eggs

$2.92 PEN 10.27

$1.36 PEN 4.80

114.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.07 PEN 28.41

$4.07 PEN 14.33

98.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.64 PEN 19.84

$3.59 PEN 12.65

57.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.49 PEN 36.92

$8.55 PEN 30.10

22.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 PEN 7.04

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.92

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 PEN 4.03

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 PEN 4.38

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.51

$0.53 PEN 1.88

88.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 PEN 3.28

$0.44 PEN 1.54

111.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 PEN 2.93

$0.27 PEN 0.94

207.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PEN 3.05

$0.71 PEN 2.48

22.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 PEN 19.22

$4.14 PEN 14.58

31.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.61 PEN 30.32

$6.13 PEN 21.59

40.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 PEN 6.02

$2.43 PEN 8.55

-29.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 PEN 10.87

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 PEN 2.53

$0.27 PEN 0.95

166.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.22 PEN 110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 PEN 11.59

$1.43 PEN 5.03

130.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 PEN 7.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.31 PEN 29.24

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 PEN 4.62

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

$19.4K PEN 68.3K

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

$24.5K PEN 86.4K

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

$56.8 PEN 200

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

$12.44 PEN 43.80

$19.53 PEN 68.7

-36.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.14 PEN 85.0

$24.59 PEN 86.6

-1.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.15 PEN 106

$28.76 PEN 101

4.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.93 PEN 66.6

Cinema Ticket

$7.09 PEN 24.96

$2.53 PEN 8.89

180.24%

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

$219 PEN 770

$54.5 PEN 192

301.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,119 PEN 28.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.52 PEN 174

$19.58 PEN 68.9

152.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.79 PEN 130

$19.48 PEN 68.6

88.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.1 PEN 324

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 PEN 311

$24.75 PEN 87.1

257.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$610 PEN 2,148

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 PEN 1,229

$67.2 PEN 237

419.60%

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

$455 PEN 1,601

37.30%

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 Tacna: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lima pays 37% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Tacna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lima and Tacna differ by about 185% in total monthly costs ($998 vs $350 including rent). Tacna is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Lima pays 37% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $219 in Lima versus $54.5 in Tacna. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $998 per month in Lima versus $350 in Tacna – a 185% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $350 in Tacna versus $998 in Lima, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Tacna but tight or insufficient in Lima. The gap between the two cities makes Tacna the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Lima and Tacna are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Tacna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 185% less than in Lima. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.