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: $967 in Lima versus $354 in Tacna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,518 in Lima versus $465 in Tacna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,069 in Lima versus $576 in Tacna.

Living in Lima is roughly 173% more expensive than Tacna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lima 28% lower, Tacna 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.09 PEN 13.89

$1.99 PEN 6.75

105.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.09 PEN 113

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 PEN 23.87

Cappuccino

$2.65 PEN 9.00

$2.51 PEN 8.54

5.58%

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

$0.96 PEN 3.27

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 PEN 2.25

$0.27 PEN 0.91

144.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 PEN 7.34

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 PEN 13.53

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 PEN 5.02

$0.87 PEN 2.95

70.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 PEN 9.09

$1.35 PEN 4.59

97.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.44

$0.87 PEN 2.97

50.57%

Eggs

$2.93 PEN 9.96

$1.42 PEN 4.82

106.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.78 PEN 26.46

$4.27 PEN 14.51

82.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.73 PEN 19.48

$3.64 PEN 12.38

57.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 PEN 36.71

$8.49 PEN 28.87

27.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 PEN 6.93

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 PEN 3.70

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 PEN 3.88

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 PEN 4.09

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 PEN 3.36

$0.57 PEN 1.94

73.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 PEN 3.34

$0.40 PEN 1.36

145.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 PEN 2.95

$0.27 PEN 0.91

222.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 PEN 2.98

$0.71 PEN 2.41

23.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.59 PEN 19.02

$4.27 PEN 14.52

30.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.75 PEN 29.76

$6.29 PEN 21.37

39.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 PEN 5.79

$2.51 PEN 8.55

-32.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 PEN 10.49

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.66 PEN 2.25

$0.29 PEN 0.99

127.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.56 PEN 107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.36 PEN 11.44

$1.42 PEN 4.81

136.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 PEN 7.21

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.24 PEN 28.00

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 PEN 4.62

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

$19.1K PEN 65.1K

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

$24.8K PEN 84.5K

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

$57.3 PEN 195

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

$12.39 PEN 42.13

$19.20 PEN 65.3

-35.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.34 PEN 79.4

$24.89 PEN 84.6

-6.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.84 PEN 105

$28.24 PEN 96.0

9.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.08 PEN 64.9

Cinema Ticket

$7.09 PEN 24.12

$2.53 PEN 8.59

180.24%

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

$217 PEN 737

$55.7 PEN 189

289.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,885 PEN 26.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.27 PEN 168

$19.54 PEN 66.4

152.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.56 PEN 124

$19.17 PEN 65.2

90.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 PEN 304

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.4 PEN 300

$25.10 PEN 85.4

252.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$624 PEN 2,123

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 PEN 1,175

$65.4 PEN 222

428.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,056 PEN 3,589

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$637 PEN 2,164

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,329 PEN 7,917

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,403 PEN 4,771

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$616 PEN 2,093

$466 PEN 1,586

31.98%

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 9, 2026

Last update for Tacna: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lima pays 32% 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 173% in total monthly costs ($967 vs $354 including rent). Tacna is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Lima pays 32% 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 $217 in Lima versus $55.7 in Tacna. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $967 per month in Lima versus $354 in Tacna – a 173% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $354 in Tacna versus $967 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 173% less than in Lima. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.