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: $975 in Lima versus $353 in Tacna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,515 in Lima versus $465 in Tacna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,055 in Lima versus $577 in Tacna.

Living in Lima is roughly 176% more expensive than in Tacna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lima 27% lower, Tacna 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.24 PEN 14.42

$1.89 PEN 6.42

124.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.85 PEN 115

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.10 PEN 24.15

Cappuccino

$2.58 PEN 8.79

$2.48 PEN 8.44

4.03%

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

$0.90 PEN 3.08

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 PEN 2.19

$0.29 PEN 0.99

120.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 PEN 7.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 PEN 13.32

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 PEN 5.00

$0.92 PEN 3.12

59.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.63 PEN 8.93

$1.38 PEN 4.69

90.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.47

$0.87 PEN 2.95

50.57%

Eggs

$2.96 PEN 10.08

$1.41 PEN 4.81

109.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.03 PEN 27.30

$4.19 PEN 14.25

91.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.59 PEN 19.00

$3.55 PEN 12.07

57.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.56 PEN 35.92

$8.36 PEN 28.41

26.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 PEN 6.79

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.78

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 PEN 3.86

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 PEN 4.29

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 PEN 3.34

$0.54 PEN 1.84

81.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.43

$0.44 PEN 1.50

129.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 PEN 2.80

$0.29 PEN 1.00

182.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PEN 2.97

$0.72 PEN 2.46

20.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.48 PEN 18.65

$4.22 PEN 14.34

29.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.85 PEN 30.11

$6.59 PEN 22.40

34.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 PEN 5.81

$2.44 PEN 8.29

-29.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 PEN 9.95

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 PEN 2.43

$0.29 PEN 0.99

144.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.86 PEN 105

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.39 PEN 11.51

$1.37 PEN 4.67

147.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 PEN 7.22

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.48 PEN 28.85

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PEN 4.49

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

$19.7K PEN 66.9K

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

$24.9K PEN 84.8K

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

$57.0 PEN 194

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

$12.83 PEN 43.62

$19.64 PEN 66.8

-34.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.68 PEN 80.5

$24.84 PEN 84.5

-4.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.09 PEN 106

$28.28 PEN 96.2

9.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.87 PEN 64.2

Cinema Ticket

$6.84 PEN 23.26

$2.46 PEN 8.37

178.05%

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

$223 PEN 758

$56.3 PEN 191

296.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,847 PEN 26.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 PEN 171

$19.09 PEN 64.9

163.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.93 PEN 122

$19.62 PEN 66.7

83.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.3 PEN 307

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.4 PEN 308

$25.17 PEN 85.6

259.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 PEN 2,113

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$352 PEN 1,199

$65.8 PEN 224

435.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,037 PEN 3,525

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$622 PEN 2,117

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 PEN 8,037

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,424 PEN 4,844

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$636 PEN 2,164

$462 PEN 1,570

37.84%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Tacna: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lima pays 38% 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 176% in total monthly costs ($975 vs $353 including rent). Tacna is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 38% higher in Lima, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $223 in Lima versus $56.3 in Tacna. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $975 per month in Lima versus $353 in Tacna – a 176% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $353 in Tacna versus $975 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 176% less than in Lima. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.