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: $1,044 in Lima versus $449 in Tacna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,614 in Lima versus $639 in Tacna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,184 in Lima versus $830 in Tacna.

Living in Lima is roughly 133% more expensive than in Tacna, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lima 24% lower, Tacna 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.49 PEN 15.05

$2.93 PEN 9.81

53.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.85 PEN 110

$15.13 PEN 50.7

117.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.95 PEN 23.31

$5.12 PEN 17.17

35.74%

Cappuccino

$3.38 PEN 11.35

$3.64 PEN 12.19

-7.14%

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

$1.13 PEN 3.79

$1.16 PEN 3.90

-2.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 PEN 2.28

$0.47 PEN 1.56

44.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.73 PEN 9.14

$2.95 PEN 9.88

-7.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 PEN 14.90

$3.48 PEN 11.68

27.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 PEN 5.64

$1.22 PEN 4.08

37.70%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 PEN 9.02

$1.51 PEN 5.05

78.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 PEN 4.55

$0.87 PEN 2.90

56.32%

Eggs

$2.94 PEN 9.85

$1.76 PEN 5.92

67.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.24 PEN 30.98

$4.45 PEN 14.92

107.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.20 PEN 20.78

$4.68 PEN 15.68

32.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.99 PEN 33.48

$8.93 PEN 29.92

11.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 PEN 6.95

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.53

$1.50 PEN 5.04

-30.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.45 PEN 4.86

$0.86 PEN 2.88

68.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 PEN 5.05

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 PEN 3.06

$0.72 PEN 2.42

26.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 PEN 2.97

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 PEN 3.00

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PEN 2.91

$0.72 PEN 2.41

20.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.99 PEN 20.07

$4.60 PEN 15.41

30.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.26 PEN 31.04

$6.46 PEN 21.66

43.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 PEN 6.40

$2.67 PEN 8.94

-28.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 PEN 11.31

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 PEN 2.27

$0.29 PEN 0.96

134.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.73 PEN 89.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.14 PEN 13.86

$1.91 PEN 6.39

116.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 PEN 6.85

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.62 PEN 25.55

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.66 PEN 5.55

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

$22.3K PEN 74.7K

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

$26.5K PEN 88.7K

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

$72.3 PEN 242

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

$17.01 PEN 57.0

$19.30 PEN 64.7

-11.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.54 PEN 92.3

$26.91 PEN 90.2

2.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.77 PEN 113

$30.30 PEN 102

11.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.61 PEN 65.7

Cinema Ticket

$7.58 PEN 25.40

$2.65 PEN 8.87

186.04%

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

$184 PEN 617

$60.2 PEN 202

205.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K PEN 44.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 PEN 182

$20.47 PEN 68.6

164.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.43 PEN 122

$20.46 PEN 68.6

78.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.4 PEN 286

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.7 PEN 274

$26.72 PEN 89.6

205.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$777 PEN 2,604

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 PEN 1,177

$71.6 PEN 240

389.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,261 PEN 4,226

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$671 PEN 2,251

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,454 PEN 8,225

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,404 PEN 4,707

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$662 PEN 2,219

$477 PEN 1,600

38.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.94

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

Last update for Lima: September 6, 2026

Last update for Tacna: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lima pays 39% 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: $33.00 in Lima vs $15.00 in Tacna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $151 per month, with Tacna 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 Tacna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lima and Tacna differ by about 133% in total monthly costs ($1,044 vs $449 including rent). Tacna is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 39% higher in Lima, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 54% higher in Lima. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,044 per month in Lima versus $449 in Tacna – a 133% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $449 in Tacna versus $1,044 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 133% less than in Lima. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.