Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Tarapoto Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Tarapoto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $967 in Lima versus $30.88 in Tarapoto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,518 in Lima versus $49.00 in Tarapoto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,069 in Lima versus $67.4 in Tarapoto.

Living in Lima is roughly 3031% more expensive than Tarapoto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lima 28% lower, Tarapoto 98% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.09 PEN 13.89

$2.74 PEN 9.31

49.27%

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

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

$0.96 PEN 3.27

$0.79 PEN 2.69

21.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 PEN 2.25

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 PEN 7.34

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 PEN 13.53

$2.72 PEN 9.25

46.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 PEN 5.02

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 PEN 9.09

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.44

Eggs

$2.93 PEN 9.96

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.78 PEN 26.46

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.73 PEN 19.48

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 PEN 36.71

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

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 PEN 3.34

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 PEN 2.95

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 PEN 2.98

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.59 PEN 19.02

Wine (Bottle)

$8.75 PEN 29.76

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 PEN 5.79

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 PEN 10.49

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.66 PEN 2.25

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.56 PEN 107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.36 PEN 11.44

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

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.34 PEN 79.4

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.84 PEN 105

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.08 PEN 64.9

Cinema Ticket

$7.09 PEN 24.12

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

$217 PEN 737

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,885 PEN 26.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.27 PEN 168

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.56 PEN 124

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 PEN 304

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.4 PEN 300

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$624 PEN 2,123

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 PEN 1,175

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

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 Tarapoto: June 8, 2026

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 Tarapoto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lima and Tarapoto differ by about 3031% in total monthly costs ($967 vs $30.88 including rent). Tarapoto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,450 in Lima and $46.32 in Tarapoto to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

At $30.88 in Tarapoto versus $967 in Lima, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tarapoto but tight or insufficient in Lima. The gap between the two cities makes Tarapoto 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 Tarapoto 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 Tarapoto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3031% less than in Lima. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.