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: $996 in Lima versus $105 in Tarapoto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,594 in Lima versus $226 in Tarapoto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,191 in Lima versus $347 in Tarapoto.

Living in Lima is roughly 852% more expensive than in Tarapoto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lima 26% lower, Tarapoto 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.42 PEN 15.23

$2.84 PEN 9.78

55.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.04 PEN 121

$29.08 PEN 100

20.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 PEN 23.55

$7.23 PEN 24.89

-5.39%

Cappuccino

$3.27 PEN 11.27

$2.94 PEN 10.14

11.22%

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

$1.10 PEN 3.80

$0.75 PEN 2.60

46.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 PEN 2.24

$0.56 PEN 1.93

16.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.58 PEN 8.89

$2.92 PEN 10.06

-11.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 PEN 15.41

$3.20 PEN 11.03

39.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 PEN 5.49

White Bread (500g)

$2.58 PEN 8.90

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 PEN 4.68

Eggs

$2.95 PEN 10.16

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.10 PEN 31.34

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.81 PEN 20.01

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.83 PEN 33.84

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 PEN 6.92

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.71

Oranges (1kg)

$1.37 PEN 4.72

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 PEN 5.08

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 PEN 3.32

Onion (1kg)

$0.85 PEN 2.94

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 PEN 3.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PEN 2.99

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.90 PEN 20.33

Wine (Bottle)

$8.81 PEN 30.35

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 PEN 6.60

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 PEN 11.03

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 PEN 2.34

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.74 PEN 92.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.81 PEN 13.12

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 PEN 7.03

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.14 PEN 24.60

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.65 PEN 5.67

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

$22.2K PEN 76.4K

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

$25.7K PEN 88.4K

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

$73.0 PEN 252

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

$16.26 PEN 56.0

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.60 PEN 95.1

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.07 PEN 114

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.49 PEN 67.1

Cinema Ticket

$7.39 PEN 25.44

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

$182 PEN 627

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K PEN 45.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.6 PEN 181

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.23 PEN 118

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 PEN 288

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.0 PEN 272

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$723 PEN 2,491

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 PEN 1,171

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,184 PEN 4,079

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$635 PEN 2,186

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,449 PEN 8,433

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 PEN 4,724

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$653 PEN 2,248

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: October 4, 2026

Last update for Tarapoto: October 3, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $35.00 in Lima vs $29.00 in Tarapoto for two.

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 852% in total monthly costs ($996 vs $105 including rent). Tarapoto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,494 in Lima and $157 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Tarapoto – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $35.00 in Lima. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $996 per month in Lima versus $105 in Tarapoto – a 852% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $105 in Tarapoto versus $996 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 852% less than in Lima. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.