Cost of Living Comparison Between Peru and Argentina Cost of Living Comparison Between Peru and Argentina

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $506 in Peru versus $1,163 in Argentina.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $792 in Peru versus $1,914 in Argentina.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,078 in Peru versus $2,664 in Argentina.

Living in Peru costs about 56% less than in Argentina on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Peru 63% lower, Argentina 15% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Peru
Argentina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.48 PEN 11.67
$14.65 ARS 22.1K
-76.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.90 PEN 100
$55.3 ARS 83.3K
-45.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.63 PEN 22.24
$13.11 ARS 19.7K
-49.43%
Cappuccino
$3.18 PEN 10.67
$3.69 ARS 5,552
-13.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 PEN 3.22
$2.17 ARS 3,264
-55.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 PEN 1.89
$1.59 ARS 2,389
-64.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 PEN 7.88
$3.37 ARS 5,074
-30.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 PEN 11.83
$3.96 ARS 5,965
-10.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Peru
Argentina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 PEN 5.17
$1.45 ARS 2,184
6.21%
White Bread (500g)
$2.41 PEN 8.08
$2.28 ARS 3,428
5.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 PEN 4.46
$1.83 ARS 2,750
-27.32%
Eggs
$2.77 PEN 9.28
$2.66 ARS 4,012
4.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.07 PEN 27.06
$9.84 ARS 14.8K
-17.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.96 PEN 19.98
$8.57 ARS 12.9K
-30.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.21 PEN 30.87
$11.78 ARS 17.7K
-21.82%
Apples (1kg)
$1.78 PEN 5.96
$2.42 ARS 3,641
-26.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 PEN 3.54
$2.17 ARS 3,266
-51.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.21 PEN 4.05
$1.42 ARS 2,146
-14.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.28 PEN 4.31
$2.47 ARS 3,715
-48.18%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 PEN 3.21
$1.18 ARS 1,781
-18.64%
Onion (1kg)
$0.88 PEN 2.95
$1.08 ARS 1,632
-18.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 PEN 2.79
$1.56 ARS 2,346
-46.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 PEN 2.91
$1.54 ARS 2,313
-43.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.79 PEN 19.41
$4.01 ARS 6,043
44.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.86 PEN 26.36
$4.99 ARS 7,511
57.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 PEN 6.86
$1.88 ARS 2,838
9.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 PEN 9.85
$2.92 ARS 4,390
0.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Peru
Argentina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.63 PEN 2.10
$1.03 ARS 1,547
-38.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.23 PEN 81.2
$27.77 ARS 41.8K
-12.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 PEN 8.10
$1.62 ARS 2,446
49.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 PEN 7.17
$1.03 ARS 1,544
107.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.91 PEN 19.82
$7.66 ARS 11.5K
-22.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.56 PEN 5.23
$1.20 ARS 1,810
30.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2K PEN 74.3K
$27.5K ARS 41.4M
-19.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K PEN 85.3K
$33.1K ARS 49.8M
-23.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peru
Argentina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.4 PEN 186
$138 ARS 207.8K
-59.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.12 PEN 47.33
$17.68 ARS 26.6K
-20.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.52 PEN 88.9
$26.06 ARS 39.2K
1.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Peru
Argentina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.03 PEN 104
$33.72 ARS 50.8K
-7.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.90 PEN 60.0
$18.64 ARS 28.1K
-3.97%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 PEN 19.84
$10.10 ARS 15.2K
-41.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Peru
Argentina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$162 PEN 544
$336 ARS 506.7K
-51.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K PEN 38.8K
$6,464 ARS 9.7M
78.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Peru
Argentina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.1 PEN 171
$104 ARS 156.7K
-50.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.22 PEN 101
$83.4 ARS 125.6K
-63.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.1 PEN 255
$119 ARS 179.6K
-36.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 PEN 241
$119 ARS 179.8K
-39.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Peru
Argentina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$499 PEN 1,673
$507 ARS 764.2K
-1.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$256 PEN 859
$359 ARS 541.3K
-28.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$874 PEN 2,930
$1,038 ARS 1.6M
-15.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$479 PEN 1,605
$830 ARS 1.2M
-42.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,253 PEN 7,554
$2,243 ARS 3.4M
0.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,239 PEN 4,155
$1,438 ARS 2.2M
-13.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Peru
Argentina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$586 PEN 1,963
$763 ARS 1.1M
-23.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.6
59.9
-83.97%

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

Last update for Peru: September 14, 2026

Last update for Argentina: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $197 in Peru, $477 in Argentina. Capital cities: $764 in Lima vs $730 in Buenos Aires.

National salary averages: $544 in Peru, $760 in Argentina. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 142% higher in Argentina.

Dining out costs 136% more in Argentina.

Public transport is 100% more expensive in Peru.

Salaries are 40% higher in Argentina, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Peru.

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
Peru vs Argentina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Argentina and Peru?
At $1,270 per month in Argentina and $572 in Peru, there's a 122% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Peru: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Argentina is consistently higher than in Peru across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Argentina or in Peru?
In Peru, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Argentina it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Argentina or to Peru?
It depends on what you're after: Peru wins on affordability; Argentina may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Peru vs other spots: cost of living compared

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