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: $421 in Peru versus $966 in Argentina.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $669 in Peru versus $1,579 in Argentina.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $916 in Peru versus $2,191 in Argentina.

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

Both countries sit below the global median: Peru 68% lower, Argentina 28% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Peru
Argentina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.21 PEN 14.26
$12.19 ARS 18.0K
-65.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.85 PEN 94.4
$49.73 ARS 73.5K
-44.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.21 PEN 21.06
$10.16 ARS 15.0K
-38.88%
Cappuccino
$2.54 PEN 8.62
$3.43 ARS 5,076
-25.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 PEN 2.86
$1.94 ARS 2,863
-56.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 PEN 1.87
$1.45 ARS 2,146
-62.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 PEN 7.44
$3.03 ARS 4,480
-27.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 PEN 12.93
$3.01 ARS 4,444
26.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Peru
Argentina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 PEN 4.69
$1.37 ARS 2,022
0.73%
White Bread (500g)
$2.42 PEN 8.20
$1.99 ARS 2,936
21.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 PEN 4.23
$2.10 ARS 3,110
-40.48%
Eggs
$2.67 PEN 9.05
$2.70 ARS 3,988
-1.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.96 PEN 23.59
$10.28 ARS 15.2K
-32.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.23 PEN 17.71
$6.87 ARS 10.2K
-23.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.82 PEN 29.89
$8.93 ARS 13.2K
-1.23%
Apples (1kg)
$1.81 PEN 6.12
$2.17 ARS 3,209
-16.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.02 PEN 3.47
$2.02 ARS 2,981
-49.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 PEN 3.39
$1.36 ARS 2,008
-26.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.10 PEN 3.73
$2.37 ARS 3,505
-53.59%
Potato (1kg)
$0.90 PEN 3.05
$1.29 ARS 1,912
-30.23%
Onion (1kg)
$0.88 PEN 2.97
$1.24 ARS 1,833
-29.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 PEN 2.60
$1.58 ARS 2,332
-51.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 PEN 2.72
$1.47 ARS 2,166
-45.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.68 PEN 19.24
$3.02 ARS 4,468
88.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.00 PEN 27.10
$5.06 ARS 7,473
58.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 PEN 5.98
$1.86 ARS 2,751
-5.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 PEN 8.98
$3.01 ARS 4,451
-11.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Peru
Argentina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 PEN 1.94
$0.77 ARS 1,145
-25.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.79 PEN 56.9
$20.65 ARS 30.5K
-18.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.20 PEN 7.45
$1.54 ARS 2,269
42.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.87 PEN 6.33
$0.98 ARS 1,453
90.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.59 PEN 18.93
$6.07 ARS 8,977
-7.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 PEN 4.57
$1.08 ARS 1,601
25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6K PEN 69.9K
$24.6K ARS 36.4M
-16.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K PEN 82.2K
$30.2K ARS 44.6M
-19.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peru
Argentina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.51 PEN 158
$87.1 ARS 128.7K
-46.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.09 PEN 40.97
$17.18 ARS 25.4K
-29.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.31 PEN 85.8
$22.86 ARS 33.8K
10.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Peru
Argentina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.95 PEN 102
$30.87 ARS 45.6K
-2.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.52 PEN 56.0
$13.43 ARS 19.9K
23.01%
Cinema Ticket
$5.59 PEN 18.94
$6.69 ARS 9,887
-16.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Peru
Argentina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$169 PEN 574
$249 ARS 368.3K
-32.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,627 PEN 19.1K
$3,755 ARS 5.6M
49.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Peru
Argentina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.01 PEN 163
$97.2 ARS 143.6K
-50.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.35 PEN 106
$78.5 ARS 116.0K
-60.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.2 PEN 279
$121 ARS 178.5K
-31.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.8 PEN 260
$120 ARS 177.7K
-36.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Peru
Argentina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$479 PEN 1,623
$499 ARS 737.7K
-4.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$272 PEN 922
$339 ARS 501.4K
-19.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$835 PEN 2,831
$893 ARS 1.3M
-6.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$486 PEN 1,648
$613 ARS 906.7K
-20.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,181 PEN 7,395
$2,091 ARS 3.1M
4.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,224 PEN 4,150
$1,398 ARS 2.1M
-12.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Peru
Argentina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$578 PEN 1,959
$738 ARS 1.1M
-21.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.63
65.53
-83.78%

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

Last update for Peru: July 13, 2026

Last update for Argentina: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $142 in Peru, $352 in Argentina. Capital cities: $623 in Lima vs $657 in Buenos Aires.

National salary averages: $533 in Peru, $727 in Argentina. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 148% higher in Argentina.

Dining out costs 106% more in Argentina.

Public transport is 25% more expensive in Argentina.

Salaries are 36% 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 $1,000 per month in Argentina and $522 in Peru, there's a 92% 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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