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: $423 in Peru versus $968 in Argentina.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $670 in Peru versus $1,579 in Argentina.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $917 in Peru versus $2,189 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
$4.24 PEN 14.43
$12.01 ARS 17.1K
-64.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.35 PEN 93.1
$50.1 ARS 71.5K
-45.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.04 PEN 20.56
$10.03 ARS 14.3K
-39.78%
Cappuccino
$2.66 PEN 9.06
$3.43 ARS 4,890
-22.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 PEN 2.84
$1.96 ARS 2,791
-57.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 PEN 1.77
$1.46 ARS 2,087
-64.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 PEN 7.34
$2.96 ARS 4,217
-27.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 PEN 12.97
$3.01 ARS 4,299
26.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Peru
Argentina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.39 PEN 4.72
$1.38 ARS 1,974
0.72%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 PEN 8.37
$1.99 ARS 2,840
23.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 PEN 4.42
$2.04 ARS 2,904
-36.27%
Eggs
$2.67 PEN 9.10
$2.70 ARS 3,857
-1.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.03 PEN 23.92
$9.98 ARS 14.2K
-29.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.53 PEN 18.80
$6.82 ARS 9,727
-18.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.14 PEN 31.10
$8.69 ARS 12.4K
5.18%
Apples (1kg)
$1.75 PEN 5.94
$2.17 ARS 3,092
-19.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.02 PEN 3.46
$2.01 ARS 2,869
-49.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.01 PEN 3.43
$1.36 ARS 1,937
-25.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.09 PEN 3.70
$2.48 ARS 3,533
-56.05%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 PEN 3.26
$1.30 ARS 1,849
-26.15%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 PEN 3.04
$1.24 ARS 1,772
-28.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 PEN 2.46
$1.53 ARS 2,182
-52.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 PEN 2.61
$1.48 ARS 2,106
-47.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.66 PEN 19.24
$2.95 ARS 4,201
91.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.68 PEN 26.13
$4.86 ARS 6,927
58.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 PEN 6.29
$1.88 ARS 2,678
-1.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 PEN 9.05
$2.99 ARS 4,268
-11.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Peru
Argentina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.58 PEN 1.98
$0.78 ARS 1,114
-25.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.93 PEN 57.6
$20.92 ARS 29.8K
-19.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.25 PEN 7.64
$1.53 ARS 2,181
47.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 PEN 6.29
$0.97 ARS 1,389
90.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 PEN 18.40
$5.88 ARS 8,388
-7.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 PEN 4.58
$1.12 ARS 1,604
20.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.3K PEN 69.1K
$24.6K ARS 35.0M
-17.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K PEN 83.8K
$30.3K ARS 43.2M
-18.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peru
Argentina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$47.97 PEN 163
$85.0 ARS 121.2K
-43.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.27 PEN 41.75
$16.93 ARS 24.1K
-27.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.91 PEN 88.2
$23.33 ARS 33.3K
11.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Peru
Argentina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.93 PEN 102
$30.26 ARS 43.2K
-1.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.31 PEN 55.5
$13.40 ARS 19.1K
21.72%
Cinema Ticket
$5.48 PEN 18.65
$7.02 ARS 10.0K
-21.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Peru
Argentina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$166 PEN 565
$255 ARS 363.3K
-34.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,590 PEN 19.0K
$3,767 ARS 5.4M
48.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Peru
Argentina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.41 PEN 161
$97.2 ARS 138.6K
-51.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.38 PEN 103
$77.8 ARS 110.9K
-60.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.3 PEN 283
$121 ARS 173.2K
-31.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.4 PEN 263
$119 ARS 170.1K
-35.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Peru
Argentina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 PEN 1,622
$483 ARS 688.6K
-1.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$272 PEN 926
$330 ARS 470.6K
-17.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$814 PEN 2,771
$888 ARS 1.3M
-8.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$485 PEN 1,651
$633 ARS 902.3K
-23.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,182 PEN 7,423
$2,078 ARS 3.0M
4.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,204 PEN 4,097
$1,376 ARS 2.0M
-12.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Peru
Argentina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$577 PEN 1,963
$737 ARS 1.1M
-21.72%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Argentina: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $142 in Peru, $352 in Argentina. Capital cities: $606 in Lima vs $658 in Buenos Aires.

National salary averages: $536 in Peru, $722 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 35% higher in Argentina, giving Peru stronger purchasing power.

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 $1,005 per month in Argentina and $529 in Peru, there's a 90% 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?
Peru is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 beats 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 Peru?
In Peru, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Argentina, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Argentina or 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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