Cost of Living Comparison Between Peru and Australia Cost of Living Comparison Between Peru and Australia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $422 per month in Peru vs $2,184 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $670 per month in Peru vs $3,219 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $917 per month in Peru vs $4,253 in Australia, rent included.

Peru is roughly 81% cheaper than Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Peru sits 69% below the global median, while Australia is 63% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Peru
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.28 PEN 14.56
$16.44 A$23.33
-73.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.37 PEN 93.1
$78.1 A$111
-64.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.21 PEN 21.11
$9.94 A$14.11
-37.53%
Cappuccino
$2.61 PEN 8.87
$3.60 A$5.10
-27.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 PEN 2.83
$2.68 A$3.80
-69.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 PEN 1.85
$2.14 A$3.03
-74.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.20 PEN 7.49
$6.53 A$9.26
-66.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 PEN 13.06
$7.05 A$10.00
-45.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Peru
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 PEN 4.54
$1.58 A$2.24
-15.19%
White Bread (500g)
$2.42 PEN 8.23
$2.53 A$3.59
-4.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 PEN 4.35
$2.07 A$2.94
-38.16%
Eggs
$2.58 PEN 8.78
$4.30 A$6.11
-40.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.14 PEN 24.29
$9.03 A$12.81
-20.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.34 PEN 18.16
$8.55 A$12.13
-37.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.21 PEN 31.32
$13.96 A$19.80
-34.03%
Apples (1kg)
$1.73 PEN 5.88
$3.18 A$4.51
-45.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.02 PEN 3.46
$2.84 A$4.03
-64.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.04 PEN 3.53
$2.95 A$4.18
-64.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.09 PEN 3.72
$4.43 A$6.29
-75.40%
Potato (1kg)
$0.89 PEN 3.02
$2.46 A$3.48
-63.82%
Onion (1kg)
$0.87 PEN 2.96
$2.17 A$3.08
-59.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 PEN 2.44
$2.29 A$3.25
-68.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 PEN 2.55
$1.57 A$2.23
-52.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.42 PEN 18.43
$30.87 A$43.79
-82.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.67 PEN 26.09
$14.06 A$19.94
-45.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 PEN 6.23
$4.55 A$6.45
-59.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 PEN 9.21
$4.81 A$6.83
-43.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Peru
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 PEN 1.84
$2.87 A$4.07
-81.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.87 PEN 57.4
$95.8 A$136
-82.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.28 PEN 7.74
$3.65 A$5.17
-37.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.94 PEN 6.60
$1.76 A$2.50
10.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.43 PEN 18.48
$38.27 A$54.3
-85.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 PEN 4.53
$1.15 A$1.63
15.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9K PEN 67.8K
$28.4K A$40.3K
-29.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K PEN 83.0K
$23.0K A$32.6K
6.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peru
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$48.24 PEN 164
$178 A$253
-72.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.02 PEN 40.87
$26.46 A$37.53
-54.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.99 PEN 88.4
$54.1 A$76.8
-51.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Peru
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.68 PEN 104
$46.64 A$66.2
-34.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81 PEN 57.1
$16.54 A$23.47
1.63%
Cinema Ticket
$5.54 PEN 18.83
$13.65 A$19.36
-59.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Peru
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$168 PEN 571
$1,575 A$2,234
-89.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,582 PEN 19.0K
$12.7K A$18.0K
-56.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Peru
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.69 PEN 162
$71.5 A$101
-33.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.55 PEN 107
$50.8 A$72.1
-37.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.5 PEN 277
$100 A$142
-18.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.1 PEN 262
$108 A$153
-28.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Peru
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$484 PEN 1,645
$1,384 A$1,963
-65.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$266 PEN 904
$1,105 A$1,568
-75.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$833 PEN 2,834
$2,298 A$3,260
-63.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$479 PEN 1,630
$1,728 A$2,451
-72.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,182 PEN 7,417
$7,610 A$10.8K
-71.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 PEN 4,117
$5,504 A$7,808
-78.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Peru
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$576 PEN 1,960
$4,002 A$5,677
-85.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.63
6.35
67.40%

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

Last update for Peru: June 8, 2026

Last update for Australia: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $142 in Peru vs $1,232 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $624 in Lima and $1,568 in Canberra.

Average salary: $525 in Peru vs $3,845 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 768% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 353% more in Australia.

Public transport is 1575% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 632% higher in Australia, giving Australia 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 Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Peru?
Peru is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 311% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Peru, contributing to the overall 311% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Australia or Peru?
$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Peru, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or Peru?
Peru is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

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