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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $506 per month in Peru vs $2,509 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $792 per month in Peru vs $3,641 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,078 per month in Peru vs $4,772 in Australia, rent included.

The cost of living in Peru is roughly 80% lower than in Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Peru sits 63% below the global median, while Australia is 83% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Peru
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.48 PEN 11.67
$18.16 A$25.48
-80.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.90 PEN 100
$85.9 A$120
-65.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.63 PEN 22.24
$10.87 A$15.25
-39.01%
Cappuccino
$3.18 PEN 10.67
$4.11 A$5.77
-22.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 PEN 3.22
$3.04 A$4.27
-68.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 PEN 1.89
$2.47 A$3.46
-77.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 PEN 7.88
$7.87 A$11.04
-70.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 PEN 11.83
$7.98 A$11.19
-55.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Peru
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 PEN 5.17
$1.73 A$2.42
-10.98%
White Bread (500g)
$2.41 PEN 8.08
$2.78 A$3.90
-13.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 PEN 4.46
$2.38 A$3.34
-44.12%
Eggs
$2.77 PEN 9.28
$5.08 A$7.13
-45.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.07 PEN 27.06
$9.98 A$14.00
-19.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.96 PEN 19.98
$9.24 A$12.96
-35.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.21 PEN 30.87
$15.49 A$21.73
-40.54%
Apples (1kg)
$1.78 PEN 5.96
$3.73 A$5.23
-52.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 PEN 3.54
$3.02 A$4.24
-64.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.21 PEN 4.05
$3.23 A$4.53
-62.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.28 PEN 4.31
$4.88 A$6.85
-73.77%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 PEN 3.21
$2.87 A$4.03
-66.55%
Onion (1kg)
$0.88 PEN 2.95
$2.36 A$3.31
-62.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 PEN 2.79
$2.49 A$3.49
-66.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 PEN 2.91
$1.68 A$2.35
-48.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.79 PEN 19.41
$38.51 A$54.0
-84.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.86 PEN 26.36
$14.25 A$19.99
-44.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 PEN 6.86
$5.07 A$7.11
-59.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 PEN 9.85
$5.19 A$7.28
-43.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Peru
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.63 PEN 2.10
$2.78 A$3.90
-77.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.23 PEN 81.2
$94.8 A$133
-74.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.42 PEN 8.10
$3.52 A$4.94
-31.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 PEN 7.17
$1.60 A$2.24
33.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.91 PEN 19.82
$40.42 A$56.7
-85.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.56 PEN 5.23
$1.27 A$1.79
22.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2K PEN 74.3K
$28.3K A$39.8K
-21.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K PEN 85.3K
$28.6K A$40.2K
-11.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peru
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.4 PEN 186
$202 A$283
-72.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.12 PEN 47.33
$29.08 A$40.80
-51.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.52 PEN 88.9
$59.6 A$83.6
-55.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Peru
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.03 PEN 104
$59.3 A$83.2
-47.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.90 PEN 60.0
$20.13 A$28.23
-11.08%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 PEN 19.84
$15.75 A$22.09
-62.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Peru
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$162 PEN 544
$2,197 A$3,083
-92.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K PEN 38.8K
$18.2K A$25.6K
-36.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Peru
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.1 PEN 171
$79.3 A$111
-35.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.22 PEN 101
$57.2 A$80.3
-47.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.1 PEN 255
$114 A$160
-33.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 PEN 241
$125 A$175
-42.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Peru
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$499 PEN 1,673
$1,581 A$2,217
-68.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$256 PEN 859
$1,291 A$1,811
-80.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$874 PEN 2,930
$2,530 A$3,549
-65.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$479 PEN 1,605
$1,982 A$2,780
-75.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,253 PEN 7,554
$8,571 A$12.0K
-73.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,239 PEN 4,155
$6,120 A$8,585
-79.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Peru
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$586 PEN 1,963
$3,979 A$5,583
-85.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.6
5.93
61.89%

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

Last update for Peru: September 14, 2026

Last update for Australia: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $197 in Peru vs $1,387 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $764 in Lima and $1,829 in Canberra.

Average salary: $544 in Peru vs $3,903 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 604% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 282% more in Australia.

Public transport is 888% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 617% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.

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 290% 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 290% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Australia or in 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 to 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.

Peru vs other spots: cost of living compared

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