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 $3,217 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $918 per month in Peru vs $4,249 in Australia, rent included.

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

Peru sits 68% 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
$4.08 PEN 14.33
$16.24 A$22.57
-74.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.02 PEN 98.4
$77.1 A$107
-63.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.09 PEN 21.37
$9.81 A$13.64
-37.92%
Cappuccino
$2.67 PEN 9.35
$3.58 A$4.97
-25.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 PEN 2.97
$2.57 A$3.57
-67.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 PEN 1.93
$2.18 A$3.03
-74.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.24 PEN 7.85
$6.63 A$9.22
-66.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 PEN 13.38
$7.12 A$9.90
-46.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Peru
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 PEN 4.75
$1.50 A$2.09
-10.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 PEN 8.39
$2.53 A$3.51
-5.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 PEN 4.49
$2.07 A$2.88
-38.16%
Eggs
$2.63 PEN 9.24
$4.29 A$5.96
-38.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.81 PEN 23.91
$8.65 A$12.02
-21.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.48 PEN 19.25
$8.34 A$11.60
-34.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.03 PEN 31.69
$13.90 A$19.33
-35.04%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 PEN 6.30
$3.30 A$4.58
-45.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.02 PEN 3.58
$2.77 A$3.85
-63.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 PEN 3.52
$2.95 A$4.10
-66.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.13 PEN 3.98
$4.19 A$5.83
-73.03%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 PEN 3.39
$2.42 A$3.36
-59.92%
Onion (1kg)
$0.88 PEN 3.07
$2.10 A$2.92
-58.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 PEN 2.71
$2.26 A$3.14
-65.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 PEN 2.73
$1.50 A$2.09
-48.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.51 PEN 19.32
$31.58 A$43.90
-82.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.82 PEN 30.97
$14.29 A$19.86
-38.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 PEN 6.27
$4.59 A$6.38
-61.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 PEN 9.63
$4.82 A$6.70
-43.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Peru
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 PEN 2.06
$3.02 A$4.19
-80.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.60 PEN 58.3
$98.3 A$137
-83.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.17 PEN 7.61
$3.48 A$4.84
-37.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 PEN 6.79
$1.75 A$2.43
10.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.42 PEN 19.03
$37.97 A$52.8
-85.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 PEN 4.71
$1.21 A$1.68
10.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K PEN 70.6K
$29.0K A$40.4K
-30.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K PEN 86.1K
$22.6K A$31.4K
8.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peru
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.55 PEN 163
$177 A$247
-73.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.32 PEN 43.23
$26.85 A$37.32
-54.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.25 PEN 88.6
$52.4 A$72.9
-51.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Peru
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.34 PEN 106
$47.57 A$66.1
-36.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.47 PEN 57.8
$16.46 A$22.88
0.06%
Cinema Ticket
$5.66 PEN 19.87
$13.73 A$19.09
-58.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Peru
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$166 PEN 583
$1,593 A$2,215
-89.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,511 PEN 19.3K
$12.7K A$17.7K
-56.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Peru
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.38 PEN 170
$72.0 A$100
-32.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.04 PEN 109
$51.3 A$71.3
-39.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.9 PEN 294
$103 A$143
-18.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.0 PEN 274
$108 A$151
-28.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Peru
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$472 PEN 1,657
$1,401 A$1,947
-66.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$267 PEN 938
$1,080 A$1,501
-75.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$825 PEN 2,896
$2,340 A$3,253
-64.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$485 PEN 1,702
$1,756 A$2,441
-72.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,094 PEN 7,351
$7,733 A$10.7K
-72.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,235 PEN 4,334
$5,563 A$7,733
-77.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Peru
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$555 PEN 1,950
$4,000 A$5,560
-86.11%
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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Australia: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $141 in Peru vs $1,232 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $610 in Lima and $1,529 in Canberra.

Average salary: $530 in Peru vs $3,878 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 774% 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 316% 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 316% 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.

Peru vs other spots: cost of living compared

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