For one person, living is cheaper in India: $399 a month against $878 in Peru, rent and utilities included – about $5,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Peru and in India actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $878 in Peru versus $399 in India.
Peru $878
India $399
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,380 in Peru versus $639 in India.
Peru $1,380
India $639
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,883 in Peru versus $879 in India.
Peru $1,883
India $879
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Peru: monthly costs span $20 to $1,108, compared to $230–$813 in India. City choice carries more weight in Peru.
🌍
Living in Peru is roughly 120% more expensive than in India on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: Peru 36% lower, India 71% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Peru
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.51PEN 12.16
$2.14₹203
64.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.65PEN 95.8
$10.46₹993
164.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.21PEN 21.51
$3.80₹361
63.42%
Cappuccino
$3.15PEN 10.92
$1.68₹159
87.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96PEN 3.31
$0.38₹35.93
152.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51PEN 1.78
$0.15₹14.58
240.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.28PEN 7.90
$1.87₹177
21.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56PEN 12.33
$3.18₹302
11.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Peru
India
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47PEN 5.09
$0.62₹59.1
137.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.30PEN 7.97
$0.50₹47.68
360.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38PEN 4.77
$0.63₹60.2
119.05%
Eggs
$2.63PEN 9.12
$0.96₹91.1
173.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28PEN 28.71
$4.85₹460
70.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.71PEN 19.79
$2.84₹270
101.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.04PEN 31.34
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.77PEN 6.15
$2.00₹190
-11.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09PEN 3.78
$0.65₹61.3
67.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.31PEN 4.53
$0.97₹92.1
35.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.21PEN 4.21
$0.47₹44.22
157.45%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89PEN 3.08
$0.34₹31.82
161.76%
Onion(1kg)
$0.86PEN 2.97
$0.42₹39.66
104.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77PEN 2.67
$0.47₹44.32
63.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84PEN 2.92
$0.31₹29.62
170.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.63PEN 19.50
$5.08₹482
10.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.65PEN 26.53
$7.31₹694
4.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99PEN 6.91
$1.63₹154
22.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02PEN 10.48
$2.76₹262
9.42%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.11₹485
-
🚌 Getting Around
Peru
India
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61PEN 2.10
$0.26₹24.81
134.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.39PEN 94.9
$8.58₹815
219.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.34PEN 8.10
$1.00₹94.5
134.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05PEN 7.11
$0.27₹25.69
659.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.01PEN 24.30
$1.54₹146
355.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.64PEN 5.69
$1.07₹102
53.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.1KPEN 76.7K
$11.2K₹1.1M
97.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6KPEN 95.8K
$20.1K₹1.9M
37.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peru
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.9PEN 190
$37.08₹3,521
48.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37PEN 46.33
$3.58₹340
273.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.55PEN 88.6
$7.15₹679
257.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Peru
India
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.24PEN 108
$15.00₹1,424
108.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.62PEN 57.6
$7.17₹681
131.80%
Cinema Ticket
$5.93PEN 20.56
$3.20₹303
85.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Peru
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$207PEN 719
$58.8₹5,583
252.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.2KPEN 38.7K
$1,667₹158.2K
570.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Peru
India
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.87PEN 173
$23.03₹2,187
116.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.02PEN 104
$24.17₹2,295
24.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.2PEN 250
$41.20₹3,911
75.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.1PEN 246
$29.62₹2,812
140.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Peru
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$514PEN 1,782
$146₹13.9K
250.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$279PEN 967
$96.4₹9,149
189.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$899PEN 3,118
$343₹32.6K
162.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$536PEN 1,856
$234₹22.2K
129.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,247PEN 7,787
$1,177₹111.7K
90.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,310PEN 4,542
$633₹60.1K
106.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Peru
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$575PEN 1,993
$409₹38.8K
40.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.66
8.93
8.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Peru: October 27, 2026
Last update for India: October 25, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Peru
$279 31.8%
India
$96 24.1% ↓ 65.5%$183
🛒Groceries & Markets
Peru
$210 23.9%
India
$102 25.6% ↓ 51.3%$108
🍽Eating Out
Peru
$109 12.4%
India
$67 16.7% ↓ 38.9%$42
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Peru
$100 11.4%
India
$53 13.3% ↓ 47.1%$47
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peru
$94 10.7%
India
$48 12% ↓ 49%$46
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Peru
$43 4.9%
India
$21 5.4% ↓ 50.4%$22
🚌Getting Around
Peru
$42 4.8%
India
$12 3% ↓ 71.8%$30
🏠Accommodation & Living
Peru
$536 28.5%
India
$234 26.6% ↓ 56.3%$302
🛒Groceries & Markets
Peru
$479 25.4%
India
$220 25.1% ↓ 54%$258
🍽Eating Out
Peru
$349 18.6%
India
$181 20.6% ↓ 48.2%$168
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Peru
$223 11.9%
India
$118 13.4% ↓ 47.1%$105
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Peru
$107 5.7%
India
$51 5.9% ↓ 52.1%$56
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Peru
$103 5.5%
India
$50 5.7% ↓ 51.4%$53
🚌Getting Around
Peru
$86 4.6%
India
$24 2.8% ↓ 71.6%$62
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $339 in Peru, $120 in India. Capital cities: $734 in Lima vs $277 in Delhi.
💰National salary averages: $522 in Peru, $412 in India. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 183% higher in Peru.
⭐Dining out costs 145% more in Peru.
⭐Public transport is 213% more expensive in Peru.
⭐Salaries are 27% higher in Peru, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Peru?
At $399 per month in India and $878 in Peru, India comes out about 54% cheaper. 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 cheaper in India: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. 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 for a central one-bedroom averages $339 in Peru and $120 in India. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or in Peru?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Peru 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 India or to Peru?
It depends on what you’re after: India wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.