Cost of Living Comparison Between Peru and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Peru and United States

Name: United States
Address: US

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $421 per month in Peru vs $2,642 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $669 per month in Peru vs $3,857 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $916 per month in Peru vs $5,072 in United States, rent included.

The cost of living in Peru is roughly 84% lower than in United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Peru sits 68% below the global median, while United States is 98% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.21 PEN 14.26

$19.63 $19.63

-78.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.85 PEN 94.4

$75.4 $75.4

-63.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.21 PEN 21.06

$11.57 $11.57

-46.33%

Cappuccino

$2.54 PEN 8.62

$5.22 $5.22

-51.34%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 PEN 2.86

$2.49 $2.49

-66.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 PEN 1.87

$2.06 $2.06

-73.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 PEN 7.44

$5.91 $5.91

-62.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 PEN 12.93

$7.13 $7.13

-46.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 PEN 4.69

$1.09 $1.09

26.61%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 PEN 8.20

$3.56 $3.56

-32.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PEN 4.23

$4.74 $4.74

-73.63%

Eggs

$2.67 PEN 9.05

$4.34 $4.34

-38.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.96 PEN 23.59

$12.68 $12.68

-45.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.23 PEN 17.71

$12.28 $12.28

-57.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.82 PEN 29.89

$16.60 $16.60

-46.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 PEN 6.12

$5.16 $5.16

-64.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 PEN 3.47

$1.70 $1.70

-40.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.39

$4.45 $4.45

-77.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.10 PEN 3.73

$4.80 $4.80

-77.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 PEN 3.05

$2.93 $2.93

-69.28%

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 PEN 2.97

$3.09 $3.09

-71.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 PEN 2.60

$2.22 $2.22

-65.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 PEN 2.72

$2.25 $2.25

-64.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.68 PEN 19.24

$9.90 $9.90

-42.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.00 PEN 27.10

$15.28 $15.28

-47.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 PEN 5.98

$1.91 $1.91

-7.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 PEN 8.98

$3.58 $3.58

-25.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 PEN 1.94

$2.46 $2.46

-76.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.79 PEN 56.9

$64.6 $64.6

-74.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 PEN 7.45

$3.77 $3.77

-41.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 PEN 6.33

$1.71 $1.71

9.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.59 PEN 18.93

$30.08 $30.08

-81.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.57

$0.96 $0.96

40.63%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.6K PEN 69.9K

$29.9K $29.9K

-30.98%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.2K PEN 82.2K

$26.1K $26.1K

-7.29%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$46.51 PEN 158

$210 $210

-77.87%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.09 PEN 40.97

$56.3 $56.3

-78.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.31 PEN 85.8

$72.9 $72.9

-65.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.95 PEN 102

$45.39 $45.39

-34.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.52 PEN 56.0

$21.60 $21.60

-23.52%

Cinema Ticket

$5.59 PEN 18.94

$14.04 $14.04

-60.19%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$169 PEN 574

$1,377 $1,377

-87.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,627 PEN 19.1K

$22.4K $22.4K

-74.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.01 PEN 163

$52.7 $52.7

-8.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.35 PEN 106

$42.41 $42.41

-26.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 PEN 279

$91.8 $91.8

-10.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.8 PEN 260

$114 $114

-32.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$479 PEN 1,623

$1,765 $1,765

-72.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 PEN 922

$1,462 $1,462

-81.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$835 PEN 2,831

$2,849 $2,849

-70.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$486 PEN 1,648

$2,369 $2,369

-79.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,181 PEN 7,395

$3,364 $3,364

-35.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,224 PEN 4,150

$2,665 $2,665

-54.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$578 PEN 1,959

$4,378 $4,378

-86.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.63

6.51

63.29%

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

Last update for Peru: July 13, 2026

Last update for United States: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $142 in Peru vs $1,635 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $623 in Lima and $1,625 in Washington, MI.

Average salary: $533 in Peru vs $4,500 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1051% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 329% more in United States.

Public transport is 525% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 744% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Peru is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 524% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Peru, contributing to the overall 524% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Peru, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

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.