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 $506 per month in Peru vs $2,626 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $792 per month in Peru vs $3,830 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,078 per month in Peru vs $5,034 in United States, rent included.

The cost of living in Peru is roughly 81% lower than in United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Peru sits 63% below the global median, while United States is 92% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.48 PEN 11.67

$20.38 $20.38

-82.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.90 PEN 100

$79.0 $79.0

-62.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.63 PEN 22.24

$11.78 $11.78

-43.72%

Cappuccino

$3.18 PEN 10.67

$5.42 $5.42

-41.33%

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

$0.96 PEN 3.22

$2.75 $2.75

-65.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 PEN 1.89

$2.17 $2.17

-74.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 PEN 7.88

$5.86 $5.86

-59.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 PEN 11.83

$8.03 $8.03

-56.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 PEN 5.17

$1.04 $1.04

48.08%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 PEN 8.08

$3.56 $3.56

-32.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 PEN 4.46

$4.70 $4.70

-71.70%

Eggs

$2.77 PEN 9.28

$4.26 $4.26

-34.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.07 PEN 27.06

$13.21 $13.21

-38.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.96 PEN 19.98

$12.42 $12.42

-52.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.21 PEN 30.87

$17.49 $17.49

-47.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.78 PEN 5.96

$5.21 $5.21

-65.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 PEN 3.54

$1.65 $1.65

-35.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.21 PEN 4.05

$4.47 $4.47

-72.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.28 PEN 4.31

$4.86 $4.86

-73.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 PEN 3.21

$2.86 $2.86

-66.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 PEN 2.95

$3.11 $3.11

-71.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 PEN 2.79

$2.22 $2.22

-62.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PEN 2.91

$2.34 $2.34

-62.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.79 PEN 19.41

$10.41 $10.41

-44.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.86 PEN 26.36

$15.23 $15.23

-48.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 PEN 6.86

$2.13 $2.13

-3.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 PEN 9.85

$3.74 $3.74

-21.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 PEN 2.10

$2.44 $2.44

-74.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.23 PEN 81.2

$65.2 $65.2

-62.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 PEN 8.10

$3.44 $3.44

-29.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 PEN 7.17

$1.90 $1.90

12.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 PEN 19.82

$29.70 $29.70

-80.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 PEN 5.23

$1.03 $1.03

51.46%

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

$22.2K PEN 74.3K

$35.8K $35.8K

-38.12%

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

$25.5K PEN 85.3K

$25.9K $25.9K

-1.59%

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

$55.4 PEN 186

$222 $222

-75.09%

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

$14.12 PEN 47.33

$62.6 $62.6

-77.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.52 PEN 88.9

$74.6 $74.6

-64.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.03 PEN 104

$45.12 $45.12

-31.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.90 PEN 60.0

$23.13 $23.13

-22.61%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 PEN 19.84

$15.27 $15.27

-61.23%

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

$162 PEN 544

$1,474 $1,474

-88.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K PEN 38.8K

$25.0K $25.0K

-53.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.1 PEN 171

$54.1 $54.1

-5.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.22 PEN 101

$42.55 $42.55

-28.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 PEN 255

$91.4 $91.4

-16.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 PEN 241

$114 $114

-37.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 PEN 1,673

$1,636 $1,636

-69.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 PEN 859

$1,367 $1,367

-81.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$874 PEN 2,930

$2,701 $2,701

-67.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$479 PEN 1,605

$2,239 $2,239

-78.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,253 PEN 7,554

$3,267 $3,267

-31.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,239 PEN 4,155

$2,651 $2,651

-53.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$586 PEN 1,963

$4,317 $4,317

-86.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.6

6.22

54.34%

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

Last update for Peru: September 14, 2026

Last update for United States: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $197 in Peru vs $1,610 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $764 in Lima and $1,358 in Columbia, TN.

Average salary: $544 in Peru vs $4,521 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 717% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 241% more in United States.

Public transport is 238% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 731% 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 441% 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 441% 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.