Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pisco and Buenos Aires

For one person, living is cheaper in Pisco: $658 a month against $1,656 in Buenos Aires, rent and utilities included – about $12,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Pisco
🇵🇪 Peru
$658
/mo nomad
Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,656
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pisco and in Buenos Aires

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pisco and in Buenos Aires actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $658 in Pisco versus $1,656 in Buenos Aires.

  • Pisco $658
  • Buenos Aires $1,656

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,019 in Pisco versus $2,697 in Buenos Aires.

  • Pisco $1,019
  • Buenos Aires $2,697

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,380 in Pisco versus $3,737 in Buenos Aires.

  • Pisco $1,380
  • Buenos Aires $3,737

Living in Pisco costs roughly 60% less than in Buenos Aires, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Pisco is 51% below, Buenos Aires is 23% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pisco
Buenos Aires
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.37 PEN 15.02
$19.09 ARS 29.0K
-77.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.60 PEN 119
$65.8 ARS 99.9K
-47.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.86 PEN 23.56
$13.20 ARS 20.0K
-48.03%
Cappuccino
$3.18 PEN 10.93
$3.85 ARS 5,841
-17.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 PEN 3.64
$1.99 ARS 3,020
-46.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 PEN 2.22
$1.60 ARS 2,430
-59.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.69 PEN 9.23
$3.93 ARS 5,959
-31.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 PEN 15.38
$4.61 ARS 7,003
-2.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pisco
Buenos Aires
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 PEN 5.64
$1.50 ARS 2,272
9.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 PEN 7.80
$2.53 ARS 3,837
-10.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 PEN 4.28
$1.61 ARS 2,445
-22.36%
Eggs
$1.29 PEN 4.44
$2.84 ARS 4,316
-54.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.22 PEN 21.36
$10.30 ARS 15.6K
-39.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.82 PEN 16.56
$10.00 ARS 15.2K
-51.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.40 PEN 21.98
$13.30 ARS 20.2K
-51.88%
Apples (1kg)
$1.32 PEN 4.54
$2.88 ARS 4,366
-54.17%
Banana (1kg)
$0.99 PEN 3.41
$2.20 ARS 3,334
-55.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.36 PEN 4.66
$1.40 ARS 2,120
-2.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.61 PEN 2.08
$1.98 ARS 3,004
-69.19%
Potato (1kg)
$0.45 PEN 1.55
$1.21 ARS 1,835
-62.81%
Onion (1kg)
$0.92 PEN 3.14
$1.26 ARS 1,910
-26.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.82 PEN 2.81
$1.71 ARS 2,592
-52.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 PEN 3.18
$1.72 ARS 2,603
-45.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.74 PEN 19.72
$4.29 ARS 6,505
33.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.54 PEN 29.34
$5.70 ARS 8,645
49.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 PEN 6.34
$2.17 ARS 3,288
-14.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 PEN 8.34
$2.76 ARS 4,188
-11.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Pisco
Buenos Aires
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 PEN 2.93
$0.75 ARS 1,141
13.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.08 PEN 120
$27.27 ARS 41.4K
28.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 PEN 13.29
$1.57 ARS 2,375
146.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.07 PEN 7.10
$1.03 ARS 1,558
100.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.43 PEN 25.52
$7.90 ARS 12.0K
-5.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.64 PEN 5.64
$1.42 ARS 2,160
15.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4K PEN 77.0K
$27.9K ARS 42.4M
-19.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K PEN 86.9K
$35.0K ARS 53.1M
-27.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pisco
Buenos Aires
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$43.24 PEN 149
$195 ARS 296.2K
-77.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.04 PEN 55.1
$25.16 ARS 38.2K
-36.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.49 PEN 39.46
$31.54 ARS 47.9K
-63.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pisco
Buenos Aires
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.15 PEN 69.2
$50.9 ARS 77.3K
-60.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.94 PEN 30.72
$16.73 ARS 25.4K
-46.56%
Cinema Ticket
$7.38 PEN 25.36
$10.34 ARS 15.7K
-28.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pisco
Buenos Aires
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$176 PEN 604
$463 ARS 703.2K
-62.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K PEN 45.6K
$8,793 ARS 13.3M
50.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pisco
Buenos Aires
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 PEN 185
$120 ARS 181.8K
-55.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$13.00 PEN 44.65
$95.5 ARS 144.9K
-86.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.65 PEN 157
$114 ARS 173.1K
-59.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.25 PEN 121
$139 ARS 211.4K
-74.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pisco
Buenos Aires
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$161 PEN 554
$756 ARS 1.1M
-78.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$129 PEN 443
$520 ARS 788.8K
-75.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,590 ARS 2.4M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$144 PEN 494
$1,198 ARS 1.8M
-88.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,834 PEN 6,300
$2,713 ARS 4.1M
-32.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,331 PEN 4,572
$1,901 ARS 2.9M
-29.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pisco
Buenos Aires
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$565 PEN 1,941
$938 ARS 1.4M
-39.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.94
57.25
-84.38%

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

Last update for Pisco: October 13, 2026

Last update for Buenos Aires: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Pisco
$181
Buenos Aires
$283 56.5% $102
Accommodation & Living
Pisco
$129
Buenos Aires
$520 303% $391
Eating Out
Pisco
$123
Buenos Aires
$282 129% $159
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pisco
$71
Buenos Aires
$252 256% $181
Clothing & Footwear
Pisco
$66
Buenos Aires
$211 218% $144
Getting Around
Pisco
$53
Buenos Aires
$37 29.8% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Pisco
$35
Buenos Aires
$72 105% $37

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $161 in Pisco and $756 in Buenos Aires. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buenos Aires pays 66% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $35.00 in Pisco vs $66.0 in Buenos Aires for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $283 per month, with Pisco cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇪 Pisco
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
🕒 Local time
13:55 1:55 PM
15:55 3:55 PM
2 h ahead of Pisco
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
14,917
2,891,082 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ARS, USD, EUR to PEN – Peruvian Sol Converter

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 3.43 PEN (1 PEN = 0.291 USD). 1 EUR = 3.86 PEN (1 PEN = 0.259 EUR).

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,706 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.86 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Pisco Buenos Aires 2,930 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Pisco
  • Buenos Aires

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
Pisco vs Buenos Aires: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Pisco and in Buenos Aires?
Pisco and Buenos Aires differ by about 152% in total monthly costs ($658 vs $1,656 including rent). Pisco is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 66% lower in Buenos Aires. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Pisco and in Buenos Aires?
Rent for a central apartment: $161 in Pisco versus $756 in Buenos Aires. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Pisco and Buenos Aires?
Childcare runs $176 in Pisco versus $463 in Buenos Aires. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 56% higher in Buenos Aires. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $658 in Pisco versus $1,656 in Buenos Aires, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Pisco but tight or insufficient in Buenos Aires. The gap between the two cities makes Pisco the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Pisco and Buenos Aires?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Pisco or Buenos Aires safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Pisco and Buenos Aires are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Pisco or Buenos Aires?
Expats usually find Pisco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 152% less than in Buenos Aires. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Pisco vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?