Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between São Gabriel and Lima

For one person, living is cheaper in São Gabriel: $842 a month against $1,014 in Lima, rent and utilities included – about $2,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

São Gabriel
🇧🇷 Brazil
$842
/mo nomad
Lima
🇵🇪 Peru
$1,014
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in São Gabriel and in Lima

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $842 in São Gabriel versus $1,014 in Lima.

  • São Gabriel $842
  • Lima $1,014

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,371 in São Gabriel versus $1,613 in Lima.

  • São Gabriel $1,371
  • Lima $1,613

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,901 in São Gabriel versus $2,211 in Lima.

  • São Gabriel $1,901
  • Lima $2,211

Living in São Gabriel costs roughly 17% less than in Lima, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: São Gabriel 38% lower, Lima 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
São Gabriel
Lima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.66 R$28.70
$4.42 PEN 15.19
28.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.73 R$206
$34.56 PEN 119
17.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.05 R$35.76
$6.80 PEN 23.37
3.68%
Cappuccino
$1.18 R$5.96
$3.30 PEN 11.34
-64.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 R$6.96
$1.06 PEN 3.64
29.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 R$5.19
$0.66 PEN 2.26
54.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.38 R$6.98
$2.54 PEN 8.71
-45.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 R$15.10
$4.24 PEN 14.55
-29.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
São Gabriel
Lima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 R$4.63
$1.58 PEN 5.43
-42.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 R$8.24
$2.61 PEN 8.97
-37.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.08 R$5.48
$1.34 PEN 4.60
-19.40%
Eggs
$1.42 R$7.22
$2.93 PEN 10.08
-51.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.15 R$51.5
$9.45 PEN 32.45
7.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.96 R$25.16
$5.75 PEN 19.75
-13.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.84 R$49.87
$9.69 PEN 33.29
1.55%
Apples (1kg)
$1.17 R$5.92
$2.02 PEN 6.95
-42.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 R$7.58
$1.07 PEN 3.66
39.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.02 R$5.19
$1.37 PEN 4.70
-25.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.76 R$3.86
$1.47 PEN 5.05
-48.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.23 R$6.25
$0.95 PEN 3.25
29.47%
Onion (1kg)
$0.78 R$3.95
$0.91 PEN 3.14
-14.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 R$4.44
$0.90 PEN 3.10
-2.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 R$4.50
$0.89 PEN 3.04
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.76 R$8.92
$5.74 PEN 19.71
-69.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.06 R$20.58
$9.21 PEN 31.64
-55.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 R$5.71
$1.84 PEN 6.31
-38.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 R$8.25
$3.11 PEN 10.67
-47.59%
🚌 Getting Around
São Gabriel
Lima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 R$5.23
$0.72 PEN 2.46
43.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.73 R$227
$26.03 PEN 89.4
71.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 R$6.51
$3.54 PEN 12.17
-63.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 R$4.13
$2.07 PEN 7.12
-60.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.44 R$42.79
$7.75 PEN 26.62
8.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 R$6.74
$1.71 PEN 5.86
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K R$118.5K
$21.6K PEN 74.1K
8.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K R$174.3K
$28.6K PEN 98.2K
20.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
São Gabriel
Lima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$75.5 R$382
$68.2 PEN 234
10.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.49 R$63.3
$15.73 PEN 54.0
-20.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.98 R$111
$26.48 PEN 90.9
-16.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
São Gabriel
Lima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.34 R$134
$33.94 PEN 117
-22.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.73 R$141
$20.10 PEN 69.0
37.96%
Cinema Ticket
$7.20 R$36.51
$7.22 PEN 24.80
-0.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
São Gabriel
Lima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$281 R$1,425
$201 PEN 689
40.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,317 R$37.1K
$12.9K PEN 44.3K
-43.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
São Gabriel
Lima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 R$261
$53.7 PEN 184
-4.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.26 R$133
$35.88 PEN 123
-26.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 R$519
$83.8 PEN 288
22.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4 R$408
$78.8 PEN 271
2.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
São Gabriel
Lima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$350 R$1,772
$729 PEN 2,505
-52.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 R$1,204
$349 PEN 1,197
-31.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$687 R$3,482
$1,186 PEN 4,073
-42.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$476 R$2,411
$696 PEN 2,391
-31.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,740 R$8,819
$2,360 PEN 8,105
-26.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,189 R$6,025
$1,356 PEN 4,657
-12.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
São Gabriel
Lima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$663 PEN 2,278
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.5
8.78
30.98%

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

Last update for São Gabriel: October 20, 2026

Last update for Lima: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
São Gabriel
$238
Lima
$349 46.8% $111
Groceries & Markets
São Gabriel
$179
Lima
$227 26.7% $48
Clothing & Footwear
São Gabriel
$117
Lima
$113 3.2% $3.8
Monthly Utilities & Internet
São Gabriel
$110
Lima
$110 0.4% $0.5
Eating Out
São Gabriel
$103
Lima
$123 19.9% $20
Getting Around
São Gabriel
$54
Lima
$43 21% $11
Sport & Entertainment
São Gabriel
$41
Lima
$48 18.7% $7.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $350 in São Gabriel and $729 in Lima. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $41.00 in São Gabriel vs $35.00 in Lima. Groceries flip the comparison at $179 vs $227, with São Gabriel cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇧🇷 São Gabriel
🇵🇪 Lima
🕒 Local time
14:54 2:54 PM
12:54 12:54 PM
2 h behind São Gabriel
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
58,487
9,989,369 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PEN, USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 3.43 PEN (1 PEN = 0.291 USD). 1 EUR = 3.86 PEN (1 PEN = 0.259 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • São Gabriel Lima 3,100 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • São Gabriel
  • Lima

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
São Gabriel vs Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in São Gabriel and in Lima?
São Gabriel and Lima differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($842 vs $1,014 including rent). São Gabriel is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in São Gabriel compared to Lima?
You'd need roughly $1,263 in São Gabriel and $1,522 in Lima to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in São Gabriel and in Lima?
Rent for a central apartment: $350 in São Gabriel versus $729 in Lima. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between São Gabriel and Lima?
Childcare runs $281 in São Gabriel versus $201 in Lima. 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 27% higher in Lima. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $842 in São Gabriel versus $1,014 in Lima, a $1,500 budget is realistic in São Gabriel but tight or insufficient in Lima. The gap between the two cities makes São Gabriel the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between São Gabriel and Lima?
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.
Where should expats move: São Gabriel or Lima?
Expats usually find São Gabriel gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Lima. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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