Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacna and Arequipa Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacna and Arequipa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $350 per month in Tacna vs $650 in Arequipa, rent included.

A couple spends around $458 per month in Tacna vs $1,067 in Arequipa, rent included.

A family of three spends $567 per month in Tacna vs $1,485 in Arequipa, rent included.

Tacna is about 46% cheaper than Arequipa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tacna and Arequipa are more affordable than the global median – Tacna 74% lower, Arequipa 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.88 PEN 6.63

$4.07 PEN 14.32

-53.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.21 PEN 99.3

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.68 PEN 20.00

Cappuccino

$2.57 PEN 9.06

$2.61 PEN 9.18

-1.53%

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

$0.82 PEN 2.88

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 PEN 0.94

$0.37 PEN 1.30

-27.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 PEN 7.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 PEN 20.69

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 PEN 3.07

$1.53 PEN 5.40

-43.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 PEN 4.80

$1.27 PEN 4.46

7.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 PEN 3.20

$1.22 PEN 4.28

-25.41%

Eggs

$1.36 PEN 4.80

$2.06 PEN 7.24

-33.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.07 PEN 14.33

$5.38 PEN 18.93

-24.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.59 PEN 12.65

$5.26 PEN 18.51

-31.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 PEN 30.10

$7.45 PEN 26.22

14.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.46 PEN 5.15

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 PEN 4.28

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 PEN 4.17

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 PEN 2.71

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 PEN 1.88

$0.55 PEN 1.95

-3.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.44 PEN 1.54

$0.54 PEN 1.90

-18.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 PEN 0.94

$0.44 PEN 1.55

-38.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 PEN 2.48

$0.76 PEN 2.66

-6.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 PEN 14.58

$4.95 PEN 17.41

-16.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.13 PEN 21.59

$4.87 PEN 17.14

25.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 PEN 8.55

$2.40 PEN 8.43

1.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 PEN 8.15

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 PEN 0.95

$0.29 PEN 1.03

-6.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.43 PEN 5.03

$2.08 PEN 7.33

-31.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 PEN 7.44

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.82 PEN 45.12

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 PEN 5.64

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

$18.7K PEN 65.9K

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

$25.0K PEN 88.0K

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

$39.83 PEN 140

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

$19.53 PEN 68.7

$10.73 PEN 37.77

82.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.59 PEN 86.6

$30.64 PEN 108

-19.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.76 PEN 101

$21.47 PEN 75.6

33.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.22 PEN 28.93

Cinema Ticket

$2.53 PEN 8.89

$4.39 PEN 15.44

-42.37%

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

$54.5 PEN 192

$59.9 PEN 211

-8.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,271 PEN 22.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.58 PEN 68.9

$36.93 PEN 130

-46.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.48 PEN 68.6

$22.01 PEN 77.5

-11.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.6 PEN 217

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$24.75 PEN 87.1

$55.1 PEN 194

-55.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$245 PEN 861

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$67.2 PEN 237

$156 PEN 549

-56.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$542 PEN 1,908

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 PEN 1,350

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 PEN 7,023

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,002 PEN 3,526

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$455 PEN 1,601

$631 PEN 2,222

-27.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Tacna: April 27, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 39% higher in Arequipa, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

Tacna vs Arequipa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arequipa costs about 86% more than Tacna, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $525 per month in Tacna and $975 in Arequipa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $350 in Tacna and $650 in Arequipa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 37% more in Arequipa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $350 in Tacna and $650 in Arequipa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tacna costs $350 versus $650 in Arequipa. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Tacna. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arequipa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.