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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $354 per month in Tacna vs $639 in Arequipa, rent included.

A couple spends around $465 per month in Tacna vs $1,078 in Arequipa, rent included.

A family of three spends $576 per month in Tacna vs $1,518 in Arequipa, rent included.

Tacna is about 45% cheaper than Arequipa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tacna and Arequipa are more affordable than the global median – Tacna 74% lower, Arequipa 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.99 PEN 6.75

$4.10 PEN 13.94

-51.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.33 PEN 92.9

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.70 PEN 19.37

Cappuccino

$2.51 PEN 8.54

$2.58 PEN 8.77

-2.71%

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

$0.80 PEN 2.73

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 PEN 0.91

$0.39 PEN 1.33

-30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 PEN 7.32

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.95 PEN 20.23

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 PEN 2.95

$1.61 PEN 5.48

-45.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 PEN 4.59

$1.22 PEN 4.13

10.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 PEN 2.97

$1.23 PEN 4.19

-29.27%

Eggs

$1.42 PEN 4.82

$2.07 PEN 7.04

-31.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.27 PEN 14.51

$5.42 PEN 18.42

-21.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.64 PEN 12.38

$5.24 PEN 17.83

-30.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.49 PEN 28.87

$7.75 PEN 26.36

9.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.45 PEN 4.93

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 PEN 4.15

Oranges (1kg)

$1.21 PEN 4.13

Tomato (1kg)

$0.83 PEN 2.82

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 PEN 1.94

$0.55 PEN 1.87

3.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 PEN 1.36

$0.57 PEN 1.94

-29.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 PEN 0.91

$0.44 PEN 1.51

-38.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 PEN 2.41

$0.78 PEN 2.64

-8.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 PEN 14.52

$4.89 PEN 16.61

-12.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.29 PEN 21.37

$5.06 PEN 17.21

24.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 PEN 8.55

$2.45 PEN 8.33

2.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 PEN 7.58

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 PEN 4.81

$2.08 PEN 7.08

-31.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.10 PEN 7.14

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.90 PEN 43.87

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 PEN 5.48

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

$18.6K PEN 63.3K

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

$25.1K PEN 85.2K

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

$40.46 PEN 138

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

$19.20 PEN 65.3

$10.61 PEN 36.07

80.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.89 PEN 84.6

$30.57 PEN 104

-18.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.24 PEN 96.0

$21.94 PEN 74.6

28.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.35 PEN 28.38

Cinema Ticket

$2.53 PEN 8.59

$4.54 PEN 15.42

-44.27%

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

$55.7 PEN 189

$59.3 PEN 202

-6.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,474 PEN 22.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.54 PEN 66.4

$37.77 PEN 128

-48.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.17 PEN 65.2

$21.81 PEN 74.2

-12.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 PEN 208

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.10 PEN 85.4

$55.3 PEN 188

-54.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 PEN 820

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.4 PEN 222

$156 PEN 529

-57.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$542 PEN 1,844

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$395 PEN 1,343

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 PEN 6,646

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$969 PEN 3,295

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$466 PEN 1,586

$644 PEN 2,188

-27.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Tacna: June 8, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 38% 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 81% 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 $530 per month in Tacna and $958 in Arequipa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $354 in Tacna and $639 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 $354 in Tacna and $639 in Arequipa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tacna costs $354 versus $639 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.