Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacna and Lima Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacna and Lima

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $354 in Tacna versus $967 in Lima.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $465 in Tacna versus $1,518 in Lima.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $576 in Tacna versus $2,069 in Lima.

Living in Tacna costs roughly 63% less than in Lima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tacna 74% lower, Lima 28% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tacna
Lima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.99 PEN 6.75
$4.09 PEN 13.89
-51.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$33.09 PEN 113
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.02 PEN 23.87
-
Cappuccino
$2.51 PEN 8.54
$2.65 PEN 9.00
-5.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.96 PEN 3.27
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 PEN 0.91
$0.66 PEN 2.25
-59.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.16 PEN 7.34
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.98 PEN 13.53
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tacna
Lima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 PEN 2.95
$1.48 PEN 5.02
-41.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.35 PEN 4.59
$2.67 PEN 9.09
-49.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.87 PEN 2.97
$1.31 PEN 4.44
-33.59%
Eggs
$1.42 PEN 4.82
$2.93 PEN 9.96
-51.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.27 PEN 14.51
$7.78 PEN 26.46
-45.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.64 PEN 12.38
$5.73 PEN 19.48
-36.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.49 PEN 28.87
$10.80 PEN 36.71
-21.39%
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.04 PEN 6.93
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.09 PEN 3.70
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.14 PEN 3.88
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$1.20 PEN 4.09
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.57 PEN 1.94
$0.99 PEN 3.36
-42.42%
Onion (1kg)
$0.40 PEN 1.36
$0.98 PEN 3.34
-59.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.27 PEN 0.91
$0.87 PEN 2.95
-68.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 PEN 2.41
$0.88 PEN 2.98
-19.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 PEN 14.52
$5.59 PEN 19.02
-23.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.29 PEN 21.37
$8.75 PEN 29.76
-28.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 PEN 8.55
$1.70 PEN 5.79
47.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.09 PEN 10.49
-
🚌 Getting Around
Tacna
Lima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 PEN 0.99
$0.66 PEN 2.25
-56.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$31.56 PEN 107
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 PEN 4.81
$3.36 PEN 11.44
-57.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.12 PEN 7.21
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.24 PEN 28.00
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.36 PEN 4.62
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$19.1K PEN 65.1K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$24.8K PEN 84.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tacna
Lima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$57.3 PEN 195
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.20 PEN 65.3
$12.39 PEN 42.13
54.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.89 PEN 84.6
$23.34 PEN 79.4
6.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tacna
Lima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.24 PEN 96.0
$30.84 PEN 105
-8.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.08 PEN 64.9
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.53 PEN 8.59
$7.09 PEN 24.12
-64.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tacna
Lima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$55.7 PEN 189
$217 PEN 737
-74.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$7,885 PEN 26.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tacna
Lima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.54 PEN 66.4
$49.27 PEN 168
-60.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.17 PEN 65.2
$36.56 PEN 124
-47.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$89.4 PEN 304
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.10 PEN 85.4
$88.4 PEN 300
-71.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tacna
Lima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$624 PEN 2,123
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$65.4 PEN 222
$346 PEN 1,175
-81.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,056 PEN 3,589
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$637 PEN 2,164
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,329 PEN 7,917
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,403 PEN 4,771
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tacna
Lima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$466 PEN 1,586
$616 PEN 2,093
-24.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
10.11
-

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

Last update for Tacna: June 8, 2026

Last update for Lima: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lima pays 32% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tacna and Lima?
Tacna and Lima differ by about 173% in total monthly costs ($354 vs $967 including rent). Tacna is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lima earns 32% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tacna and Lima?
Childcare runs $55.7 in Tacna versus $217 in Lima. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tacna or Lima?
All in, you'll spend $354 per month in Tacna versus $967 in Lima – a 173% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $354 in Tacna versus $967 in Lima, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Tacna but tight or insufficient in Lima. The gap between the two cities makes Tacna the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tacna 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.
Is Tacna or Lima safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tacna and Lima 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: Tacna or Lima?
Expats usually find Tacna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 173% less than in Lima. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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