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: $353 in Tacna versus $975 in Lima.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $465 in Tacna versus $1,515 in Lima.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $577 in Tacna versus $2,055 in Lima.

Living in Tacna costs roughly 64% less than in Lima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tacna 73% lower, Lima 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.89 PEN 6.41

$4.24 PEN 14.40

-55.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.85 PEN 115

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.10 PEN 24.11

Cappuccino

$2.48 PEN 8.43

$2.58 PEN 8.77

-3.88%

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

$0.90 PEN 3.07

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

$0.64 PEN 2.19

-54.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 PEN 7.60

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 PEN 13.30

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 PEN 3.12

$1.47 PEN 4.99

-37.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 PEN 4.68

$2.63 PEN 8.91

-47.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 PEN 2.94

$1.31 PEN 4.46

-33.59%

Eggs

$1.41 PEN 4.80

$2.96 PEN 10.06

-52.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.19 PEN 14.22

$8.03 PEN 27.26

-47.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 PEN 12.04

$5.59 PEN 18.97

-36.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.36 PEN 28.37

$10.56 PEN 35.86

-20.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 PEN 6.77

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.78

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 PEN 3.86

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 PEN 4.28

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 PEN 1.84

$0.98 PEN 3.33

-44.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.44 PEN 1.50

$1.01 PEN 3.42

-56.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

$0.82 PEN 2.80

-64.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 PEN 2.46

$0.87 PEN 2.97

-17.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 PEN 14.32

$5.48 PEN 18.62

-22.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.59 PEN 22.36

$8.85 PEN 30.06

-25.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 PEN 8.28

$1.71 PEN 5.80

42.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 PEN 9.93

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

$0.71 PEN 2.42

-59.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.86 PEN 105

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.37 PEN 4.66

$3.39 PEN 11.49

-59.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 PEN 7.20

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.48 PEN 28.80

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PEN 4.48

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

$19.7K PEN 66.8K

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

$24.9K PEN 84.7K

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

$57.0 PEN 194

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

$19.64 PEN 66.7

$12.83 PEN 43.54

53.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.84 PEN 84.3

$23.68 PEN 80.4

4.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.28 PEN 96.0

$31.09 PEN 106

-9.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.87 PEN 64.1

Cinema Ticket

$2.46 PEN 8.35

$6.84 PEN 23.22

-64.04%

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

$56.3 PEN 191

$223 PEN 757

-74.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,847 PEN 26.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.09 PEN 64.8

$50.3 PEN 171

-62.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.62 PEN 66.6

$35.93 PEN 122

-45.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.3 PEN 307

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.17 PEN 85.5

$90.4 PEN 307

-72.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 PEN 2,109

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.8 PEN 223

$352 PEN 1,197

-81.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,037 PEN 3,519

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$622 PEN 2,113

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 PEN 8,023

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,424 PEN 4,836

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$462 PEN 1,567

$636 PEN 2,160

-27.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.11

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

Last update for Tacna: July 27, 2026

Last update for Lima: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Lima pays 38% 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

Tacna and Lima differ by about 176% in total monthly costs ($353 vs $975 including rent). Tacna is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 38% lower in Lima. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $56.3 in Tacna versus $223 in Lima. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $353 per month in Tacna versus $975 in Lima – a 176% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $353 in Tacna versus $975 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.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Tacna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 176% less than in Lima. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.