Cost of Living Comparison Between Tarapoto and Lima Cost of Living Comparison Between Tarapoto and Lima

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $31.71 in Tarapoto versus $998 in Lima.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $48.00 in Tarapoto versus $1,550 in Lima.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $65.2 in Tarapoto versus $2,101 in Lima.

Living in Tarapoto costs roughly 97% less than in Lima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tarapoto 98% lower, Lima 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.70 PEN 9.48

$4.19 PEN 14.70

-35.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.47 PEN 117

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.07 PEN 24.82

Cappuccino

$2.59 PEN 9.08

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

$0.80 PEN 2.82

$0.91 PEN 3.18

-12.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 PEN 2.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 PEN 7.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 PEN 9.67

$3.83 PEN 13.46

-28.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 PEN 5.03

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 PEN 9.53

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.60

Eggs

$2.92 PEN 10.24

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.07 PEN 28.33

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.64 PEN 19.79

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.49 PEN 36.81

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 PEN 7.02

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.91

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 PEN 4.02

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 PEN 4.37

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.50

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 PEN 3.27

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 PEN 2.93

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PEN 3.05

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 PEN 19.16

Wine (Bottle)

$8.61 PEN 30.23

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 PEN 6.00

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 PEN 10.84

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 PEN 2.52

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.22 PEN 110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 PEN 11.55

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 PEN 7.71

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.31 PEN 29.16

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 PEN 4.61

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

$19.4K PEN 68.1K

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

$24.5K PEN 86.2K

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

$56.8 PEN 199

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

$12.44 PEN 43.68

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.14 PEN 84.7

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.15 PEN 106

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.93 PEN 66.4

Cinema Ticket

$7.09 PEN 24.89

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

$219 PEN 768

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,119 PEN 28.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.52 PEN 174

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.79 PEN 129

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.1 PEN 323

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 PEN 311

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$610 PEN 2,142

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 PEN 1,226

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,016 PEN 3,567

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$625 PEN 2,193

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,185 PEN 7,671

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,328 PEN 4,662

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 PEN 2,192

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 Tarapoto: April 28, 2026

Last update for Lima: April 27, 2026

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

Tarapoto vs Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tarapoto and Lima differ by about 3048% in total monthly costs ($31.71 vs $998 including rent). Tarapoto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $47.57 in Tarapoto and $1,498 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.

At $31.71 in Tarapoto versus $998 in Lima, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tarapoto but tight or insufficient in Lima. The gap between the two cities makes Tarapoto 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, Tarapoto 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 Tarapoto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3048% less than in Lima. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.