Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between The Dalles, OR and Lima

For one person, living is cheaper in Lima: $1,014 a month against $2,611 in The Dalles, OR, rent and utilities included – about $19,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

The Dalles, OR
🇺🇸 United States
$2,611
/mo nomad
Lima
🇵🇪 Peru
$1,014
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in The Dalles, OR and in Lima

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in The Dalles, OR and in Lima actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,611 in The Dalles, OR versus $1,014 in Lima.

  • The Dalles, OR $2,611
  • Lima $1,014

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,793 in The Dalles, OR versus $1,613 in Lima.

  • The Dalles, OR $3,793
  • Lima $1,613

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,974 in The Dalles, OR versus $2,211 in Lima.

  • The Dalles, OR $4,974
  • Lima $2,211

Living in The Dalles, OR is roughly 157% more expensive than in Lima, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: The Dalles, OR is 93% above, Lima is 25% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
The Dalles, OR
Lima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.07 $20.07
$4.42 PEN 15.19
354.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$96.8 $96.8
$34.56 PEN 119
180.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.96 $11.96
$6.80 PEN 23.37
75.88%
Cappuccino
$4.60 $4.60
$3.30 PEN 11.34
39.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$1.06 PEN 3.64
130.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$0.66 PEN 2.26
219.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.04 $5.04
$2.54 PEN 8.71
98.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.90 $6.90
$4.24 PEN 14.55
62.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
The Dalles, OR
Lima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.58 PEN 5.43
-34.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.61 PEN 8.97
24.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.11 $4.11
$1.34 PEN 4.60
206.72%
Eggs
$2.95 $2.95
$2.93 PEN 10.08
0.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.43 $14.43
$9.45 PEN 32.45
52.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.55 $13.55
$5.75 PEN 19.75
135.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 $10.94
$9.69 PEN 33.29
12.90%
Apples (1kg)
$4.80 $4.80
$2.02 PEN 6.95
137.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.07 PEN 3.66
61.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.93 $3.93
$1.37 PEN 4.70
186.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.00 $4.00
$1.47 PEN 5.05
172.11%
Potato (1kg)
$2.99 $2.99
$0.95 PEN 3.25
214.74%
Onion (1kg)
$3.27 $3.27
$0.91 PEN 3.14
259.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86 $1.86
$0.90 PEN 3.10
106.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.89 PEN 3.04
130.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.25 $11.25
$5.74 PEN 19.71
95.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.22 $15.22
$9.21 PEN 31.64
65.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.84 PEN 6.31
-11.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$3.11 PEN 10.67
-6.11%
🚌 Getting Around
The Dalles, OR
Lima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$0.72 PEN 2.46
169.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.93 $44.93
$26.03 PEN 89.4
72.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.48 $3.48
$3.54 PEN 12.17
-1.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.20 $2.20
$2.07 PEN 7.12
6.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$49.48 $49.48
$7.75 PEN 26.62
538.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 $1.30
$1.71 PEN 5.86
-23.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$21.6K PEN 74.1K
18.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K $24.7K
$28.6K PEN 98.2K
-13.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Dalles, OR
Lima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$68.2 PEN 234
175.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.8 $59.8
$15.73 PEN 54.0
280.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.7 $68.7
$26.48 PEN 90.9
159.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
The Dalles, OR
Lima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.77 $41.77
$33.94 PEN 117
23.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$20.10 PEN 69.0
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.83 $11.83
$7.22 PEN 24.80
63.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
The Dalles, OR
Lima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$987 $987
$201 PEN 689
391.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K $16.3K
$12.9K PEN 44.3K
25.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
The Dalles, OR
Lima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.22 $40.22
$53.7 PEN 184
-25.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.38 $34.38
$35.88 PEN 123
-4.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.1 $60.1
$83.8 PEN 288
-28.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.5 $81.5
$78.8 PEN 271
3.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
The Dalles, OR
Lima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,612 $1,612
$729 PEN 2,505
121.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,379 $1,379
$349 PEN 1,197
295.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,526 $2,526
$1,186 PEN 4,073
112.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,143 $2,143
$696 PEN 2,391
207.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,021 $3,021
$2,360 PEN 8,105
28.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,708 $2,708
$1,356 PEN 4,657
99.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
The Dalles, OR
Lima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,789 $3,789
$663 PEN 2,278
471.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
8.78
-24.94%

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

Last update for The Dalles, OR: October 17, 2026

Last update for Lima: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
The Dalles, OR
$1.4K
Lima
$349 74.7% $1K
Groceries & Markets
The Dalles, OR
$377
Lima
$227 39.8% $150
Monthly Utilities & Internet
The Dalles, OR
$316
Lima
$110 65.1% $206
Eating Out
The Dalles, OR
$309
Lima
$123 60% $185
Clothing & Footwear
The Dalles, OR
$97
Lima
$113 16.7% $16
Getting Around
The Dalles, OR
$67
Lima
$43 36.3% $24
Sport & Entertainment
The Dalles, OR
$65
Lima
$48 26.1% $17

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in The Dalles, OR and $729 in Lima. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

The Dalles, OR pays 471% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $97.0 in The Dalles, OR vs $35.00 in Lima for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $227 per month, with Lima cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 The Dalles, OR
🇵🇪 Lima
🕒 Local time
12:59 12:59 PM
14:59 2:59 PM
2 h ahead of The Dalles, OR
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
13,783
9,989,369 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PEN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3.43 PEN (1 PEN = 0.291 USD). 1 EUR = 3.86 PEN (1 PEN = 0.259 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • The Dalles, OR Lima 7,790 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • The Dalles, OR
  • Lima

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
The Dalles, OR vs Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in The Dalles, OR and in Lima?
The Dalles, OR and Lima differ by about 157% in total monthly costs ($2,611 vs $1,014 including rent). Lima is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: The Dalles, OR or Lima?
Average pay runs 471% higher in The Dalles, OR, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in The Dalles, OR and in Lima?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in The Dalles, OR versus $729 in Lima. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between The Dalles, OR and Lima?
Childcare runs $987 in The Dalles, OR versus $201 in Lima. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 66% higher in The Dalles, OR. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,014 in Lima versus $2,611 in The Dalles, OR, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lima but tight or insufficient in The Dalles, OR. The gap between the two cities makes Lima the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between The Dalles, OR 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.
Where should expats move: The Dalles, OR or Lima?
Expats usually find Lima gentler on the wallet – expenses run 157% less than in The Dalles, OR. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

The Dalles, OR vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?