Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Toronto and Arequipa

For one person, living is cheaper in Arequipa: $719 a month against $2,530 in Toronto, rent and utilities included – about $21,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Toronto
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,530
/mo nomad
Arequipa
🇵🇪 Peru
$719
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Toronto and in Arequipa

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

A single person spends $2,530 per month in Toronto vs $719 in Arequipa, rent included.

  • Toronto $2,530
  • Arequipa $719

A couple spends around $3,646 per month in Toronto vs $1,114 in Arequipa, rent included.

  • Toronto $3,646
  • Arequipa $1,114

A family of three spends $4,761 per month in Toronto vs $1,510 in Arequipa, rent included.

  • Toronto $4,761
  • Arequipa $1,510

Toronto costs about 252% more than Arequipa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Toronto sits 89% above the global median, while Arequipa is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Arequipa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.67 CA$25.13
$3.41 PEN 11.73
418.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.4 CA$110
$27.27 PEN 93.8
183.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 CA$14.90
$5.68 PEN 19.53
84.33%
Cappuccino
$4.08 CA$5.80
$2.47 PEN 8.48
65.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$3.01
$0.82 PEN 2.82
158.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 CA$2.50
$0.38 PEN 1.32
363.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.17 CA$8.78
$2.07 PEN 7.12
198.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.89 CA$9.80
$4.40 PEN 15.13
56.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Arequipa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.43 CA$3.46
$1.33 PEN 4.59
82.71%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 CA$3.91
$1.36 PEN 4.69
102.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 CA$3.17
$1.52 PEN 5.22
46.71%
Eggs
$3.45 CA$4.90
$2.25 PEN 7.75
53.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.93 CA$12.71
$6.39 PEN 21.97
39.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.44 CA$16.27
$4.37 PEN 15.04
161.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.61 CA$20.78
$7.48 PEN 25.74
95.32%
Apples (1kg)
$3.75 CA$5.33
$1.77 PEN 6.09
111.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 CA$1.63
$1.22 PEN 4.20
-5.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.55 CA$5.05
$1.13 PEN 3.90
214.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 CA$6.09
$1.03 PEN 3.53
315.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 CA$2.62
$0.64 PEN 2.20
189.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 CA$2.37
$0.67 PEN 2.31
149.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 CA$3.15
$0.54 PEN 1.87
311.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 CA$1.72
$0.76 PEN 2.61
59.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.88 CA$19.74
$5.18 PEN 17.82
167.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 CA$20.27
$5.04 PEN 17.32
182.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 CA$3.12
$2.72 PEN 9.37
-19.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 CA$3.44
$2.20 PEN 7.58
10.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Arequipa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.42 CA$3.44
$0.28 PEN 0.95
764.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$111 CA$158
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.90 CA$4.12
$2.01 PEN 6.90
44.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 CA$1.79
$1.97 PEN 6.78
-36.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.03 CA$31.33
$13.00 PEN 44.70
69.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 CA$1.74
$1.53 PEN 5.28
-20.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K CA$39.3K
$19.2K PEN 65.9K
44.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K CA$28.2K
$25.0K PEN 86.1K
-20.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Arequipa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 CA$173
$24.05 PEN 82.7
406.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.03 CA$45.56
$10.15 PEN 34.91
215.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.92 CA$68.2
$23.01 PEN 79.2
108.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Arequipa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.90 CA$55.3
$25.05 PEN 86.2
55.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.24 CA$33.05
$8.13 PEN 27.97
185.85%
Cinema Ticket
$12.61 CA$17.94
$7.41 PEN 25.48
70.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Arequipa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$834 CA$1,186
$74.8 PEN 257
1015.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K CA$33.2K
$6,596 PEN 22.7K
253.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Arequipa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 CA$74.8
$48.85 PEN 168
7.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.26 CA$57.3
$26.46 PEN 91.0
52.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 CA$137
$68.0 PEN 234
41.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 CA$175
$57.3 PEN 197
114.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Arequipa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 CA$2,273
$354 PEN 1,217
351.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,435 CA$2,041
$236 PEN 812
508.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,657 CA$3,779
$714 PEN 2,458
271.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 CA$2,981
$418 PEN 1,436
402.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,033 CA$11.4K
$1,991 PEN 6,847
303.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,557 CA$9,327
$974 PEN 3,351
573.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Arequipa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,743 CA$5,324
$617 PEN 2,122
506.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.47
15
-70.20%

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

Last update for Toronto: October 4, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Toronto
$1.4K
Arequipa
$236 83.6% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Toronto
$340
Arequipa
$174 48.8% $166
Eating Out
Toronto
$282
Arequipa
$98 65.3% $184
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
$202
Arequipa
$57 71.7% $145
Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
$140
Arequipa
$90 35.7% $50
Getting Around
Toronto
$130
Arequipa
$13 * 90% $117
Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
$64
Arequipa
$40 37.8% $24

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,598 in Toronto versus $354 in Arequipa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 507% higher in Toronto, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Toronto versus $27.00 in Arequipa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $174 – making Arequipa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Toronto
🇵🇪 Arequipa
🕒 Local time
03:11 3:11 AM
02:11 2:11 AM
1 h behind Toronto
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,731,571
17,062
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PEN, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.703 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.627 EUR).

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3.44 PEN (1 PEN = 0.291 USD). 1 EUR = 3.86 PEN (1 PEN = 0.259 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Toronto Arequipa 6,730 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Toronto
  • Arequipa

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
Toronto vs Arequipa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Toronto or Arequipa?
Toronto costs about 252% more than Arequipa, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Toronto and in Arequipa?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,795 per month in Toronto and $1,078 in Arequipa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Toronto or Arequipa?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Arequipa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Toronto and in Arequipa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Toronto and $27.00 in Arequipa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Toronto or in Arequipa?
Groceries cost about 95% more in Toronto, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Toronto or in Arequipa?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Arequipa, where all-in costs run around $719, than in Toronto at $2,530. In Arequipa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Toronto it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Toronto or Arequipa?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Arequipa costs $719 versus $2,530 in Toronto. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Toronto compared to Arequipa?
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.
Should I move to Toronto or to Arequipa?
If budget matters most, go with Arequipa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Toronto makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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