Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Peru Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Peru

Name: Peru
Address: PE

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,643 per month in United States vs $423 in Peru, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,857 per month in United States vs $670 in Peru, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,070 per month in United States vs $917 in Peru, rent included.

United States costs about 525% more than Peru on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 97% above the global median, while Peru is 68% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.04 $20.04

$4.24 PEN 14.43

372.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$27.35 PEN 93.1

177.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.42 $11.42

$6.04 PEN 20.56

89.07%

Cappuccino

$5.39 $5.39

$2.66 PEN 9.06

102.63%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$0.83 PEN 2.84

207.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.52 PEN 1.77

292.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 $6.14

$2.16 PEN 7.34

184.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 $7.18

$3.81 PEN 12.97

88.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.39 PEN 4.72

-25.18%

White Bread (500g)

$3.65 $3.65

$2.46 PEN 8.37

48.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$1.30 PEN 4.42

263.85%

Eggs

$4.38 $4.38

$2.67 PEN 9.10

64.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 $12.76

$7.03 PEN 23.92

81.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$5.53 PEN 18.80

124.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$9.14 PEN 31.10

79.54%

Apples (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$1.75 PEN 5.94

209.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.02 PEN 3.46

61.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$1.01 PEN 3.43

354.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$1.09 PEN 3.70

350.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$0.96 PEN 3.26

204.17%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$0.89 PEN 3.04

251.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 $2.26

$0.72 PEN 2.46

213.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$0.77 PEN 2.61

198.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.89 $9.89

$5.66 PEN 19.24

74.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.10 $15.10

$7.68 PEN 26.13

96.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.85 PEN 6.29

3.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 $3.66

$2.66 PEN 9.05

37.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.58 PEN 1.98

327.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.8 $64.8

$16.93 PEN 57.6

282.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.84 $3.84

$2.25 PEN 7.64

70.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.85 PEN 6.29

-4.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.58 $30.58

$5.41 PEN 18.40

465.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.35 PEN 4.58

-28.89%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$20.3K PEN 69.1K

50.00%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$24.6K PEN 83.8K

7.09%

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

$204 $204

$47.97 PEN 163

325.62%

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

$57.3 $57.3

$12.27 PEN 41.75

366.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 $71.2

$25.91 PEN 88.2

174.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.67 $46.67

$29.93 PEN 102

55.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.12 $22.12

$16.31 PEN 55.5

35.62%

Cinema Ticket

$13.84 $13.84

$5.48 PEN 18.65

152.55%

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

$1,384 $1,384

$166 PEN 565

733.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K $22.7K

$5,590 PEN 19.0K

306.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 $53.0

$47.41 PEN 161

11.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.17 $43.17

$30.38 PEN 103

42.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 $90.6

$83.3 PEN 283

8.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$77.4 PEN 263

47.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,766 $1,766

$477 PEN 1,622

270.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,459 $1,459

$272 PEN 926

436.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,832 $2,832

$814 PEN 2,771

247.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,411 $2,411

$485 PEN 1,651

396.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,287 $3,287

$2,182 PEN 7,423

50.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$1,204 PEN 4,097

120.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,379 $4,379

$577 PEN 1,963

658.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

10.63

-38.76%

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

Last update for United States: May 30, 2026

Last update for Peru: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,637 in United States vs $142 in Peru. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,591 in Washington, DC and $606 in Lima.

Average salary: $4,500 in United States vs $536 in Peru. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1053% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 329% more in United States.

Public transport is 525% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 740% higher in United States, giving United States stronger purchasing power.

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

United States vs Peru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Peru is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 507% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Peru, contributing to the overall 507% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Peru, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Peru is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.