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 $2,642 per month in United States vs $421 in Peru, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,857 per month in United States vs $669 in Peru, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,072 per month in United States vs $916 in Peru, rent included.

The cost of living in United States is about 528% higher than in Peru on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 98% above the global median, while Peru is 68% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.63 $19.63

$4.21 PEN 14.26

366.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$75.4 $75.4

$27.85 PEN 94.4

170.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.57 $11.57

$6.21 PEN 21.06

86.31%

Cappuccino

$5.22 $5.22

$2.54 PEN 8.62

105.51%

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

$2.49 $2.49

$0.84 PEN 2.86

196.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$0.55 PEN 1.87

274.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.91 $5.91

$2.19 PEN 7.44

169.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.13 $7.13

$3.81 PEN 12.93

87.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.38 PEN 4.69

-21.01%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 $3.56

$2.42 PEN 8.20

47.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$1.25 PEN 4.23

279.20%

Eggs

$4.34 $4.34

$2.67 PEN 9.05

62.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.68 $12.68

$6.96 PEN 23.59

82.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.28 $12.28

$5.23 PEN 17.71

134.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.60 $16.60

$8.82 PEN 29.89

88.21%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$1.81 PEN 6.12

185.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.02 PEN 3.47

66.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$1.00 PEN 3.39

345.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.80 $4.80

$1.10 PEN 3.73

336.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$0.90 PEN 3.05

225.56%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$0.88 PEN 2.97

251.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$0.77 PEN 2.60

188.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$0.80 PEN 2.72

181.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.90 $9.90

$5.68 PEN 19.24

74.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.28 $15.28

$8.00 PEN 27.10

91.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.76 PEN 5.98

8.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.65 PEN 8.98

35.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 $2.46

$0.57 PEN 1.94

331.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.6 $64.6

$16.79 PEN 56.9

284.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.77 $3.77

$2.20 PEN 7.45

71.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.87 PEN 6.33

-8.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.08 $30.08

$5.59 PEN 18.93

438.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.35 PEN 4.57

-28.89%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$20.6K PEN 69.9K

44.88%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.2K PEN 82.2K

7.86%

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

$210 $210

$46.51 PEN 158

351.77%

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

$56.3 $56.3

$12.09 PEN 40.97

365.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.9 $72.9

$25.31 PEN 85.8

187.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.39 $45.39

$29.95 PEN 102

51.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.60 $21.60

$16.52 PEN 56.0

30.75%

Cinema Ticket

$14.04 $14.04

$5.59 PEN 18.94

151.16%

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

$1,377 $1,377

$169 PEN 574

714.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$5,627 PEN 19.1K

297.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.7 $52.7

$48.01 PEN 163

9.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.41 $42.41

$31.35 PEN 106

35.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.8 $91.8

$82.2 PEN 279

11.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$76.8 PEN 260

47.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,765 $1,765

$479 PEN 1,623

268.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,462 $1,462

$272 PEN 922

437.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,849 $2,849

$835 PEN 2,831

241.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,369 $2,369

$486 PEN 1,648

387.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,364 $3,364

$2,181 PEN 7,395

54.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,665 $2,665

$1,224 PEN 4,150

117.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,378 $4,378

$578 PEN 1,959

657.67%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Peru: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,635 in United States vs $142 in Peru. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,625 in Washington, MI and $623 in Lima.

Average salary: $4,500 in United States vs $533 in Peru. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1051% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 329% more in United States.

Public transport is 525% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 744% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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 524% 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 524% 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.