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 $2,626 per month in United States vs $506 in Peru, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,830 per month in United States vs $792 in Peru, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,034 per month in United States vs $1,078 in Peru, rent included.

The cost of living in United States is about 419% higher than in Peru on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 92% above the global median, while Peru is 63% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.38 $20.38

$3.48 PEN 11.67

485.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.0 $79.0

$29.90 PEN 100

164.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.78 $11.78

$6.63 PEN 22.24

77.68%

Cappuccino

$5.42 $5.42

$3.18 PEN 10.67

70.44%

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

$2.75 $2.75

$0.96 PEN 3.22

186.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$0.56 PEN 1.89

287.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.35 PEN 7.88

149.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.03 $8.03

$3.53 PEN 11.83

127.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.54 PEN 5.17

-32.47%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 $3.56

$2.41 PEN 8.08

47.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.70 $4.70

$1.33 PEN 4.46

253.38%

Eggs

$4.26 $4.26

$2.77 PEN 9.28

53.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.21 $13.21

$8.07 PEN 27.06

63.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$5.96 PEN 19.98

108.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.49 $17.49

$9.21 PEN 30.87

89.90%

Apples (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$1.78 PEN 5.96

192.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.06 PEN 3.54

55.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$1.21 PEN 4.05

269.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.86 $4.86

$1.28 PEN 4.31

279.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$0.96 PEN 3.21

197.92%

Onion (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$0.88 PEN 2.95

253.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 $2.22

$0.83 PEN 2.79

167.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$0.87 PEN 2.91

168.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.41 $10.41

$5.79 PEN 19.41

79.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 $15.23

$7.86 PEN 26.36

93.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.05 PEN 6.86

3.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$2.94 PEN 9.85

27.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.44 $2.44

$0.63 PEN 2.10

287.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.2 $65.2

$24.23 PEN 81.2

168.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.42 PEN 8.10

42.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.14 PEN 7.17

-11.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.70 $29.70

$5.91 PEN 19.82

402.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.56 PEN 5.23

-33.97%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$22.2K PEN 74.3K

61.59%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$25.5K PEN 85.3K

1.61%

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

$222 $222

$55.4 PEN 186

301.37%

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

$62.6 $62.6

$14.12 PEN 47.33

343.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.6 $74.6

$26.52 PEN 88.9

181.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.12 $45.12

$31.03 PEN 104

45.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.13 $23.13

$17.90 PEN 60.0

29.22%

Cinema Ticket

$15.27 $15.27

$5.92 PEN 19.84

157.94%

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

$1,474 $1,474

$162 PEN 544

808.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.0K $25.0K

$11.6K PEN 38.8K

115.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 $54.1

$51.1 PEN 171

5.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.55 $42.55

$30.22 PEN 101

40.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.4 $91.4

$76.1 PEN 255

20.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$71.8 PEN 241

59.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,636 $1,636

$499 PEN 1,673

227.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,367 $1,367

$256 PEN 859

433.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,701 $2,701

$874 PEN 2,930

209.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,239 $2,239

$479 PEN 1,605

367.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,267 $3,267

$2,253 PEN 7,554

44.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,651 $2,651

$1,239 PEN 4,155

113.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,317 $4,317

$586 PEN 1,963

637.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.22

9.6

-35.21%

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

Last update for United States: September 13, 2026

Last update for Peru: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,610 in United States vs $197 in Peru. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,358 in Columbia, TN and $764 in Lima.

Average salary: $4,521 in United States vs $544 in Peru. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 717% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 241% more in United States.

Public transport is 238% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 731% 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 441% 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 441% 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.