Cost of Living in Peru - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Peru
Address: PE

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends around $423 per month with rent on average across Peru.

A couple spends around $670 per month with rent on average across Peru.

A family of three spends around $917 per month with rent on average across Peru.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.24 PEN 14.43

$2.26 PEN 7.68

$7.06 PEN 24.01

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.35 PEN 93.1

$16.41 PEN 55.8

$54.7 PEN 186

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.04 PEN 20.56

$5.50 PEN 18.71

$7.97 PEN 27.12

Cappuccino

$2.66 PEN 9.06

$1.41 PEN 4.81

$4.24 PEN 14.43

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

$0.83 PEN 2.84

$0.66 PEN 2.25

$1.86 PEN 6.33

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 PEN 1.77

$0.41 PEN 1.40

$1.36 PEN 4.63

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 PEN 7.34

$1.35 PEN 4.60

$4.05 PEN 13.79

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 PEN 12.97

$2.72 PEN 9.27

$5.99 PEN 20.37

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 PEN 4.72

$0.98 PEN 3.34

$1.96 PEN 6.68

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 PEN 8.37

$0.85 PEN 2.90

$4.28 PEN 14.55

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PEN 4.42

$0.85 PEN 2.89

$1.85 PEN 6.30

Eggs

$2.67 PEN 9.10

$1.40 PEN 4.77

$4.37 PEN 14.86

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.03 PEN 23.92

$2.79 PEN 9.50

$19.53 PEN 66.4

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.53 PEN 18.80

$2.86 PEN 9.71

$8.56 PEN 29.11

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.14 PEN 31.10

$4.79 PEN 16.29

$14.09 PEN 47.94

Apples (1kg)

$1.75 PEN 5.94

$0.81 PEN 2.77

$2.73 PEN 9.28

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 PEN 3.46

$0.57 PEN 1.94

$1.97 PEN 6.71

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.43

$0.28 PEN 0.94

$1.92 PEN 6.53

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 PEN 3.70

$0.54 PEN 1.85

$1.79 PEN 6.08

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 PEN 3.26

$0.43 PEN 1.47

$1.72 PEN 5.85

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 PEN 3.04

$0.49 PEN 1.67

$1.64 PEN 5.58

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 PEN 2.46

$0.41 PEN 1.40

$1.63 PEN 5.56

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 PEN 2.61

$0.49 PEN 1.65

$1.35 PEN 4.60

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.66 PEN 19.24

$4.52 PEN 15.37

$8.47 PEN 28.83

Wine (Bottle)

$7.68 PEN 26.13

$4.73 PEN 16.09

$13.28 PEN 45.18

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 PEN 6.29

$1.14 PEN 3.88

$2.86 PEN 9.71

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 PEN 9.05

$1.49 PEN 5.07

$4.06 PEN 13.82

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 PEN 1.98

$0.29 PEN 0.99

$1.01 PEN 3.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.93 PEN 57.6

$8.46 PEN 28.78

$42.92 PEN 146

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 PEN 7.64

$1.41 PEN 4.78

$4.49 PEN 15.28

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 PEN 6.29

$0.82 PEN 2.79

$2.65 PEN 9.01

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.41 PEN 18.40

$4.06 PEN 13.80

$10.81 PEN 36.78

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.58

$1.11 PEN 3.77

$1.79 PEN 6.10

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

$20.3K PEN 69.1K

$18.1K PEN 61.6K

$23.7K PEN 80.5K

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

$24.6K PEN 83.8K

$22.5K PEN 76.4K

$28.3K PEN 96.2K

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

$47.97 PEN 163

$28.13 PEN 95.7

$99.6 PEN 339

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

$12.27 PEN 41.75

$8.38 PEN 28.51

$19.56 PEN 66.5

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.91 PEN 88.2

$19.70 PEN 67.0

$42.26 PEN 144

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.93 PEN 102

$22.06 PEN 75.1

$41.36 PEN 141

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.31 PEN 55.5

$7.84 PEN 26.67

$27.22 PEN 92.6

Cinema Ticket

$5.48 PEN 18.65

$4.11 PEN 13.99

$9.58 PEN 32.60

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

$166 PEN 565

$82.6 PEN 281

$413 PEN 1,405

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,590 PEN 19.0K

$2,238 PEN 7,614

$10.1K PEN 34.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.41 PEN 161

$27.50 PEN 93.6

$82.5 PEN 281

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.38 PEN 103

$16.36 PEN 55.7

$49.08 PEN 167

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.3 PEN 283

$39.58 PEN 135

$112 PEN 382

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.4 PEN 263

$41.51 PEN 141

$111 PEN 377

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 PEN 1,622

$195 PEN 664

$837 PEN 2,846

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 PEN 926

$140 PEN 477

$504 PEN 1,716

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$814 PEN 2,771

$441 PEN 1,501

$1,379 PEN 4,691

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$485 PEN 1,651

$334 PEN 1,135

$901 PEN 3,066

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,182 PEN 7,423

$1,677 PEN 5,705

$2,745 PEN 9,338

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,204 PEN 4,097

$882 PEN 3,002

$2,921 PEN 9,937

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$577 PEN 1,963

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.63

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

Last update: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

The average net salary across Peru is $536 – enough to cover average monthly costs of $423, but with limited room for savings. Margins vary widely by city.

Groceries average around $119 per month nationally. A mid-range dinner for two costs about $17.00.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($423) is 68% below the global median of $1,340.

Average rent ($142) is 77% below the global median of $627.

Dining out ($17.00) is 65% below the global median of $48.00.

Public transport ($4.00) is 88% below the global median of $33.00.

By City in Peru

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Arequipa	17062	32	$428	$649	$1,162	$1,482	45.85	369.92
2	Ayacucho	99427		$121	$110	$295	$272	15.21	175.23
3	Cajamarca	218741	33	$547	$649	$1,280	$1,547	56.49	203.84
4	Cerro de Pasco	58899	26	$398	$514	$972	$1,157	164.13	230.43
5	Chachapoyas	7273						205.26	240.64
6	Chiclayo	60325	37	$598	$751	$1,538	$1,765	32.38	322.3
7	Chimbote	206213		$16.02	$18.57	$34.61	$38.91	17.27	217.6
8	Cusco	428450	38	$507	$747	$998	$1,596	150.86	308.9
9	Huancayo	27552	24	$450	$476	$1,236	$1,133	149.68	327.35
10	Huánuco	89502		$76.7	$112	$274	$290	106.33	228.89
11	Huaraz	15169		$96.7	$113	$278	$266	82.69	100.91
12	Iquitos	32853		$300	$641	$1,048	$1,661	96.67	46.38
13	La Merced	8000	26	$505	$525	$1,039	$1,223	-	-
14	Lima	9989369	49	$527	$985	$1,488	$2,089	303.43	326.15
15	Mancora	2791						85.73	48.64
16	Miraflores	99337	53	$474	$1,058	$1,063	$1,312	68.46	346.96
17	Moquegua	18861		$9.32	$10.10	$13.21	$15.61	356.91	258.33
18	Pisco	14917	26	$457	$530	$1,073	$1,114	44.44	155.54
19	Piura	158495	31	$443	$623	$1,148	$1,446	193	292.83
20	Pucallpa	326040		$388	$447	$850	$1,058	44.06	117.74
21	Tacna	92972		$290	$345	$525	$571	102.41	234.7
22	Talara	91444		$25.75	$27.61	$148	$345	129.21	214.43
23	Tarapoto	68295		$35.75	$30.87	$71.9	$67.3	225.47	243.8
24	Trujillo	314939	39	$439	$784	$933	$1,557	126.64	342.08

Peru Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Peru - Frequently Asked Questions

Peru often feels like strong value for travelers, expats, and digital nomads, especially if you prioritize local options over tourist hubs. Cost of Living in Peru can be noticeably lower when you shop at markets, cook at home, and choose housing in noncentral neighborhoods. You'll find a range from basic, well-connected apartments to modern flats with amenities, often at a fraction of Western rents. Public transport is generally affordable, and food – from mercados to casual eateries – stays wallet-friendly. Tourist-season spikes exist, so timing matters for bookings and short-term stays. Overall, the pace and mix of urban life offer comfort without the sticker shock you might expect. Tip: Map a two-trip monthly plan that aligns work and exploration.

Daily life centers on a blend of affordability and variety. In housing, you'll find furnished options in safer areas of major cities and quieter neighborhoods on the outskirts, with rental terms ranging from short stays to longer leases. Food options are rich and accessible, from markets selling fresh produce to casual eateries offering regional dishes; cooking at home stretches your budget. Transport is practical and budget-friendly: buses, colectivos, and metro networks cover core routes, with rideshares as a backup. Everyday errands like banking and healthcare are straightforward in urban cores, while more remote towns require planning. Peru living cost varies by city, so test a neighborhood before you commit. Tip: Spend a week living in different areas to compare amenities and pace before signing a longer lease.

Quality of life in Peru hinges on access to reliable services, safety, climate that suits you, and a neighborhood that matches your rhythm. Use a simple budgeting framework: cover essentials first, then discretionary spending, with a buffer for travel. Seasonality matters: coastal cities stay mild year-round, while Andean highlands can swing with rain or cold nights; tourist areas tighten up in peak season and ease off in shoulder months. To pick a district, align daily tasks with transit lines, markets, and coworking spaces; test-drive a few blocks by foot and walk the routes you’ll actually use. Tip: Build a flexible plan that prioritizes safety, reliable connectivity, and easy access to the things you value most.

Peru is affordable by global standards, though costs vary a lot by region. Smaller cities and rural areas are genuinely cheap, while capitals and tourist spots are pricier – but still below international averages for similar quality.

Rent in Peru varies a lot – Lima has the highest prices, and the gap between capital and provincial rents can be 50% or more. Choosing which city to live in is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make.

Absolutely – in smaller cities across Peru, $800 covers rent and daily expenses with room to spare for eating out, entertainment, and saving. Even mid-sized cities work at this budget level.