Last update: Oct 2026 33.7M

Cost of Living in Peru

Name: Peru
Address: PE

Across Peru, living costs for one person average $878 a month, including rent and utilities, which take more than a third of the total. Other living expenses average about $18 a day.

Compare Destinations Jump to prices

🇵🇪 Peru

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Peru

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

A single person spends around $878 per month with rent on average in Peru.

$878 /mo

A couple spends around $1,380 per month with rent on average in Peru.

$1,380 /mo

A family of three spends around $1,883 per month with rent on average in Peru.

$1,883 /mo

Across 24 cities in Peru, monthly living costs range from $20 to $1,108 – a $1,088 difference that makes location a key factor.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 PEN 12.16

$2.34 PEN 8.11

$7.31 PEN 25.34

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.65 PEN 95.8

$14.55 PEN 50.4

$50.9 PEN 177

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.21 PEN 21.51

$5.64 PEN 19.56

$7.09 PEN 24.58

Cappuccino

$3.15 PEN 10.92

$1.79 PEN 6.21

$4.48 PEN 15.53

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

$0.96 PEN 3.31

$0.70 PEN 2.41

$1.51 PEN 5.22

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 PEN 1.78

$0.43 PEN 1.47

$0.84 PEN 2.91

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 PEN 7.90

$1.42 PEN 4.94

$4.84 PEN 16.78

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 PEN 12.33

$2.96 PEN 10.27

$5.93 PEN 20.54

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 PEN 5.09

$1.01 PEN 3.51

$2.02 PEN 6.98

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 PEN 7.97

$1.00 PEN 3.46

$3.84 PEN 13.30

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 PEN 4.77

$1.04 PEN 3.61

$1.77 PEN 6.15

Eggs

$2.63 PEN 9.12

$1.43 PEN 4.95

$4.08 PEN 14.15

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 PEN 28.71

$3.81 PEN 13.22

$14.67 PEN 50.8

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.71 PEN 19.79

$2.94 PEN 10.17

$9.69 PEN 33.58

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.04 PEN 31.34

$5.19 PEN 18.00

$12.66 PEN 43.89

Apples (1kg)

$1.77 PEN 6.15

$0.86 PEN 2.99

$2.87 PEN 9.96

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 PEN 3.78

$0.60 PEN 2.07

$1.79 PEN 6.20

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.53

$0.44 PEN 1.53

$2.99 PEN 10.35

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 PEN 4.21

$0.57 PEN 1.97

$1.88 PEN 6.52

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 PEN 3.08

$0.28 PEN 0.97

$1.40 PEN 4.86

Onion (1kg)

$0.86 PEN 2.97

$0.51 PEN 1.75

$1.41 PEN 4.89

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 PEN 2.67

$0.43 PEN 1.50

$1.43 PEN 4.95

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 PEN 2.92

$0.56 PEN 1.95

$1.12 PEN 3.90

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.63 PEN 19.50

$4.22 PEN 14.63

$7.03 PEN 24.38

Wine (Bottle)

$7.65 PEN 26.53

$4.54 PEN 15.72

$12.76 PEN 44.21

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 PEN 6.91

$1.48 PEN 5.11

$2.95 PEN 10.23

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 PEN 10.48

$1.63 PEN 5.64

$4.43 PEN 15.34

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 PEN 2.10

$0.46 PEN 1.60

$1.05 PEN 3.63

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.39 PEN 94.9

$17.18 PEN 59.6

$39.49 PEN 137

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 PEN 8.10

$1.75 PEN 6.07

$5.84 PEN 20.24

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 PEN 7.11

$1.47 PEN 5.08

$2.93 PEN 10.16

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.01 PEN 24.30

$5.13 PEN 17.79

$9.98 PEN 34.60

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.64 PEN 5.69

$1.20 PEN 4.17

$1.74 PEN 6.04

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

$22.1K PEN 76.7K

$20.4K PEN 70.8K

$30.9K PEN 107.2K

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

$27.6K PEN 95.8K

$24.1K PEN 83.4K

$32.7K PEN 113.3K

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

$54.9 PEN 190

$29.25 PEN 101

$117 PEN 405

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

$13.37 PEN 46.33

$8.28 PEN 28.69

$25.67 PEN 89.0

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.55 PEN 88.6

$17.44 PEN 60.4

$43.60 PEN 151

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.24 PEN 108

$20.15 PEN 69.9

$43.19 PEN 150

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.62 PEN 57.6

$7.23 PEN 25.06

$28.93 PEN 100

Cinema Ticket

$5.93 PEN 20.56

$4.45 PEN 15.42

$8.90 PEN 30.84

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

$207 PEN 719

$87.3 PEN 303

$785 PEN 2,723

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K PEN 38.7K

$5,325 PEN 18.5K

$16.1K PEN 55.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.87 PEN 173

$22.89 PEN 79.4

$83.0 PEN 288

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.02 PEN 104

$14.25 PEN 49.40

$54.2 PEN 188

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.2 PEN 250

$34.70 PEN 120

$116 PEN 401

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 PEN 246

$34.76 PEN 120

$87.9 PEN 305

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$514 PEN 1,782

$221 PEN 767

$847 PEN 2,937

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 PEN 967

$146 PEN 507

$497 PEN 1,723

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$899 PEN 3,118

$463 PEN 1,606

$1,465 PEN 5,078

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$536 PEN 1,856

$349 PEN 1,210

$952 PEN 3,301

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,247 PEN 7,787

$1,781 PEN 6,173

$2,715 PEN 9,410

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,310 PEN 4,542

$1,009 PEN 3,498

$2,883 PEN 9,994

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$575 PEN 1,993

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.66

7.41

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

Last update: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Peru $878

Accommodation & Living

$279 31.8%

Groceries & Markets

$210 23.9%

Eating Out

$109 12.4%

Clothing & Footwear

$100 11.4%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

$94 10.7%

Sport & Entertainment

$43 4.9%

Getting Around

$42 4.8%

Cost Breakdown

The average net salary in Peru is $522 – below average monthly costs of $878. Many locals rely on dual incomes or shared housing. Remote workers earning abroad find strong purchasing power here.

Groceries average around $178 per month nationally. A mid-range dinner for two costs about $27.

Most affordable: Chimbote at $20 per month. The capital, Lima, sits at $1,045. Across the country, monthly costs span roughly $1,088 between the cheapest and priciest cities.

Cost Highlights

Overall cost of living ($878) is 36% below the global median of $1,361.

Average rent ($339) is 49% below the global median of $661.

Dinner for two at a restaurant ($27) is 44% below the global median of $48.

Public transport ($25) is 24% below the global median of $33.

Good to know

🕒 Local time

21:46 9:46 PM

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

33,726,000

💱 Currency

Peruvian Sol PEN S/

📈 Exchange rate

1 PEN = 0.289 USD

1 PEN = 0.258 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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	34	$449	$705	$1,083	$1,519	45.85	369.92
2	Ayacucho	99427	23	$386	$474	$826	$1,058	15.21	175.23
3	Cajamarca	218741	34	$534	$706	$1,290	$1,664	56.49	203.84
4	Cerro de Pasco	58899	26	$479	$547	$1,150	$1,218	164.13	230.43
5	Chachapoyas	7273						205.26	240.64
6	Chiclayo	60325	48	$799	$998	$1,867	$2,170	32.38	322.3
7	Chimbote	206213		$19.70	$19.70	$41.21	$41.21	17.27	217.6
8	Cusco	428450	33	$469	$690	$1,064	$1,519	150.86	308.9
9	Huancayo	27552	23	$450	$484	$1,124	$1,158	149.68	327.35
10	Huánuco	89502		$26.98	$26.98	$130	$130	106.33	228.89
11	Huaraz	15169						82.69	100.91
12	Iquitos	32853		$360	$659	$951	$1,698	96.67	46.38
13	La Merced	8000	27	$493	$559	$1,196	$1,263	-	-
14	Lima	9989369	50	$604	$1,045	$1,460	$2,292	303.43	326.15
15	Mancora	2791						85.73	48.64
16	Miraflores	99337	54	$536	$1,108	$1,299	$1,356	68.46	346.96
17	Moquegua	18861	21	$421	$445	$1,017	$1,041	356.91	258.33
18	Pisco	14917	32	$490	$665	$1,202	$1,393	44.44	155.54
19	Piura	158495	34	$529	$701	$1,256	$1,696	193	292.83
20	Pucallpa	326040		$454	$506	$980	$1,159	44.06	117.74
21	Tacna	92972		$368	$439	$819	$819	102.41	234.7
22	Talara	91444		$74.7	$393	$222	$590	129.21	214.43
23	Tarapoto	68295		$105	$105	$348	$348	225.47	243.8
24	Trujillo	314939	42	$516	$865	$1,203	$1,813	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 city – from $20 to $1,108 a month, with the capital above the national average.

In 2026, monthly costs in Peru range from $20 in the most affordable city to $1,108 in the most expensive one. Where you choose to live makes a dramatic difference – the gap between cheapest and most expensive cities is huge.

If you want affordable living in Peru, look at Chimbote. It offers a real urban experience – restaurants, shops, public transport – at a fraction of capital prices.

In regional cities, $800 is plenty. In Lima? You’ll need to plan carefully, especially around housing. Shared apartments or outer neighborhoods are the usual workarounds.

Peru is broadly affordable – the cheapest cities start at $20 per month, and even more developed areas stay below global averages. It’s accessible to a wide range of incomes and financial situations.