Cost of Living in Peru - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Peru
Address: PE

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends around $420 per month with rent on average in Peru.

A couple spends around $668 per month with rent on average in Peru.

A family of three spends around $916 per month with rent on average in Peru.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.23 PEN 14.36

$2.25 PEN 7.65

$7.04 PEN 23.90

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.30 PEN 92.7

$16.38 PEN 55.6

$54.6 PEN 185

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.05 PEN 20.52

$5.50 PEN 18.68

$7.98 PEN 27.08

Cappuccino

$2.56 PEN 8.70

$1.36 PEN 4.62

$4.08 PEN 13.85

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

$0.86 PEN 2.92

$0.68 PEN 2.31

$1.92 PEN 6.51

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 PEN 1.76

$0.41 PEN 1.39

$1.36 PEN 4.61

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 PEN 7.35

$1.35 PEN 4.60

$4.06 PEN 13.80

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 PEN 13.54

$2.85 PEN 9.68

$6.27 PEN 21.27

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.58

$0.96 PEN 3.24

$1.91 PEN 6.49

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 PEN 8.38

$0.85 PEN 2.90

$4.29 PEN 14.55

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PEN 4.35

$0.84 PEN 2.84

$1.83 PEN 6.20

Eggs

$2.70 PEN 9.17

$1.42 PEN 4.81

$4.41 PEN 14.99

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.12 PEN 24.17

$2.83 PEN 9.60

$19.77 PEN 67.1

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.27 PEN 17.91

$2.73 PEN 9.25

$8.17 PEN 27.72

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.23 PEN 31.32

$4.83 PEN 16.41

$14.22 PEN 48.29

Apples (1kg)

$1.73 PEN 5.87

$0.81 PEN 2.74

$2.70 PEN 9.18

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 PEN 3.33

$0.55 PEN 1.86

$1.90 PEN 6.45

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.42

$0.28 PEN 0.94

$1.92 PEN 6.51

Tomato (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.77

$0.55 PEN 1.88

$1.82 PEN 6.19

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 PEN 3.25

$0.43 PEN 1.47

$1.72 PEN 5.83

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 PEN 3.19

$0.52 PEN 1.75

$1.73 PEN 5.86

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 PEN 2.42

$0.41 PEN 1.38

$1.61 PEN 5.47

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 PEN 2.64

$0.49 PEN 1.67

$1.37 PEN 4.65

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.68 PEN 19.27

$4.53 PEN 15.39

$8.51 PEN 28.88

Wine (Bottle)

$7.60 PEN 25.82

$4.59 PEN 15.59

$12.92 PEN 43.85

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 PEN 5.99

$1.09 PEN 3.69

$2.72 PEN 9.24

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 PEN 9.20

$1.52 PEN 5.15

$4.14 PEN 14.05

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 PEN 1.84

$0.27 PEN 0.92

$0.94 PEN 3.18

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.46 PEN 55.9

$8.22 PEN 27.92

$41.73 PEN 142

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 PEN 7.39

$1.36 PEN 4.62

$4.35 PEN 14.77

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 PEN 6.47

$0.85 PEN 2.88

$2.73 PEN 9.28

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.62 PEN 19.09

$4.22 PEN 14.32

$11.24 PEN 38.14

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 PEN 4.69

$1.14 PEN 3.86

$1.84 PEN 6.24

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

$19.9K PEN 67.6K

$17.7K PEN 60.2K

$23.2K PEN 78.7K

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

$24.0K PEN 81.4K

$21.9K PEN 74.3K

$27.6K PEN 93.5K

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

$46.57 PEN 158

$27.30 PEN 92.7

$96.7 PEN 328

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

$12.06 PEN 40.95

$8.24 PEN 27.96

$19.22 PEN 65.3

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.83 PEN 87.7

$19.64 PEN 66.7

$42.13 PEN 143

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.55 PEN 100

$21.78 PEN 73.9

$40.84 PEN 139

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.32 PEN 55.4

$7.84 PEN 26.63

$27.24 PEN 92.5

Cinema Ticket

$5.51 PEN 18.72

$4.14 PEN 14.04

$9.64 PEN 32.73

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

$169 PEN 573

$84.0 PEN 285

$420 PEN 1,426

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,518 PEN 18.7K

$2,209 PEN 7,500

$9,942 PEN 33.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.66 PEN 165

$28.22 PEN 95.8

$84.7 PEN 287

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.42 PEN 103

$16.39 PEN 55.6

$49.15 PEN 167

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.3 PEN 279

$39.08 PEN 133

$111 PEN 376

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.7 PEN 264

$41.67 PEN 141

$111 PEN 377

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$474 PEN 1,609

$194 PEN 659

$832 PEN 2,823

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 PEN 913

$138 PEN 470

$498 PEN 1,691

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$823 PEN 2,794

$446 PEN 1,514

$1,393 PEN 4,731

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 PEN 1,665

$337 PEN 1,145

$911 PEN 3,092

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,157 PEN 7,324

$1,658 PEN 5,629

$2,714 PEN 9,213

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,230 PEN 4,174

$901 PEN 3,059

$2,983 PEN 10.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$575 PEN 1,953

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.63

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

Last update: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

The average net salary in Peru is $541 – enough to cover average monthly costs of $420, but with limited room for savings. Margins vary widely by city.

Groceries average around $120 per month nationally. A mid-range dinner for two costs about $17.00.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($420) is 69% below the global median of $1,336.

Average rent ($142) is 78% below the global median of $632.

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	$407	$632	$1,113	$1,525	45.85	369.92
2	Ayacucho	99427		$92.2	$110	$232	$275	15.21	175.23
3	Cajamarca	218741	33	$515	$656	$1,314	$1,539	56.49	203.84
4	Cerro de Pasco	58899	26	$504	$516	$1,185	$1,181	164.13	230.43
5	Chachapoyas	7273						205.26	240.64
6	Chiclayo	60325	37	$568	$732	$1,405	$1,787	32.38	322.3
7	Chimbote	206213		$17.46	$18.37	$34.23	$38.98	17.27	217.6
8	Cusco	428450	38	$459	$740	$995	$1,591	150.86	308.9
9	Huancayo	27552	24	$412	$470	$1,020	$1,146	149.68	327.35
10	Huánuco	89502		$96.3	$109	$222	$290	106.33	228.89
11	Huaraz	15169		$127	$110	$262	$267	82.69	100.91
12	Iquitos	32853		$392	$626	$807	$1,613	96.67	46.38
13	La Merced	8000	26	$522	$532	$1,058	$1,213	-	-
14	Lima	9989369	49	$547	$988	$1,251	$2,115	303.43	326.15
15	Mancora	2791						85.73	48.64
16	Miraflores	99337	53	$441	$1,043	$1,117	$1,275	68.46	346.96
17	Moquegua	18861		$11.65	$10.21	$17.25	$15.73	356.91	258.33
18	Pisco	14917	26	$490	$533	$1,065	$1,119	44.44	155.54
19	Piura	158495	31	$431	$614	$1,071	$1,453	193	292.83
20	Pucallpa	326040		$379	$447	$953	$1,055	44.06	117.74
21	Tacna	92972		$300	$347	$492	$570	102.41	234.7
22	Talara	91444		$25.20	$27.81	$135	$333	129.21	214.43
23	Tarapoto	68295		$30.03	$31.71	$58.2	$65.6	225.47	243.8
24	Trujillo	314939	39	$380	$778	$863	$1,522	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.