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 $668 per month with rent on average across Peru.

A family of three spends around $912 per month with rent on average across Peru.

Across 24 cities in Peru, monthly living costs range from $0 to $1,072 – a $1,072 difference that makes location a key factor.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.23 PEN 14.56

$2.25 PEN 7.75

$7.05 PEN 24.24

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.03 PEN 96.4

$16.82 PEN 57.9

$56.1 PEN 193

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.16 PEN 21.20

$5.61 PEN 19.29

$8.13 PEN 27.97

Cappuccino

$2.64 PEN 9.09

$1.40 PEN 4.82

$4.20 PEN 14.46

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

$0.89 PEN 3.06

$0.71 PEN 2.43

$1.98 PEN 6.82

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 PEN 1.90

$0.44 PEN 1.50

$1.45 PEN 4.97

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 PEN 7.82

$1.42 PEN 4.90

$4.27 PEN 14.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 PEN 13.27

$2.76 PEN 9.49

$6.06 PEN 20.85

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 PEN 4.84

$1.00 PEN 3.43

$1.99 PEN 6.86

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 PEN 8.30

$0.83 PEN 2.87

$4.19 PEN 14.43

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PEN 4.26

$0.81 PEN 2.78

$1.77 PEN 6.07

Eggs

$2.69 PEN 9.25

$1.41 PEN 4.85

$4.39 PEN 15.11

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.91 PEN 23.78

$2.75 PEN 9.44

$19.20 PEN 66.0

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.27 PEN 18.11

$2.72 PEN 9.36

$8.15 PEN 28.05

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.05 PEN 31.14

$4.74 PEN 16.31

$13.95 PEN 48.00

Apples (1kg)

$1.76 PEN 6.05

$0.82 PEN 2.82

$2.75 PEN 9.44

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.48

$0.57 PEN 1.95

$1.96 PEN 6.76

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.60

$0.29 PEN 0.99

$1.99 PEN 6.84

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 PEN 3.90

$0.57 PEN 1.95

$1.86 PEN 6.41

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 PEN 3.06

$0.40 PEN 1.38

$1.59 PEN 5.49

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 PEN 3.21

$0.51 PEN 1.76

$1.71 PEN 5.89

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 PEN 2.44

$0.40 PEN 1.38

$1.60 PEN 5.51

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 PEN 2.59

$0.48 PEN 1.64

$1.32 PEN 4.55

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.52 PEN 18.98

$4.40 PEN 15.15

$8.26 PEN 28.43

Wine (Bottle)

$9.06 PEN 31.17

$4.83 PEN 16.60

$13.59 PEN 46.75

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 PEN 6.06

$1.09 PEN 3.74

$2.72 PEN 9.36

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 PEN 9.28

$1.51 PEN 5.20

$4.12 PEN 14.18

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 PEN 1.89

$0.27 PEN 0.94

$0.95 PEN 3.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.80 PEN 57.8

$8.39 PEN 28.88

$42.60 PEN 147

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 PEN 7.56

$1.38 PEN 4.73

$4.40 PEN 15.12

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 PEN 6.32

$0.82 PEN 2.81

$2.64 PEN 9.07

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.58 PEN 19.19

$4.18 PEN 14.39

$11.15 PEN 38.35

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 PEN 4.54

$1.09 PEN 3.74

$1.76 PEN 6.04

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

$20.1K PEN 69.2K

$17.9K PEN 61.6K

$23.4K PEN 80.6K

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

$23.7K PEN 81.7K

$21.7K PEN 74.5K

$27.3K PEN 93.8K

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

$47.77 PEN 164

$28.01 PEN 96.3

$99.2 PEN 341

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

$12.09 PEN 41.58

$8.25 PEN 28.39

$19.26 PEN 66.3

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.08 PEN 86.3

$19.07 PEN 65.6

$40.90 PEN 141

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.73 PEN 102

$21.91 PEN 75.4

$41.08 PEN 141

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.62 PEN 57.2

$7.99 PEN 27.49

$27.75 PEN 95.5

Cinema Ticket

$5.57 PEN 19.17

$4.18 PEN 14.37

$9.74 PEN 33.51

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

$170 PEN 585

$84.7 PEN 291

$423 PEN 1,456

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,615 PEN 19.3K

$2,248 PEN 7,733

$10.1K PEN 34.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.18 PEN 162

$27.37 PEN 94.2

$82.1 PEN 282

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.59 PEN 105

$16.48 PEN 56.7

$49.42 PEN 170

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.3 PEN 283

$39.10 PEN 135

$111 PEN 382

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.7 PEN 267

$41.69 PEN 143

$111 PEN 382

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 PEN 1,658

$197 PEN 679

$846 PEN 2,909

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 PEN 925

$138 PEN 476

$498 PEN 1,714

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 PEN 2,837

$447 PEN 1,537

$1,396 PEN 4,803

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$479 PEN 1,649

$330 PEN 1,134

$890 PEN 3,061

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,093 PEN 7,201

$1,375 PEN 4,730

$2,906 PEN 9,997

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,288 PEN 4,431

$898 PEN 3,088

$2,971 PEN 10.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$583 PEN 2,005

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.63

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

Last update: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom averages $141 nationally. In Lima, expect around $604, while Mancora – the country's most affordable city overall – comes in at $0.

The average net salary across Peru is $547 – enough to cover average monthly costs of $423, 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.

Most affordable: Mancora at $0 per month. The capital, Lima, sits at $983. Across the country, monthly costs span roughly $1,072 between the cheapest and priciest cities.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($423) is 69% below the global median of $1,347.

Average rent ($141) is 78% below the global median of $629.

Dining out ($17) is 65% below the global median of $48.

Public transport ($4) is 88% below the global median of $33.

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	$455	$640	$1,044	$1,510	45.85	369.92
2	Ayacucho	99427		$117	$107	$250	$277	15.21	175.23
3	Cajamarca	218741	33	$484	$641	$1,102	$1,553	56.49	203.84
4	Cerro de Pasco	58899	26	$431	$521	$1,279	$1,184	164.13	230.43
5	Chachapoyas	7273						205.26	240.64
6	Chiclayo	60325	37	$628	$745	$1,403	$1,776	32.38	322.3
7	Chimbote	206213		$16.25	$18.74	$35.38	$39.36	17.27	217.6
8	Cusco	428450	38	$403	$759	$1,010	$1,561	150.86	308.9
9	Huancayo	27552	24	$461	$476	$980	$1,129	149.68	327.35
10	Huaraz	15169		$108	$111	$248	$264	82.69	100.91
11	Huánuco	89502		$86.2	$123	$321	$301	106.33	228.89
12	Iquitos	32853		$314	$642	$882	$1,612	96.67	46.38
13	La Merced	8000	26	$492	$521	$1,120	$1,210	-	-
14	Lima	9989369	49	$575	$983	$1,384	$2,065	303.43	326.15
15	Mancora	2791						85.73	48.64
16	Miraflores	99337	53	$540	$1,072	$1,071	$1,311	68.46	346.96
17	Moquegua	18861		$8.83	$10.21	$17.04	$15.57	356.91	258.33
18	Pisco	14917	26	$498	$524	$1,198	$1,118	44.44	155.54
19	Piura	158495	31	$457	$607	$1,170	$1,440	193	292.83
20	Pucallpa	326040		$435	$449	$886	$1,026	44.06	117.74
21	Tacna	92972		$241	$349	$620	$579	102.41	234.7
22	Talara	91444		$29.09	$28.27	$128	$336	129.21	214.43
23	Tarapoto	68295		$32.15	$31.07	$66.1	$65.0	225.47	243.8
24	Trujillo	314939	39	$380	$785	$847	$1,530	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, $1,000 covers rent and daily expenses with room to spare for eating out, entertainment, and saving. Even mid-sized cities work at this budget level.