Last update: Nov 2026 33.7M

Cost of Living in Peru

Name: Peru
Address: PE

Across Peru, living costs for one person average $860 a month, including rent and utilities, which take more than a third of the total. Other living expenses average about $18 a day.

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🇵🇪 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 $860 per month with rent on average in Peru.

$860 /mo

A couple spends around $1,370 per month with rent on average in Peru.

$1,370 /mo

A family of three spends around $1,879 per month with rent on average in Peru.

$1,879 /mo

Across 24 cities in Peru, monthly living costs range from $20 to $1,119 – a $1,099 difference that makes location a key factor.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.36 PEN 11.63

$2.79 PEN 9.68

$7.00 PEN 24.23

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.52 PEN 98.8

$14.26 PEN 49.40

$49.93 PEN 173

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.37 PEN 22.08

$5.79 PEN 20.06

$7.32 PEN 25.35

Cappuccino

$2.99 PEN 10.37

$1.71 PEN 5.92

$4.28 PEN 14.82

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

$0.97 PEN 3.35

$0.69 PEN 2.38

$1.50 PEN 5.19

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 PEN 1.90

$0.44 PEN 1.54

$0.90 PEN 3.11

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 PEN 7.88

$1.42 PEN 4.91

$4.83 PEN 16.71

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 PEN 12.26

$2.95 PEN 10.20

$5.90 PEN 20.44

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 PEN 5.19

$1.03 PEN 3.57

$2.06 PEN 7.13

White Bread (500g)

$2.35 PEN 8.14

$1.02 PEN 3.53

$3.92 PEN 13.59

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 PEN 4.72

$1.03 PEN 3.55

$1.76 PEN 6.09

Eggs

$2.64 PEN 9.15

$1.43 PEN 4.95

$4.09 PEN 14.17

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.16 PEN 28.25

$3.79 PEN 13.14

$14.59 PEN 50.5

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.46 PEN 18.91

$2.80 PEN 9.71

$9.27 PEN 32.09

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.04 PEN 31.33

$5.21 PEN 18.04

$12.71 PEN 44.02

Apples (1kg)

$1.75 PEN 6.05

$0.85 PEN 2.96

$2.83 PEN 9.78

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 PEN 3.77

$0.60 PEN 2.06

$1.78 PEN 6.15

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 PEN 4.17

$0.42 PEN 1.45

$2.80 PEN 9.69

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 PEN 4.14

$0.56 PEN 1.95

$1.86 PEN 6.43

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 PEN 3.00

$0.28 PEN 0.97

$1.39 PEN 4.81

Onion (1kg)

$0.85 PEN 2.94

$0.50 PEN 1.74

$1.39 PEN 4.82

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 PEN 2.56

$0.41 PEN 1.43

$1.38 PEN 4.79

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 PEN 2.90

$0.56 PEN 1.93

$1.11 PEN 3.83

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.83 PEN 20.19

$4.40 PEN 15.25

$7.33 PEN 25.40

Wine (Bottle)

$7.49 PEN 25.94

$4.52 PEN 15.65

$12.72 PEN 44.07

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 PEN 6.81

$1.45 PEN 5.03

$2.91 PEN 10.06

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 PEN 10.16

$1.60 PEN 5.55

$4.36 PEN 15.11

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 PEN 1.95

$0.42 PEN 1.44

$0.97 PEN 3.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.09 PEN 97.3

$17.62 PEN 61.0

$40.72 PEN 141

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 PEN 8.10

$1.75 PEN 6.06

$5.84 PEN 20.22

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 PEN 6.83

$1.41 PEN 4.87

$2.81 PEN 9.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.84 PEN 30.63

$5.90 PEN 20.43

$18.40 PEN 63.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 PEN 5.63

$1.20 PEN 4.16

$1.73 PEN 5.99

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

$21.8K PEN 75.5K

$20.0K PEN 69.3K

$30.3K PEN 105.0K

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

$27.8K PEN 96.1K

$24.1K PEN 83.6K

$33.0K PEN 114.1K

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

$53.1 PEN 184

$28.27 PEN 97.9

$113 PEN 392

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

$12.96 PEN 44.89

$8.19 PEN 28.39

$22.61 PEN 78.3

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.97 PEN 86.5

$17.04 PEN 59.0

$42.59 PEN 148

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.90 PEN 107

$19.93 PEN 69.0

$42.71 PEN 148

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.51 PEN 57.2

$7.18 PEN 24.87

$28.72 PEN 99.5

Cinema Ticket

$5.63 PEN 19.51

$4.23 PEN 14.64

$8.45 PEN 29.25

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

$209 PEN 722

$87.8 PEN 304

$790 PEN 2,736

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.7K PEN 68.2K

$10.3K PEN 35.7K

$38.6K PEN 133.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 PEN 174

$23.06 PEN 79.9

$83.6 PEN 290

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.87 PEN 103

$14.18 PEN 49.12

$53.9 PEN 187

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.0 PEN 249

$34.63 PEN 120

$115 PEN 400

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.5 PEN 248

$34.94 PEN 121

$88.4 PEN 306

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$516 PEN 1,788

$220 PEN 762

$842 PEN 2,915

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 PEN 935

$141 PEN 490

$481 PEN 1,665

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$912 PEN 3,160

$520 PEN 1,799

$1,460 PEN 5,058

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$543 PEN 1,881

$350 PEN 1,211

$960 PEN 3,324

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,211 PEN 7,658

$1,751 PEN 6,064

$2,669 PEN 9,244

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,291 PEN 4,472

$993 PEN 3,439

$2,837 PEN 9,827

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$558 PEN 1,934

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.43

7.41

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

Last update: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Peru $860

Accommodation & Living

$270 31.4%

Groceries & Markets

$207 24.1%

Eating Out

$106 12.4%

Clothing & Footwear

$101 11.7%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

$91 10.6%

Getting Around

$43 5%

Sport & Entertainment

$42 4.9%

Cost Breakdown

The average net salary in Peru is $519 – below average monthly costs of $860. Many locals rely on dual incomes or shared housing. Remote workers earning abroad find strong purchasing power here.

Groceries average around $177 per month nationally. A mid-range dinner for two costs about $27.

Most affordable: Chimbote at $20 per month. The capital, Lima, sits at $1,042. Across the country, monthly costs span roughly $1,099 between the cheapest and priciest cities.

Cost Highlights

Overall cost of living ($860) is 36% below the global median of $1,352.

Average rent ($338) is 49% below the global median of $664.

Dinner for two at a restaurant ($27) is 43% below the global median of $47.

Public transport ($24) is 27% below the global median of $33.

Good to know

🕒 Local time

07:05 7:05 AM

🌤 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	$441	$696	$1,057	$1,492	45.85	369.92
2	Ayacucho	99427	23	$383	$471	$822	$1,056	15.21	175.23
3	Cajamarca	218741	34	$537	$712	$1,297	$1,680	56.49	203.84
4	Cerro de Pasco	58899	26	$481	$548	$1,151	$1,218	164.13	230.43
5	Chachapoyas	7273						205.26	240.64
6	Chiclayo	60325	48	$801	$995	$1,868	$2,172	32.38	322.3
7	Chimbote	206213		$20.08	$20.08	$42.06	$42.06	17.27	217.6
8	Cusco	428450	33	$464	$683	$1,052	$1,502	150.86	308.9
9	Huancayo	27552	23	$451	$485	$1,121	$1,155	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		$358	$656	$944	$1,697	96.67	46.38
13	La Merced	8000	27	$492	$558	$1,196	$1,263	-	-
14	Lima	9989369	50	$603	$1,042	$1,454	$2,259	303.43	326.15
15	Mancora	2791						85.73	48.64
16	Miraflores	99337	53	$531	$1,119	$1,285	$1,344	68.46	346.96
17	Moquegua	18861	21	$424	$448	$1,026	$1,050	356.91	258.33
18	Pisco	14917	32	$486	$659	$1,197	$1,385	44.44	155.54
19	Piura	158495	33	$528	$698	$1,254	$1,694	193	292.83
20	Pucallpa	326040		$451	$502	$974	$1,149	44.06	117.74
21	Tacna	92972		$364	$433	$810	$810	102.41	234.7
22	Talara	91444		$74.8	$400	$223	$579	129.21	214.43
23	Tarapoto	68295		$104	$104	$345	$345	225.47	243.8
24	Trujillo	314939	41	$514	$865	$1,197	$1,799	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 $1,119 a month, with the capital above the national average.

In 2026, monthly costs in Peru range from $20 in the most affordable city to $1,119 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.