Cost of Living in Peru - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Peru
Address: PE

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends around $421 per month with rent on average in Peru.

A couple spends around $666 per month with rent on average in Peru.

A family of three spends around $911 per month with rent on average in Peru.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.26 PEN 14.43

$2.27 PEN 7.68

$7.09 PEN 24.01

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.13 PEN 95.3

$16.88 PEN 57.2

$56.3 PEN 191

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.93 PEN 20.08

$5.39 PEN 18.27

$7.82 PEN 26.49

Cappuccino

$2.68 PEN 9.06

$1.42 PEN 4.81

$4.26 PEN 14.42

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

$0.88 PEN 3.00

$0.70 PEN 2.38

$1.97 PEN 6.68

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 PEN 1.88

$0.44 PEN 1.49

$1.46 PEN 4.93

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 PEN 7.70

$1.42 PEN 4.82

$4.27 PEN 14.46

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 PEN 12.88

$2.72 PEN 9.20

$5.97 PEN 20.22

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 PEN 4.51

$0.94 PEN 3.19

$1.88 PEN 6.38

White Bread (500g)

$2.38 PEN 8.06

$0.82 PEN 2.79

$4.13 PEN 14.00

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PEN 4.35

$0.84 PEN 2.84

$1.83 PEN 6.20

Eggs

$2.58 PEN 8.75

$1.36 PEN 4.59

$4.22 PEN 14.30

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.08 PEN 23.98

$2.81 PEN 9.52

$19.66 PEN 66.6

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.31 PEN 17.99

$2.74 PEN 9.29

$8.22 PEN 27.85

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.27 PEN 31.40

$4.86 PEN 16.45

$14.29 PEN 48.40

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 PEN 6.14

$0.84 PEN 2.86

$2.83 PEN 9.59

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.44

$0.57 PEN 1.92

$1.97 PEN 6.66

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.40

$0.28 PEN 0.93

$1.91 PEN 6.48

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 PEN 3.69

$0.54 PEN 1.84

$1.79 PEN 6.06

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 PEN 3.28

$0.44 PEN 1.48

$1.74 PEN 5.90

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 PEN 3.15

$0.51 PEN 1.73

$1.71 PEN 5.78

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 PEN 2.63

$0.44 PEN 1.49

$1.75 PEN 5.94

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 PEN 2.74

$0.51 PEN 1.73

$1.42 PEN 4.82

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 PEN 18.50

$4.36 PEN 14.78

$8.18 PEN 27.72

Wine (Bottle)

$7.86 PEN 26.63

$4.84 PEN 16.39

$13.60 PEN 46.08

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 PEN 5.94

$1.08 PEN 3.66

$2.71 PEN 9.18

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 PEN 9.21

$1.52 PEN 5.16

$4.15 PEN 14.06

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 PEN 1.84

$0.27 PEN 0.92

$0.94 PEN 3.19

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.46 PEN 55.8

$8.22 PEN 27.86

$41.73 PEN 141

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 PEN 7.59

$1.40 PEN 4.75

$4.48 PEN 15.18

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 PEN 6.36

$0.83 PEN 2.83

$2.69 PEN 9.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 PEN 18.35

$4.06 PEN 13.76

$10.82 PEN 36.66

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 PEN 4.49

$1.09 PEN 3.70

$1.76 PEN 5.98

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

$20.4K PEN 69.0K

$18.1K PEN 61.4K

$23.7K PEN 80.3K

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

$24.3K PEN 82.2K

$22.1K PEN 75.0K

$27.9K PEN 94.4K

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

$48.27 PEN 164

$28.30 PEN 95.9

$100 PEN 340

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

$12.06 PEN 40.85

$8.23 PEN 27.89

$19.21 PEN 65.1

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.05 PEN 84.9

$19.04 PEN 64.5

$40.85 PEN 138

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.43 PEN 103

$22.43 PEN 76.0

$42.05 PEN 142

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.32 PEN 55.3

$7.85 PEN 26.58

$27.24 PEN 92.3

Cinema Ticket

$5.52 PEN 18.69

$4.14 PEN 14.02

$9.65 PEN 32.68

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

$168 PEN 568

$83.5 PEN 283

$418 PEN 1,415

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,566 PEN 18.9K

$2,229 PEN 7,550

$10.0K PEN 34.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.95 PEN 162

$27.82 PEN 94.2

$83.4 PEN 283

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.40 PEN 103

$16.38 PEN 55.5

$49.12 PEN 166

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.3 PEN 275

$38.62 PEN 131

$110 PEN 371

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 PEN 259

$41.06 PEN 139

$110 PEN 371

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 PEN 1,580

$191 PEN 647

$818 PEN 2,772

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 PEN 920

$140 PEN 473

$503 PEN 1,704

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$810 PEN 2,743

$439 PEN 1,486

$1,371 PEN 4,643

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$479 PEN 1,623

$329 PEN 1,116

$889 PEN 3,013

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,171 PEN 7,353

$1,668 PEN 5,652

$2,731 PEN 9,251

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,219 PEN 4,130

$894 PEN 3,027

$2,958 PEN 10.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$583 PEN 1,974

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.63

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

Last update: June 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

The average net salary in Peru is $541 – enough to cover average monthly costs of $421, 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 ($421) is 69% below the global median of $1,339.

Average rent ($142) is 77% below the global median of $628.

Dining out ($17.00) is 65% below the global median of $49.00.

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	$460	$634	$922	$1,486	45.85	369.92
2	Ayacucho	99427		$109	$108	$247	$271	15.21	175.23
3	Cajamarca	218741	33	$440	$641	$1,371	$1,536	56.49	203.84
4	Cerro de Pasco	58899	26	$421	$525	$1,279	$1,181	164.13	230.43
5	Chachapoyas	7273						205.26	240.64
6	Chiclayo	60325	37	$481	$739	$1,196	$1,756	32.38	322.3
7	Chimbote	206213		$20.76	$18.59	$36.24	$38.79	17.27	217.6
8	Cusco	428450	38	$423	$749	$1,208	$1,540	150.86	308.9
9	Huancayo	27552	24	$411	$473	$1,041	$1,113	149.68	327.35
10	Huánuco	89502		$82.1	$108	$246	$289	106.33	228.89
11	Huaraz	15169		$107	$114	$292	$264	82.69	100.91
12	Iquitos	32853		$384	$633	$995	$1,634	96.67	46.38
13	La Merced	8000	26	$427	$532	$1,081	$1,190	-	-
14	Lima	9989369	49	$540	$985	$1,481	$2,127	303.43	326.15
15	Mancora	2791						85.73	48.64
16	Miraflores	99337	53	$513	$1,065	$1,109	$1,307	68.46	346.96
17	Moquegua	18861		$8.93	$10.13	$15.03	$15.47	356.91	258.33
18	Pisco	14917	26	$455	$537	$1,177	$1,133	44.44	155.54
19	Piura	158495	31	$509	$608	$1,151	$1,429	193	292.83
20	Pucallpa	326040		$422	$454	$913	$1,052	44.06	117.74
21	Tacna	92972		$280	$342	$643	$580	102.41	234.7
22	Talara	91444		$27.68	$27.38	$132	$340	129.21	214.43
23	Tarapoto	68295		$30.53	$31.20	$68.2	$66.9	225.47	243.8
24	Trujillo	314939	39	$488	$761	$845	$1,510	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.