Cost of Living

Lima, Peru

Live cost-of-living data for Lima — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
25/ 10075% cheaper than New York
$730/mo
Median Income
30/100
Safety
15%
Income Tax
desert
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
35/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$850/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$500/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,800/month
Food & Groceries
25/100
Milk (1 liter)$0.95/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.8/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.2/kg
Transportation
20/100
Monthly Transit Pass$27/month
One-Way Ticket$0.55/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.5/km
Utilities
25/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$45/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$27/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$18/month
Healthcare
40/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$45/visit
Dentist Visit$60/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$10/course
Education
30/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$300/month
International Primary School (yearly)$8,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$250/course
Entertainment
25/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$7/ticket
Theater Ticket$25/ticket
Museum Entry$8/ticket
Clothing
30/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$45/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$25/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$60/pair
Personal Care
25/100
Haircut (Men)$12/cut
Haircut (Women)$25/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$3.5/bottle
Dining Out
25/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$5/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$30/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$5/meal
Childcare
35/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$450/month
Babysitter (per hour)$8/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$12/pack
Fitness & Sports
20/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$25/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$12/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$4/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

75 Mbps
Internet Speed
$250
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
72/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Miraflores, San Isidro, Barranco

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lima cheap to live in?

Lima has a cost of living index of 25/100, where New York = 100. It is 75% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $900–$1,260 per month.

How much does rent cost in Lima?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Lima costs approximately $850/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $500/month.

Is Lima good for digital nomads?

Lima has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 75 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $250/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Lima?

The median net monthly salary in Lima is approximately $730 USD. The income tax rate is around 15%.

How does Lima compare to New York for cost of living?

Lima (cost index 25) is 75% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,875/month by moving from New York to Lima.

Compare Lima with…

Popular head-to-heads — see exactly where Lima wins or loses.

Cities that cost about the same as Lima

Same spending tier, different part of the world — the head-to-heads people actually weigh when relocating.

Compare Lima with another city

See exactly how Lima stacks up against your current city or next destination.

Free to start · No credit card needed