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
20/ 10080% cheaper than New York
-17% rent since Jul 2026
$645/mo
Median Income
32/100
Safety
15%
Income Tax
subtropical desert
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

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

Housing
40/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$702/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$337/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,158/month
Food & Groceries
35/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.33/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$2.38/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.28/kg
Transportation
40/100
Monthly Transit Pass$25/month
One-Way Ticket$0.69/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.5/km
Utilities
35/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$67/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$35/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$25/month
Healthcare
50/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$55/visit
Dentist Visit$70/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
45/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$400/month
International Primary School (yearly)$10,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$350/course
Entertainment
40/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$9/ticket
Theater Ticket$30/ticket
Museum Entry$12/ticket
Clothing
40/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$50/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$35/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$75/pair
Personal Care
35/100
Haircut (Men)$15/cut
Haircut (Women)$30/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$4.5/bottle
Dining Out
35/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$12/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$45/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$6.4/meal
Childcare
45/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$600/month
Babysitter (per hour)$12/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$16/pack
Fitness & Sports
40/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$40/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$18/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$7/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

150 Mbps
Internet Speed
$300
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
68/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Miraflores, Barranco, San Isidro

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lima cheap to live in?

Lima has a cost of living index of 20/100, where New York = 100. It is 80% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $700–$980 per month.

How much does rent cost in Lima?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Lima costs approximately $702/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $337/month.

Is Lima good for digital nomads?

Lima has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 150 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $300/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Lima?

The median net monthly salary in Lima is approximately $645 USD. The income tax rate is around 15%.

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

Lima (cost index 20) is 80% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $2,000/month by moving from New York to Lima.

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