🟒
#107 Worldwide

Lima Cost of Living 2026

Peru β€’ South America

Anchor Cost Index

30

Affordable

#107
of 160 cities
34%
More expensive than
#10
in South America
Affordable
Cost Level

πŸ“‰Anchor Price Breakdown β€” vs Global Average

πŸ”Big Mac
$3.50-15%
LimaGlobal avg: $4.09
🏠1BR Rent
$473.00-50%
LimaGlobal avg: $950.72
πŸš—Uber 5km
$2.50-45%
LimaGlobal avg: $4.51
β˜•Starbucks Latte
$2.30-44%
LimaGlobal avg: $4.10
πŸ“ΊYouTube Premium
$5.49-27%
LimaGlobal avg: $7.51
Below average
Above average
Global average

πŸ“ŠAnchor Price Breakdown

ℹ️Sources: Public economic data, market research
πŸ”
Big Mac
McDonald's signature burger
$3.50
Near avg
31
Weight: 20%Global avg: $4.09
🏠
1BR Rent
City-wide median monthly
$473.00/mo
-50% vs avg
28
Weight: 30%Global avg: $950.72
πŸš—
Uber 5km
Average 5km ride fare
$2.50
-45% vs avg
28
Weight: 20%Global avg: $4.51
β˜•
Starbucks Latte
Tall Latte price
$2.30
-44% vs avg
24
Weight: 15%Global avg: $4.10
πŸ“Ί
YouTube Premium
Monthly subscription
$5.49/mo
-27% vs avg
41
Weight: 15%Global avg: $7.51

πŸ“ˆKey Metrics

ℹ️Calculated from verified cost data
🏠
56%
Rent Burden
Rent as % of avg salary
🍽️
20%
Food Affordability
Food as % of avg salary
πŸ’»
70/100
Nomad Score
Digital nomad friendliness
πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§
70/100
Family Score
Family friendliness

πŸ’΅Monthly Budget Scenarios

ℹ️Based on crowdsourced price data
πŸŽ’
Backpacker
Hostels, street food, public transit
$1,130/mo
Housing
$570
Food
$464
Transport
$29
Utilities
$0
Entertainment
$38
Other
$29
πŸ’»
Digital Nomad
Coliving, coworking, mix of cooking & dining
$1,165/mo
Housing
$405
Food
$493
Transport
$44
Utilities
$31
Entertainment
$82
Other
$110
πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§
Small Family
2 adults + 1 child, outside center apartment
$2,020/mo
Housing
$720
Food
$806
Transport
$95
Utilities
$128
Entertainment
$67
Other
$204
🏒
Expat Professional
City center, quality lifestyle
$1,539/mo
Housing
$567
Food
$664
Transport
$89
Utilities
$94
Entertainment
$92
Other
$33

Monthly Budget Range

πŸŽ’ Backpacker

$1,130

🏒 Professional

$1,539

βš–οΈCompare Lima with Other Cities

πŸ“‹Extended Costs (60+ Items)

ℹ️Aggregated from public sources
1BR Apartment (City Center)$630.00/mo
1BR Apartment (Outside Center)$315.00/mo
3BR Apartment (City Center)$1,260.00/mo
3BR Apartment (Outside Center)$720.00/mo
Price per mΒ² (Buy, City)$5,600.00/mΒ²
Price per mΒ² (Buy, Outside)$3,250.00/mΒ²
Airbnb (1BR, Monthly)$810.00/mo
Coliving Space$405.00/mo
Hostel/Dormitory$19.00/night

πŸ“ˆ How Lima Compares

Cheaper than
106cities
More expensive than
51cities
Rank in South America
#10/14

Understanding Cost Index

0-20
Very Affordable
21-40
Affordable
41-60
Moderate
61-80
Expensive
81-100
Very Expensive

πŸ’‘Tips for Living in Lima

Affordable Housing: With average rent at $473.00/month for a 1-bedroom apartment, Lima offers relatively affordable housing compared to global averages. Consider negotiating directly with landlords for better rates.

Food & Drinks: A Big Mac costs $3.50 and a Starbucks latte goes for $2.30 in Lima. Eating at local restaurants instead of international chains can save 40-60% on food costs.

Getting Around: A 5km Uber ride costs $2.50 in Lima. Ride-hailing is very affordable here β€” use it freely for short distances.

Digital Nomad Budget: Plan for approximately $1,165/month as a digital nomad in Lima, covering coworking, accommodation, food, and local transport.

Best Time to Move: Research visa requirements for Peru well in advance. Costs shown are in USD and may fluctuate with exchange rates.

❓Frequently Asked Questions About Lima

What is the cost of living in Lima, Peru?

Lima has an Anchor Cost Index of 30/100, making it affordable. A 1-bedroom apartment costs $473.00/month, a Big Mac is $3.50, and an Uber ride (5km) costs $2.50.Lima ranks #107 out of 160 cities worldwide.

How much does rent cost in Lima?

The average 1-bedroom apartment in Lima costs $473.00/month. This is below the global average of $950.72/month. A digital nomad can expect to spend around $1,165/month total in Lima.

Is Lima expensive compared to other cities?

Lima is more expensive than 51 cities and cheaper than 106 cities in our database. In South America, it ranks #10 out of 14 cities. Cities with similar costs include Guangzhou, Bangkok, Santo Domingo.

How much money do I need to live in Lima?

Monthly budgets vary by lifestyle: a backpacker needs ~$1,130/mo, a digital nomad ~$1,165/mo, a small family ~$2,020/mo, and an expat professional ~$1,539/mo. These include housing, food, transport, and lifestyle expenses.

πŸ“Š Data Sources

We aggregate data from trusted sources to provide accurate cost of living comparisons. All prices are converted to USD.

πŸ”
Big Mac Index
Global purchasing power indicator (2024)

Purchasing power parity indicator

🏠
Cost of Living & Rent
Crowdsourced global cost data (2024)

Verified price data from multiple sources

πŸš—
Transport & Services
Regional transport pricing data (2024)

Taxi, rideshare, public transit prices

πŸ“Ί
Digital Subscriptions
Regional pricing data (2024)

Streaming services, digital platforms

Data is updated periodically. Prices may vary based on location, promotions, and exchange rates.