Cost of Living in Peru

If you've ever considered moving to Peru, one of the first questions that likely crossed your mind is, "What is the cost of living in Peru?" After all, it's essential to have a clear picture of your potential expenses before making such a life-changing decision. At this page, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of the cost of living in Peru and whether the reported $1134 per month figure aligns with the average monthly salary of $383.67.

Restaurants
Markets
Transportation
Childcare
Clothing
Rent Per Month
Buy Apartment
Salaries
Peru
restaurant

Restaurants

Price

World Range

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant

3.03 $

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

20.0 $

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

4.8 $

Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)

2.02 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

3.54 $

Cappuccino (regular)

2.25 $

Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)

0.67 $

Water (12 oz small bottle)

0.45 $

store

Markets

Price

World Range

Milk (regular), (1 gallon)

1.12 $

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)

1.49 $

Rice (white), (1 lb)

0.98 $

Eggs (regular) (12)

1.59 $

Local Cheese (1 lb)

5.67 $

Chicken Fillets (1 lb)

4.13 $

Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)

6.49 $

Apples (1 lb)

1.3 $

Banana (1 lb)

0.91 $

Oranges (1 lb)

0.99 $

Tomato (1 lb)

0.91 $

Potato (1 lb)

0.66 $

Onion (1 lb)

0.73 $

Lettuce (1 head)

0.63 $

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

0.7 $

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)

7.31 $

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

1.48 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

2.31 $

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)

4.42 $

commute

Transportation

Price

World Range

One-way Ticket (Local Transport)

0.38 $

Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

15.15 $

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

1.26 $

Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)

1.26 $

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

5.05 $

Gasoline (1 gallon)

1.16 $

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)

17679.44 $

Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)

19299.23 $

mark_as_unread

Utilities (Monthly)

Price

World Range

Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment

55.59 $

1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)

0.14 $

Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)

29.13 $

kitesurfing

Sports And Leisure

Price

World Range

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult

31.54 $

Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)

12.23 $

Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat

4.92 $

child_friendly

Childcare

Price

World Range

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

157.9 $

International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child

5165.1 $

checkroom

Clothing And Shoes

Price

World Range

1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

39.23 $

1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)

24.29 $

1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)

66.39 $

1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes

60.25 $

night_shelter

Rent Per Month

Price

World Range

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre

350.76 $

Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre

236.58 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre

682.23 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre

480.12 $

home

Buy Apartment Price

Price

World Range

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre

1606.26 $

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre

1176.89 $

account_balance_wallet

Salaries And Financing

Price

World Range

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

383.67 $

Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate

8.99 %

Peru

How Safe Is Peru for Travel?
Warnings & Dangers in Peru

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

Overall, Peru is somewhat safe to visit, though it has many dangers and is ridden with crime. You should be aware that tourist hotspots and public transportation are places where most thefts and pickpocketing occur, and that violent crime exists on the streets, too.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

Transportation mostly safe and reliable but you should be very careful about public transport and buses as you might end up being robbed. Always call a reliable taxi instead of hailing one on the streets.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH

Pickpockets are a serious concern in Peru, as is the violent crime and you should exercise caution and keep your money and your valuables elsewhere, like in hidden pockets of your clothes and never ever keep all of your money in the same place.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

When it comes to natural disasters, there is a risk of landslides and flooding. This usually happens during heavy rains and often causes public transportation to suddenly stop. Peru also has some volcanic activities, and the volcanoes Ubinas and Sabancaya have been known to erupt: recently, it has happened in 2016.

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

There is also the issue of violent crime, muggings, "express kidnappings" where people are taken and driven from one ATM to another until they withdraw all their money from their account. Then there are "struggle muggings" in Cusco, Arequipa, and Lima during which tourists are put in a chokehold from behind and stolen from while unconscious. Be very, very careful when in Peru, avoid poorly lit and deserted areas and remain vigilant everywhere else.

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

The risks of terrorist attacks in Peru are low, but since there's a chance that areas in the Southern Highlands such as San Martin, Huanuco, Pasco, Junin, Ucayali, Huancavelica, Ayacucho and Apurimac might shelter members of the Shining Path terrorist group, attacks shouldn't be ruled out. It is important that you remain vigilant at all times.

SCAMS RISK: HIGH

There is a high risk of getting scammed in Peru. Be wary of people lurking around ATMs or anyone trying to distract you. Taxi drivers might try to trick you into paying more, giving you wrongful information about the price of the ride.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Many women have traveled to Peru alone and had nothing but a great time. However, this country isn't the safest in terms of females traveling solo since there have been reports of women being attacked or shamed, so be careful, especially at night and apply precaution measures at all times and avoid dark and empty streets and locations.

Useful Information & Tips
credit_card

Visas

Most countries do not need a visa in order to enter Peru. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months past your date of departure from Peru. Keep in mind that your stamp is valid for 30 days, though the real limit is for 180. In this case, just explain to the immigration officials that you need more than 30 days and show them your return ticket. You may even get a so-called Tarjeta Andina de Migración, which you will have to return upon your exit from Peru. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.

currency_exchange

Currency

Sol is the official currency in Peru, but many places accept US dollars. ATMs are available in nearly every city and town in Peru, as well as major establishments. You are advised to exchange money in exchange offices as they often give a slightly better rate than banks.

cloudy_snowing

Weather

Due to Peru's diverse geography, the weather varies from region to region. When it's warm on the coast, it can be extremely cold in the mountains while the weather can be completely different in the jungle areas. In return, winter lasts from June to September on the coastal regions, during which time the mountainous areas are sunny and warm, though still cold at night. This is, for the most part, the best time to visit most regions.

flight_takeoff

Airports

Jorge Chávez International Airport is Peru's main international and domestic airport. It is located in Callao, 11 km from Lima, Peru's capital.

health_and_safety

Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we advise getting travel insurance when traveling to Peru, because it would cover not only medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.

Comparison of the Cost Of Living in Peru with other countries

Cost of living in countries