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Peru Cost of Living 2026
๐ต๐ช 5 cities in Peru, sorted by daily travel budget. Not the exchange rate โ how cheap it feels on your own income, and where a price becomes a rip-off. Updated October 2026
Cities in Peru compared
| City | Per day | Per month | Local meal | Coffee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ๐ต๐ช PunoTourist ยท mid-size | $83.5 | $1,090 | S/15 | S/10 |
| ๐ต๐ช ArequipaTourist big city | $98.1 | $1,311 | S/15 | S/12 |
| ๐ต๐ช LimaBig city | $103 | $1,835 | S/20 | S/12 |
| ๐ต๐ช CuscoTourist ยท mid-size | $107 | $1,383 | S/15 | S/9 |
| ๐ต๐ช Machu PicchuTourist ยท small town | $129 | $1,612 | S/20 | S/12 |
Per day = one mid-range night + three meals, a coffee and two taxi rides. Open a city for item-by-item prices, rip-off thresholds and live traveler reports.
Everyday prices in Peru
| City | Beer | 5 km taxi | Hotel night | Massage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ๐ต๐ช Puno | S/10 | S/8 | S/180 | S/60 |
| ๐ต๐ช Arequipa | S/8 | S/15 | S/200 | S/70 |
| ๐ต๐ช Lima | S/10 | S/12 | S/200 | S/90 |
| ๐ต๐ช Cusco | S/9 | S/15 | S/230 | S/60 |
| ๐ต๐ช Machu Picchu | S/12 | S/41 | S/220 | S/70 |
Peru vs nearby countries
| Country | Per day | Per month | vs Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| ๐ง๐ด Bolivia | $55.9 | $698 | -46% |
| ๐จ๐ด Colombia | $96.1 | $1,631 | -8% |
| ๐ต๐ช Peru | $104 | $1,446 | this country |
| ๐ง๐ท Brazil | $115 | $1,875 | +11% |
| ๐ช๐จ Ecuador | $121 | $1,943 | +16% |
| ๐ต๐พ Paraguay | $121 | $1,892 | +17% |
| ๐ฌ๐น Guatemala | $142 | $2,871 | +37% |
| ๐ฉ๐ด Dominican Republic | $150 | $3,437 | +45% |
Countries in the same region with a similar daily travel budget. Tap a country for its city-by-city prices.
Lima vs New York: item by item
| Item | Lima | New York | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local meal | S/20โ $5.41 | $20 | -73% |
| Coffee | S/12โ $3.24 | $6 | -46% |
| Beer | S/10โ $2.7 | $9 | -70% |
| 5 km taxi | S/12โ $3.24 | $23 | -86% |
| Hotel night | S/200โ $54.1 | $270 | -80% |
| 1-bed rent | S/1,750โ $473 | $3,300 | -86% |
Same purchase in both cities, converted to US dollars. Daily travel budget: Lima $103 vs New York $467 โ about 78% cheaper.
Compare Peru with other cities
Money tips for Peru
Paying
Cash is easiest; hotels and bigger restaurants take cards.
Tipping
About 10% at restaurants.
Menu prices
Upscale restaurants may add a 10% service charge.
Getting around
Uber, Cabify and InDrive are convenient.
Haggling
Haggle at markets and souvenir stalls.
Water
Don't drink tap water.
Common rip-offs
Cusco tour prices vary wildly between agencies; compare what is included.
Peru travel difficulty
| City | Overall | Rip-offs | Language | Transport | Payments | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arequipa | Moderate 2.6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Lima | Hard 3.0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Machu Picchu | Hard 3.0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Cusco | Hard 3.2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Puno | Hard 3.2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Rip-offs, language, getting around, payments and safety, 1โ5 (closer to 1 is easier). Tap a city for reasons and tips. Full difficulty ranking โบ
City guides
FAQ
How much is a daily travel budget in Peru?
With a mid-range room, between $83.5 and $129 a day depending on the city โ about $104 on average. Hostels and local eateries cut that by 30% or more.
How much does a month in Peru cost?
Short-term rental plus living costs runs $1,090โ$1,835 by city, about $1,446 on average.
Which city in Peru is cheapest?
By daily budget, Puno ($83.5/day) is the cheapest and Machu Picchu ($129/day) the most expensive.
Which nearby country is cheaper than Peru?
Among countries in the same region with similar budgets, Bolivia runs about $55.9 a day โ 46% less than Peru (about $104).
Is Peru cheaper than New York?
In Lima, a traveler's day runs about $103 versus $467 in New York โ roughly 78% cheaper. The gap differs by item, so meals, coffee, taxis and hotels are listed separately above.