City, Peru
Cost of living in Arequipa
How much a month costs in Arequipa
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $930–1,450 (S/3,200–5,000).
Prices in Arequipa
Typical 2026 ranges in PEN, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | PEN | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | S/1,200–2,400 | $349–697 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | S/800–1,500 | $232–436 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | S/25–55 | $7.3–16.0 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | S/130–300 | $38–87 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | S/8–18 | $2.3–5.2 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | S/32–70 | $9–20 |
| Cappuccino | S/7–13 | $2.0–3.8 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | S/8–16 | $2.3–4.6 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | S/1–2 | $0.29–0.58 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | S/6–12 | $1.7–3.5 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | S/80–200 | $23–58 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | S/30–60 | $8.7–17.4 |
Value for money: 76/100
A value score of 76/100 means Arequipa gives more quality of life per dollar than 75% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 60/100. It's the 7th most affordable of 13 places we cover in Peru.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Peru
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Huaraz | $697–1,100 | 94/100 |
| Puno | $697–1,100 | 81/100 |
| Huacachina | $726–1,160 | 92/100 |
| Máncora | $726–1,220 | 87/100 |
| Paracas | $813–1,250 | 90/100 |
| Iquitos | $813–1,250 | 73/100 |
| Arequipa | $930–1,450 | 76/100 |
| Sacred Valley | $959–1,510 | 81/100 |
| Cusco | $1,020–1,600 | 58/100 |
| Nazca | $1,020–1,600 | 66/100 |
| Puerto Maldonado | $1,020–1,600 | 60/100 |
| Lima | $1,310–2,030 | 56/100 |
| Machu Picchu | $1,740–2,760 | 37/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Arequipa
Similar safety, lower cost, in South America.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Sucre | Bolivia | $457–706 |
| Uyuni | Bolivia | $499–831 |
| Huaraz | Peru | $697–1,100 |
| Huacachina | Peru | $726–1,160 |
| Máncora | Peru | $726–1,220 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Arequipa?
About $494–726 on a lean budget, $930–1,450 for a comfortable month and $2,030–3,490 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Arequipa?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs S/1,200–2,400 ($349–697) a month in the center and S/800–1,500 ($232–436) outside it.
How much does food cost in Arequipa?
A local meal is S/8–18 ($2.3–5.2); a mid-range restaurant is S/32–70 ($9–20) per person.
Is Peru expensive?
Prices in Peru are about 52% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Arequipa
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- PROMPERÚ (Peru Travel)
- Cruz del Sur
- Servicio Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (SERNANP)
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.