Toronto vs Lima Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Toronto vs Lima: everyday costs favor Lima (~62% CPI gap), housing index favors Lima, wage stretch favors Toronto. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Lima
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Housing (71% gap, Lima ahead); Purchasing Power (65% gap, Toronto ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $1,389 lower in Lima than in Toronto (~70% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $1,389 (favoring Lima).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Lima | CPI 26 vs 69.3 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Lima | Rent index 15.3 vs 52 (lower is better) |
| Food | Lima | Groceries index 33 vs 70 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Lima | One-way ticket 1.67 vs 2.38 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Lima | Utilities (85m²) 114.75 vs 142.48 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Toronto | Internet 74.8 vs 86.63 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Lima | Restaurant index 23.5 vs 65 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Toronto | Avg net salary 8069.3 vs 7812 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Toronto | PP index 95 vs 33.6 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Housing: Lima leads with a 71% gap.
Rent index 15.3 vs 52 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Lima — Lower housing / rent index (71% gap).
- Families: Lima — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Lima; purchasing power favors Toronto.
- Remote Workers: Lima — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Lima (~62% gap).
- Budget Living: Lima — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Lima is the overall cost winner on CPI (~62% lower everyday-cost index than Toronto).
- Housing: Lima leads on rent index (71% gap).
- Food / groceries: Lima is lower (53% gap).
- Purchasing power: Toronto scores higher (65% gap).
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$1,389 cheaper in Lima.
Analysis
Toronto versus Lima is not a single number. With a 62% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Lima, while housing follows Lima's rent index. Purchasing power (95 vs 33.6) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-24
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Real
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Real · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.