What $1,000 Buys You: 5 Cities from Lima to San José
Five very different lifestyles on the same budget.
What Does $1k USD Get You?
This is a simple price check. Same $1.000. Five cities. What that money buys. This time in LATAM.
It is not a guide on how to live there, but more like a “basket”.
What is in the basket
Housing.
Utilities and internet.
Groceries.
Some meals out.
Public transport with a few ride hails.
Mobile data.
Light work setup. A couple of hot desk day passes or café sessions.
One small treat each week.
Misc small costs.
What I leave out
Flights.
Visas and permits.
Private health insurance.
Nightlife and shopping.
Debt payments.
If money is left over, I show it. If the budget falls short, I show the gap.
Lima, Peru
A Pacific capital on cliffs over the ocean. Ceviche, coastal walks, and calm work days between Barranco and Miraflores.
Exchange rate used
1 USD = 3.54 PEN.
Housing
Studio apartment for one month in Surquillo or Magdalena del Mar from local listings. Total: 480 USD. Utilities and Wi-Fi included.
Connectivity
Local SIM with a 30-day data pack.
Total: 12 USD.
Groceries basket for home cooking
Rice, eggs, chicken, greens, fruit, pasta, oil, coffee, basics for breakfast and dinner.
Subtotal: 180 USD.
Meals out
Twenty local lunches or simple dinners.
Subtotal: 90 USD.
Cafés
Twelve coffees for work sessions.
Subtotal: 32 USD.
Work setup
Three co-work day passes for focus days.
Subtotal: 32 USD.
Getting around
Metropolitano card loads and top-ups.
Subtotal: 12 USD. A few short ride hails: 28 USD.
Small joys
One treat each week. For example, a museum ticket or seaside sweets in Barranco.
Subtotal: 28 USD.
Laundry and toiletries
Soap, shampoo, detergent, basic care, two loads a week.
Subtotal: 22 USD.
One local day trip
Pachacamac ruins or a coastal day with snacks.
Subtotal: 24 USD.
Total spent
480 + 12 + 180 + 90 + 32 + 32 + 12 + 28 + 28 + 22 + 24 = $940.
Mexico City, Mexico
A giant, creative capital. Street food, long walks, and quiet work blocks in places like Narvarte and Del Valle.
Exchange rate used
1 USD = 18.0 MXN.
Housing
Room in a shared flat in Narvarte or Portales from local listings.
Total: 560 USD. Utilities and Wi-Fi included.
Connectivity
Prepaid SIM with 30-day data.
Total: 12 USD.
Groceries for home cooking
Tortillas, eggs, chicken, beans, tomatoes, onions, greens, fruit, rice, oil, coffee.
Subtotal: 170 USD.
Meals out
Twelve neighborhood fonda lunches.
Subtotal: 72 USD.
Cafés
Eight cappuccinos for focused sessions.
Subtotal: 24 USD.
Work setup
Two co-work day passes for deep-work days.
Subtotal: 20 USD.
Getting around
Metro and Metrobús rides with card reloads.
Subtotal: 18 USD. A few short ride-hails: 28 USD.
Laundry and toiletries
Detergent, basics, two loads a week.
Subtotal: 22 USD.
Small joy
Lucha libre ticket with a snack.
Subtotal: 22 USD.
One local day trip
Teotihuacán. Bus, site entry, and water.
Subtotal: 28 USD.
Household and extras
Cleaning wipes, water jug, small items.
Subtotal: 12 USD.
Total spent
560 + 12 + 170 + 72 + 24 + 20 + 18 + 28 + 22 + 22 + 28 + 12 = $988.
What we cannot buy
A private studio in Condesa.
A full co-work membership for the month.
Daily Uber rides anywhere in the city.
Restaurant dinners every night.
Weekend trips to Oaxaca or the coast.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Nice boulevards, late dinners, and a city that stays up with you.
Exchange rate used
1 USD = 1,340 ARS.
Housing
Private room for one month in Almagro from local listings.
Total: 500 USD.
Mobile data
Prepaid SIM for visitors. About 3 to 5 GB for 30 days.
Total: 7 USD.
Groceries for home cooking
Pasta and rice, eggs, chicken, seasonal veg, fruit, coffee, oil, mate and yerba.
Subtotal: 170 USD.
Meals out
Twelve cheap neighborhood lunches and takeaways. A slice of pizza, empanadas, choripán, menú del día outside the business district.
Subtotal: 116 USD (reference points show central set menus much higher, so we keep lunches simple).
Cafés
Ten cortados or flat whites for work sessions.
Subtotal: 32 USD.
Work setup
Two co-work day passes for focus days.
Subtotal: 60 USD. (Day passes at wework listed at around $29/ARS 40,000)
Getting around
SUBE loads for subte and buses plus a couple of short ride hails.
Subtotal: 32 USD (Subte rides are around 757 ARS, bus fares lower).
Laundry and toiletries
Detergent, basic care, two loads a week.
Subtotal: 22 USD.
Small joy
Milonga night!
Subtotal: 14 USD. Event milongas can be free during the city festival, others charge at the door.
One local day trip
Tigre on the Mitre line plus a short boat loop and snacks.
Subtotal: 20 USD.
Household and extras
Cleaning supplies and small items.
Subtotal: 12 USD.
Total spent
500 + 7 + 170 + 116 + 32 + 60 + 32 + 22 + 14 + 20 + 12 = $985.
What we cannot buy
A private studio in Palermo or Recoleta.
Steakhouse dinners every week.
A full wework membership for the month.
Ride hails every day.
Two paid out-of-town tours.
Montevideo, Uruguay
A calm capital on the Río de la Plata.
Exchange rate used
1 USD = 40.0 UYU.
Housing
Private room for one month in a shared flat in La Blanqueada or Tres Cruces from local listings.
Total: 545 USD (examples show rooms from 10,000 to 20,000 UYU depending on area and setup).
Connectivity
Prepaid eSIM with 30-day data.
Total: 26 USD.
Home cooking staples
Rice and pasta, eggs, chicken, seasonal veg, fruit, oil, coffee, basic condiments.
Subtotal: 190 USD.
Meals out
Eight simple neighborhood lunches outside the seafront districts.
Subtotal: 64 USD.
Cafés
Eight coffees for work sessions.
Subtotal: 28 USD.
Work setup
Two day passes at Sinergia.
Subtotal: 37 USD.
Getting around
STM card reloads for bus rides at the 1-hour fare, plus two short ride-hails.
Subtotal: 37 USD (Bus 1-hour fare is 50 UYU.)
Laundry and toiletries
Detergent and basics, two loads a week.
Subtotal: 24 USD.
Small joy
Helado on the rambla one evening.
Subtotal: 14 USD.
One local day trip
Full-day bike rental to ride the coast.
Subtotal: 16 USD.
Household and extras
Cleaning wipes, water jug, small items.
Subtotal: 12 USD.
Total spent
545 + 26 + 190 + 64 + 28 + 37 + 37 + 24 + 14 + 16 + 12 = $993.
What we cannot buy
A private studio in Pocitos or Punta Carretas.
A full co-work membership for the month.
Steakhouse dinners every week.
Daily ride-hails across town.
San José, Costa Rica
A dense capital in the Central Valley. Afternoon rain, busy buses, and quiet work blocks in Sabanilla or Pavas rather than the center.
Exchange rate used
1 USD = 505 CRC.
Housing
Small furnished room for a month in Sabanilla or Pavas from local listings.
Total: 620 USD (1-bedroom apartments in the valley often run 800–1,000 USD, so a room keeps costs down).
Connectivity
Prepaid SIM with a 30-day data pack.
Total: 12 USD. (Kölbi 2 GB, 30 días ≈ ₡4,062.)
Groceries for home cooking
Rice and beans, chicken thighs, eggs, onions, tomatoes, greens, plantains, fruit, coffee, oil.
Subtotal: 210 USD.
Meals out
Eight lunches at neighborhood sodas.
Subtotal: 56 USD (typical casados run roughly ₡3,500–₡5,000).
Cafés
Four coffees for short sessions.
Subtotal: 12 USD.
Work setup
Day passes this month: 0 USD. We skip co-working to stay under budget. (Example day passes in Escalante from 10–20 USD.)
Getting around
City buses with card reloads.
Subtotal: 20 USD. A few short ride-hails: 20 USD (city buses are usually 1–3 USD per ride).
Laundry and toiletries
Detergent and basics, two loads a week.
Subtotal: 25 USD.
Small joy
Central Market snack run one weekend.
Subtotal: 10 USD.
One local day trip
0 USD. Poás entry alone is 15 USD, so we leave it for another month.
Household and extras
Cleaning wipes, water jug, small items.
Subtotal: 10 USD.
Total spent
620 + 12 + 210 + 56 + 12 + 0 + 20 + 20 + 25 + 10 + 0 + 10 = $995.
What we cannot buy
A private studio in Escalante.
Two or more co-work day passes each week.
Daily ride-hails across town.
A weekend at the beach with bus plus hotel.
A paid Poás day with transport and meals.
Restaurant dinners every night.
Barista coffee every day.
A paid guided city tour.
Head To Head
Best Value For Money
Lima. Private studio, full pantry, a stack of cheap lunches, a couple of cowork days, bus rides, and one simple trip. Money left at the end.
Best For Work
Mexico City. Big café network, fast internet, metro everywhere, and easy day passes at places like WeWork. The routine stays steady.
Best If You Can Stretch Above 1.000
Montevideo. Add a few hundred and you step up to Pocitos or Punta Carretas, get a full co-work membership, eat out more, and keep a few ride-hails in play.
Most Balanced City On This Budget
Buenos Aires. Private room near the center, subte rides, home cooking, cheap neighborhood lunches, two co-work days, and one classic night out.
Toughest
San José. Small room on the edge, buses over cars, no co-work this month, and just one small treat.
Closing
Same budget. Five cities. Now you can see what 1.000 USD actually buys.
Your turn.
Which place should we price next? Bali. Kuala Lumpur. Athens. New York. Iceland?
Drop your pick or share your own $1.000 cart in the comments.
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Aww such a well detailed intel ben I do really appreciate it.
well as for me I would love to know more about Bali and Iceland as am really curious 😝
This post is useful and awesome - thank you! Based on my July travel in BA and MVD, it’s accurate, too.