Arequipa vs Trujillo
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Arequipa leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Trujillo where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Trujillo's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Arequipa | Trujillo |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 65 | 66 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 45 | 45 |
| Climate | 96 | 100 |
| Safety | 58 | 59 |
| Summer °C | 12.8 | 23.0 |
| Winter °C | 10.1 | 17.6 |
| Top disaster risk | drought | drought |
Arequipa vs Trujillo: the short answer
Trujillo comes out ahead on overall livability (66/100), only marginally above Arequipa (65/100). The two cities diverge most on climate. On affordability Trujillo is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Arequipa 45 vs Trujillo 45, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Trujillo runs warmer in summer (about 23.0°C peak vs 12.8°C in Arequipa), while winter lows sit near 10.1°C in Arequipa and 17.6°C in Trujillo. On natural-disaster exposure Trujillo is the safer choice (safety 59/100); the dominant modelled hazard is drought for Arequipa and drought for Trujillo.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Trujillo — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Trujillo — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Trujillo — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Trujillo — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is Arequipa or Trujillo better to live in?
Trujillo scores higher overall — 66 vs 65 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Arequipa or Trujillo?
Trujillo has the lower cost of living (cost index 45 vs 45; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Arequipa or Trujillo?
Trujillo — summer highs reach about 23.0°C versus 12.8°C in Arequipa.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Arequipa or Trujillo?
Trujillo (disaster-safety 59/100). Main hazard: drought in Arequipa, drought in Trujillo.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Arequipa?
drought is the dominant modelled hazard for Arequipa on our risk index.
How is the Arequipa vs Trujillo comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.