Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Iquitos Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Iquitos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $641 per month in Arequipa vs $620 in Iquitos, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,058 per month in Arequipa vs $1,145 in Iquitos, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,475 per month in Arequipa vs $1,670 in Iquitos, rent included.

Arequipa costs about 3% more than Iquitos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arequipa and Iquitos are more affordable than the global median – Arequipa 52% lower, Iquitos 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.14 PEN 13.98

$4.22 PEN 14.23

-1.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.18 PEN 95.1

$36.59 PEN 123

-22.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.51 PEN 18.58

$6.99 PEN 23.58

-21.17%

Cappuccino

$2.49 PEN 8.42

$3.34 PEN 11.28

-25.45%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.56

$0.79 PEN 2.68

-3.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 PEN 1.33

$0.99 PEN 3.34

-60.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 PEN 7.53

$2.71 PEN 9.13

-17.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.98 PEN 20.18

$6.85 PEN 23.12

-12.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 PEN 5.14

$1.70 PEN 5.73

-10.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 PEN 4.17

$2.25 PEN 7.59

-44.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.28

Eggs

$2.14 PEN 7.21

$2.42 PEN 8.18

-11.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.36 PEN 18.10

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 PEN 17.74

$2.97 PEN 10.04

77.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.72 PEN 26.06

Apples (1kg)

$1.45 PEN 4.91

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 PEN 4.01

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 PEN 4.01

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 PEN 2.75

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 PEN 2.00

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 PEN 1.85

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 PEN 1.49

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.57

$0.80 PEN 2.69

-5.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.07 PEN 17.11

Wine (Bottle)

$5.26 PEN 17.74

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 PEN 8.28

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 PEN 7.55

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 PEN 7.03

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 PEN 6.97

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.84 PEN 43.32

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 PEN 5.49

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.6K PEN 62.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.2K PEN 85.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$39.89 PEN 135

$33.54 PEN 113

18.93%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.74 PEN 36.24

$11.00 PEN 37.13

-2.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.30 PEN 102

$8.30 PEN 28.01

265.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.61 PEN 72.9

$27.67 PEN 93.4

-21.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.13 PEN 27.43

$8.47 PEN 28.59

-4.01%

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PEN 14.62

$5.73 PEN 19.33

-24.43%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$59.5 PEN 201

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,278 PEN 21.2K

$2,648 PEN 8,936

137.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.91 PEN 125

$84.4 PEN 285

-56.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.81 PEN 73.6

$33.22 PEN 112

-34.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.3 PEN 210

$49.61 PEN 167

25.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.9 PEN 185

$25.12 PEN 84.8

118.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 PEN 799

$328 PEN 1,107

-27.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 PEN 525

$246 PEN 829

-36.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$538 PEN 1,816

$830 PEN 2,803

-35.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$382 PEN 1,290

$694 PEN 2,341

-44.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,014 PEN 6,797

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$988 PEN 3,333

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$645 PEN 2,176

$591 PEN 1,996

9.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Arequipa: July 26, 2026

Last update for Iquitos: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $237 in Arequipa versus $328 in Iquitos. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 9% higher in Arequipa, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Arequipa versus $37.00 in Iquitos. Groceries tell a different story – $171 in Arequipa vs $74.0 in Iquitos – so Iquitos wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Arequipa vs Iquitos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arequipa costs about 3% more than Iquitos, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $961 per month in Arequipa and $930 in Iquitos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Iquitos, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $641 in Arequipa and $620 in Iquitos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 132% more in Arequipa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $641 in Arequipa and $620 in Iquitos, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Iquitos costs $620 versus $641 in Arequipa. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Iquitos. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arequipa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.