Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Pucallpa Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Pucallpa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $719 per month in Arequipa vs $525 in Pucallpa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,136 per month in Arequipa vs $848 in Pucallpa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,553 per month in Arequipa vs $1,171 in Pucallpa, rent included.

Arequipa costs about 37% more than Pucallpa, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Arequipa and Pucallpa are more affordable than the global median – Arequipa 47% lower, Pucallpa 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 PEN 11.92

$2.44 PEN 8.23

44.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.40 PEN 95.8

$11.79 PEN 39.76

140.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.06 PEN 20.46

$5.35 PEN 18.05

13.27%

Cappuccino

$2.59 PEN 8.75

$2.11 PEN 7.12

22.75%

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

$0.85 PEN 2.86

$1.03 PEN 3.46

-17.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 PEN 1.25

$0.29 PEN 0.97

27.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.10 PEN 7.07

$1.76 PEN 5.95

19.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 PEN 14.82

$2.40 PEN 8.10

82.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 PEN 4.60

$1.06 PEN 3.57

28.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.39 PEN 4.69

$3.74 PEN 12.61

-62.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 PEN 5.01

$1.16 PEN 3.91

27.59%

Eggs

$2.35 PEN 7.93

$1.78 PEN 6.00

32.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.51 PEN 21.97

$2.12 PEN 7.15

207.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 PEN 15.44

$4.13 PEN 13.94

10.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.68 PEN 25.92

$3.51 PEN 11.83

118.80%

Apples (1kg)

$1.77 PEN 5.98

$2.34 PEN 7.88

-24.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 PEN 4.26

$1.52 PEN 5.14

-17.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 PEN 3.97

$1.52 PEN 5.13

-22.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 PEN 3.59

$2.72 PEN 9.19

-61.03%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 PEN 2.30

$3.06 PEN 10.34

-77.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 PEN 2.30

$2.11 PEN 7.12

-67.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 PEN 1.90

$2.43 PEN 8.19

-76.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.56

$1.06 PEN 3.56

-28.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.09 PEN 17.19

$4.71 PEN 15.90

8.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.12 PEN 17.27

$8.00 PEN 27.00

-36.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.76 PEN 9.30

$2.42 PEN 8.18

14.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 PEN 7.82

$3.48 PEN 11.74

-33.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 PEN 1.05

$1.21 PEN 4.07

-74.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 PEN 7.06

$1.45 PEN 4.90

44.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 PEN 7.14

$0.58 PEN 1.95

265.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.12 PEN 44.26

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 PEN 5.27

$1.24 PEN 4.19

25.81%

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

$19.1K PEN 64.6K

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

$25.8K PEN 87.0K

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

$24.60 PEN 83.0

$53.4 PEN 180

-53.89%

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

$10.35 PEN 34.94

$35.28 PEN 119

-70.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.49 PEN 79.3

$44.53 PEN 150

-47.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.85 PEN 83.9

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.04 PEN 27.13

Cinema Ticket

$7.34 PEN 24.77

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

$76.7 PEN 259

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,936 PEN 23.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.48 PEN 167

$54.4 PEN 183

-9.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.26 PEN 92.0

$35.73 PEN 121

-23.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.3 PEN 227

$35.96 PEN 121

87.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.6 PEN 204

$68.4 PEN 231

-11.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$358 PEN 1,207

$118 PEN 397

204.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 PEN 803

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$746 PEN 2,517

$238 PEN 802

213.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 PEN 1,455

$126 PEN 426

241.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,005 PEN 6,765

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,007 PEN 3,397

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$630 PEN 2,124

$417 PEN 1,405

51.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Arequipa: September 14, 2026

Last update for Pucallpa: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $358 in Arequipa versus $118 in Pucallpa. 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 51% 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 $12.00 in Pucallpa. Groceries tell a different story – $178 in Arequipa vs $209 in Pucallpa – so Arequipa 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 Pucallpa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arequipa costs about 37% more than Pucallpa, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,079 per month in Arequipa and $787 in Pucallpa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pucallpa, 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 $719 in Arequipa and $525 in Pucallpa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Arequipa – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $719 in Arequipa and $525 in Pucallpa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pucallpa costs $525 versus $719 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 Pucallpa. 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.