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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $641 per month in Arequipa vs $448 in Pucallpa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,058 per month in Arequipa vs $754 in Pucallpa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,475 per month in Arequipa vs $1,061 in Pucallpa, rent included.

Arequipa costs about 43% more than Pucallpa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Arequipa and Pucallpa are more affordable than the global median – Arequipa 52% lower, Pucallpa 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.14 PEN 14.06

$2.26 PEN 7.68

83.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.18 PEN 95.7

$10.91 PEN 37.03

158.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.51 PEN 18.69

$4.98 PEN 16.89

10.64%

Cappuccino

$2.49 PEN 8.47

$1.98 PEN 6.73

25.76%

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

$0.76 PEN 2.58

$0.93 PEN 3.16

-18.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 PEN 1.33

$0.29 PEN 1.00

34.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 PEN 7.57

$1.72 PEN 5.82

29.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.98 PEN 20.31

$2.25 PEN 7.62

165.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 PEN 5.17

$1.01 PEN 3.43

50.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 PEN 4.19

$3.56 PEN 12.09

-65.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.31

$1.09 PEN 3.68

16.51%

Eggs

$2.14 PEN 7.25

$1.72 PEN 5.83

24.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.36 PEN 18.21

$1.99 PEN 6.74

169.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 PEN 17.84

$3.78 PEN 12.83

39.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.72 PEN 26.22

$3.38 PEN 11.47

128.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.45 PEN 4.94

$2.27 PEN 7.71

-36.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 PEN 4.04

$1.42 PEN 4.81

-16.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 PEN 4.03

$1.42 PEN 4.82

-16.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 PEN 2.76

$2.49 PEN 8.45

-67.47%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 PEN 2.01

$0.96 PEN 3.25

-38.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 PEN 1.86

$1.90 PEN 6.45

-71.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 PEN 1.50

$0.77 PEN 2.61

-42.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.59

$0.96 PEN 3.24

-20.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.07 PEN 17.21

$4.32 PEN 14.66

17.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.26 PEN 17.85

$7.74 PEN 26.29

-32.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 PEN 8.33

$2.17 PEN 7.36

12.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 PEN 7.59

$3.41 PEN 11.58

-34.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

$1.09 PEN 3.70

-73.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 PEN 7.07

$1.35 PEN 4.59

54.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 PEN 7.02

$0.52 PEN 1.77

298.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.84 PEN 43.58

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 PEN 5.52

$1.16 PEN 3.95

40.52%

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

$18.6K PEN 63.1K

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

$25.2K PEN 85.5K

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

$39.89 PEN 135

$49.39 PEN 168

-19.23%

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

$10.74 PEN 36.45

$15.11 PEN 51.3

-28.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.30 PEN 103

$41.42 PEN 141

-26.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.61 PEN 73.4

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.13 PEN 27.60

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PEN 14.70

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

$59.5 PEN 202

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,278 PEN 21.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.91 PEN 125

$49.77 PEN 169

-25.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.81 PEN 74.0

$33.26 PEN 113

-34.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.3 PEN 211

$33.57 PEN 114

85.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.9 PEN 186

$62.7 PEN 213

-12.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 PEN 804

$109 PEN 371

116.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 PEN 528

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$538 PEN 1,827

$226 PEN 769

137.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$382 PEN 1,297

$118 PEN 402

223.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,014 PEN 6,838

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$988 PEN 3,353

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$645 PEN 2,189

$419 PEN 1,422

53.91%

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 Pucallpa: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $237 in Arequipa versus $109 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 54% 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 $11.00 in Pucallpa. Groceries tell a different story – $171 in Arequipa vs $184 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 43% more than Pucallpa, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 $672 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 $641 in Arequipa and $448 in Pucallpa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% 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 $641 in Arequipa and $448 in Pucallpa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pucallpa costs $448 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 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.