Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Iquitos Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Iquitos

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $701 in Cajamarca versus $678 in Iquitos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,192 in Cajamarca versus $1,210 in Iquitos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,683 in Cajamarca versus $1,741 in Iquitos.

Living in Cajamarca is roughly 3% more expensive than in Iquitos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 49% lower, Iquitos 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.66 PEN 12.34

$4.44 PEN 14.98

-17.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.95 PEN 101

$38.60 PEN 130

-22.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.01 PEN 20.27

$7.46 PEN 25.17

-19.44%

Cappuccino

$2.63 PEN 8.86

$3.48 PEN 11.73

-24.43%

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

$0.81 PEN 2.74

$0.88 PEN 2.96

-7.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 PEN 1.93

$0.62 PEN 2.09

-8.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 PEN 8.12

$3.03 PEN 10.23

-20.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 PEN 12.39

$7.28 PEN 24.55

-49.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.55

$1.82 PEN 6.13

-25.82%

White Bread (500g)

$3.31 PEN 11.18

$2.43 PEN 8.20

36.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.27

Eggs

$2.31 PEN 7.78

$2.66 PEN 8.96

-13.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.89 PEN 26.61

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.12 PEN 20.64

$3.31 PEN 11.16

84.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.01 PEN 43.88

Apples (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.76

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 PEN 2.65

Oranges (1kg)

$1.21 PEN 4.09

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 PEN 3.77

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 PEN 2.72

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.40

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 PEN 2.56

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.57

$0.87 PEN 2.94

-12.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.02 PEN 30.42

Wine (Bottle)

$10.53 PEN 35.51

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 PEN 8.76

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 PEN 8.57

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 PEN 1.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.86 PEN 29.89

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PEN 6.16

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 PEN 4.44

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.12 PEN 17.29

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 PEN 5.41

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

$23.6K PEN 79.7K

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)

$49.68 PEN 168

$35.89 PEN 121

38.42%

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

$9.48 PEN 32.00

$11.42 PEN 38.54

-16.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.30 PEN 98.9

$8.74 PEN 29.48

235.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.19 PEN 105

$29.65 PEN 100

5.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.98 PEN 70.8

$8.68 PEN 29.29

141.71%

Cinema Ticket

$4.82 PEN 16.25

$6.00 PEN 20.23

-19.67%

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

$140 PEN 472

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,389 PEN 14.8K

$2,904 PEN 9,798

51.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.3 PEN 176

$87.5 PEN 295

-40.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.27 PEN 102

$36.35 PEN 123

-16.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 PEN 280

$53.0 PEN 179

56.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.9 PEN 276

$27.22 PEN 91.9

200.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 PEN 684

$358 PEN 1,207

-43.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PEN 358

$270 PEN 911

-60.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$538 PEN 1,813

$899 PEN 3,035

-40.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 PEN 1,090

$748 PEN 2,524

-56.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,337 PEN 7,884

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$728 PEN 2,455

$585 PEN 1,974

24.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.5

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

Last update for Cajamarca: September 14, 2026

Last update for Iquitos: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $203 in Cajamarca and $358 in Iquitos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 24% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $30.00 in Cajamarca vs $39.00 in Iquitos. Groceries flip the comparison at $231 vs $80.0, with Iquitos cheaper for home cooking.

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

Cajamarca vs Iquitos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iquitos is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 24% higher in Cajamarca, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $203 in Cajamarca versus $358 in Iquitos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 188% higher in Cajamarca. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Iquitos – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $30.00 in Cajamarca. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Iquitos gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Cajamarca and Iquitos are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Iquitos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.