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: $654 in Cajamarca versus $620 in Iquitos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,105 in Cajamarca versus $1,145 in Iquitos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,555 in Cajamarca versus $1,670 in Iquitos.

Living in Cajamarca is roughly 6% more expensive than in Iquitos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 51% lower, Iquitos 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 PEN 10.60

$4.22 PEN 14.23

-25.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.99 PEN 94.5

$36.59 PEN 123

-23.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.99 PEN 20.21

$6.99 PEN 23.58

-14.31%

Cappuccino

$2.84 PEN 9.59

$3.34 PEN 11.28

-14.97%

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

$0.82 PEN 2.77

$0.79 PEN 2.68

3.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 PEN 1.81

$0.99 PEN 3.34

-45.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 PEN 7.71

$2.71 PEN 9.13

-15.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PEN 11.47

$6.85 PEN 23.12

-50.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 PEN 4.25

$1.70 PEN 5.73

-25.88%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 PEN 10.50

$2.25 PEN 7.59

38.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 PEN 3.52

Eggs

$2.05 PEN 6.93

$2.42 PEN 8.18

-15.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.10 PEN 20.59

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.66 PEN 19.12

$2.97 PEN 10.04

90.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.17 PEN 41.06

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.40

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 PEN 2.52

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 PEN 2.99

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.37

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 PEN 2.39

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 PEN 3.30

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 PEN 2.28

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 PEN 2.58

$0.80 PEN 2.69

-3.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.12 PEN 27.39

Wine (Bottle)

$10.25 PEN 34.58

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 PEN 8.24

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 PEN 7.73

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 PEN 1.85

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.12 PEN 27.39

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 PEN 5.72

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 PEN 4.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.73 PEN 15.95

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 PEN 4.90

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

$22.3K PEN 75.2K

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

$23.9K PEN 80.5K

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

$45.45 PEN 153

$33.54 PEN 113

35.51%

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

$9.08 PEN 30.65

$11.00 PEN 37.13

-17.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.76 PEN 90.3

$8.30 PEN 28.01

222.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.45 PEN 96.0

$27.67 PEN 93.4

2.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 PEN 64.8

$8.47 PEN 28.59

126.56%

Cinema Ticket

$4.64 PEN 15.65

$5.73 PEN 19.33

-19.02%

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

$130 PEN 440

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,123 PEN 13.9K

$2,648 PEN 8,936

55.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.73 PEN 164

$84.4 PEN 285

-42.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.67 PEN 93.4

$33.22 PEN 112

-16.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 PEN 261

$49.61 PEN 167

55.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.7 PEN 262

$25.12 PEN 84.8

209.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PEN 678

$328 PEN 1,107

-38.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.8 PEN 333

$246 PEN 829

-59.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 PEN 1,710

$830 PEN 2,803

-38.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 PEN 989

$694 PEN 2,341

-57.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,310 PEN 7,795

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$721 PEN 2,434

$591 PEN 1,996

21.95%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Iquitos: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $201 in Cajamarca and $328 in Iquitos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 22% 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: $28.00 in Cajamarca vs $37.00 in Iquitos. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $74.0, 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 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 22% 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: $201 in Cajamarca versus $328 in Iquitos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 186% 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 $37.00 versus $28.00 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 6% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.