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: $655 in Cajamarca versus $633 in Iquitos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,101 in Cajamarca versus $1,133 in Iquitos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,547 in Cajamarca versus $1,633 in Iquitos.

Living in Cajamarca is roughly 3% more expensive than 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 10.69

$4.21 PEN 14.30

-25.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.17 PEN 95.8

$36.32 PEN 123

-22.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.98 PEN 20.34

$6.96 PEN 23.65

-14.08%

Cappuccino

$2.90 PEN 9.86

$3.29 PEN 11.18

-11.85%

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

$0.80 PEN 2.73

$0.86 PEN 2.92

-6.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 PEN 1.84

$0.94 PEN 3.20

-42.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 PEN 7.66

$2.84 PEN 9.67

-20.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 PEN 11.21

$6.84 PEN 23.27

-51.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 PEN 4.22

$1.63 PEN 5.55

-23.93%

White Bread (500g)

$2.98 PEN 10.13

$2.15 PEN 7.32

38.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.56

Eggs

$2.10 PEN 7.13

$2.41 PEN 8.20

-12.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.14 PEN 20.89

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.78 PEN 19.64

$3.11 PEN 10.56

85.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.07 PEN 41.03

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 PEN 3.11

Banana (1kg)

$0.71 PEN 2.41

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 PEN 2.83

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.40

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 PEN 2.53

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 PEN 3.12

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 PEN 2.15

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.57

$0.85 PEN 2.87

-10.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.34 PEN 28.36

Wine (Bottle)

$10.22 PEN 34.75

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 PEN 8.19

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 PEN 8.08

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 PEN 1.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.27 PEN 28.12

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PEN 5.62

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 PEN 4.24

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.78 PEN 16.26

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 PEN 5.14

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

$22.5K PEN 76.4K

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

$24.0K PEN 81.6K

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

$46.50 PEN 158

$33.11 PEN 113

40.44%

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

$8.94 PEN 30.38

$10.73 PEN 36.48

-16.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.56 PEN 90.3

$8.29 PEN 28.18

220.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.32 PEN 96.3

$27.82 PEN 94.6

1.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.41 PEN 66.0

$8.46 PEN 28.77

129.43%

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 PEN 15.44

$5.61 PEN 19.07

-19.07%

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

$129 PEN 440

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,152 PEN 14.1K

$2,698 PEN 9,171

53.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.78 PEN 162

$83.5 PEN 284

-42.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.47 PEN 93.4

$33.64 PEN 114

-18.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 PEN 262

$49.23 PEN 167

56.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.0 PEN 262

$24.79 PEN 84.3

210.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 PEN 678

$337 PEN 1,147

-40.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.3 PEN 334

$254 PEN 864

-61.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$494 PEN 1,679

$842 PEN 2,862

-41.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$292 PEN 993

$700 PEN 2,381

-58.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,326 PEN 7,908

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$696 PEN 2,365

$579 PEN 1,967

20.23%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Iquitos: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $200 in Cajamarca and $337 in Iquitos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 20% 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 $36.00 in Iquitos. Groceries flip the comparison at $208 vs $73.0, 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.

Cajamarca pays 20% more on average, 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: $200 in Cajamarca versus $337 in Iquitos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 185% 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 $36.00 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 3% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.