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: $636 in Cajamarca versus $641 in Iquitos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,084 in Cajamarca versus $1,154 in Iquitos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,532 in Cajamarca versus $1,666 in Iquitos.

Living in Cajamarca costs roughly 1% less than in Iquitos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 52% lower, Iquitos 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.03 PEN 10.67

$4.08 PEN 14.36

-25.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.29 PEN 99.6

$36.24 PEN 128

-21.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 PEN 19.95

$6.84 PEN 24.08

-17.11%

Cappuccino

$2.91 PEN 10.24

$3.36 PEN 11.82

-13.39%

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

$0.75 PEN 2.65

$0.81 PEN 2.87

-7.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 PEN 2.02

$1.00 PEN 3.54

-43.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 PEN 7.89

$2.84 PEN 10.00

-21.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 PEN 11.53

$7.13 PEN 25.09

-54.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 PEN 4.38

$1.71 PEN 6.04

-27.49%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 PEN 10.82

$2.25 PEN 7.91

36.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 PEN 3.77

Eggs

$2.16 PEN 7.59

$2.37 PEN 8.36

-8.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.17 PEN 21.73

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.71 PEN 20.09

$3.05 PEN 10.72

87.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.10 PEN 42.60

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 PEN 3.45

Banana (1kg)

$0.74 PEN 2.59

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PEN 3.15

Tomato (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.54

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 PEN 2.65

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 PEN 3.43

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 PEN 2.38

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 PEN 2.51

$0.87 PEN 3.06

-18.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.41 PEN 29.60

Wine (Bottle)

$10.21 PEN 35.94

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 PEN 8.89

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 PEN 8.35

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 PEN 2.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.49 PEN 29.87

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 PEN 5.79

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 PEN 4.23

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.81 PEN 16.95

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 PEN 5.22

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

$22.5K PEN 79.4K

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

$24.2K PEN 85.2K

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

$45.55 PEN 160

$33.44 PEN 118

36.21%

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

$9.22 PEN 32.45

$10.80 PEN 38.01

-14.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.93 PEN 94.8

$8.32 PEN 29.28

223.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.66 PEN 101

$28.27 PEN 99.5

1.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 PEN 67.6

$8.16 PEN 28.71

135.17%

Cinema Ticket

$4.52 PEN 15.91

$5.48 PEN 19.30

-17.52%

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

$128 PEN 450

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,180 PEN 14.7K

$2,667 PEN 9,389

56.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.88 PEN 169

$81.7 PEN 288

-41.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.30 PEN 96.1

$33.05 PEN 116

-17.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.3 PEN 272

$50.8 PEN 179

52.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.0 PEN 271

$25.37 PEN 89.3

203.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PEN 696

$329 PEN 1,159

-39.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.3 PEN 336

$248 PEN 873

-61.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 PEN 1,755

$828 PEN 2,916

-39.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PEN 1,042

$701 PEN 2,466

-57.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,264 PEN 7,971

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$708 PEN 2,491

$575 PEN 2,026

22.99%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Iquitos: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $198 in Cajamarca and $329 in Iquitos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 23% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $28.00 in Cajamarca vs $36.00 in Iquitos. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $75.0, 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

Cajamarca is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Cajamarca pays 23% 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: $198 in Cajamarca versus $329 in Iquitos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Iquitos pay roughly 182% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Cajamarca – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $36.00 in Iquitos. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Cajamarca 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 Cajamarca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Iquitos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.