Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Iquitos Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Iquitos

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $689 in Cusco versus $678 in Iquitos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,056 in Cusco versus $1,210 in Iquitos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,423 in Cusco versus $1,741 in Iquitos.

Living in Cusco is roughly 2% more expensive than in Iquitos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.58 PEN 8.70

$4.44 PEN 14.98

-41.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.08 PEN 71.1

$38.60 PEN 130

-45.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.46 PEN 21.80

$7.46 PEN 25.17

-13.40%

Cappuccino

$2.21 PEN 7.44

$3.48 PEN 11.73

-36.49%

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

$0.75 PEN 2.52

$0.88 PEN 2.96

-14.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 PEN 1.13

$0.62 PEN 2.09

-46.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 PEN 7.20

$3.03 PEN 10.23

-29.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.49 PEN 15.13

$7.28 PEN 24.55

-38.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 PEN 4.49

$1.82 PEN 6.13

-26.92%

White Bread (500g)

$2.36 PEN 7.95

$2.43 PEN 8.20

-2.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 PEN 4.45

Eggs

$3.63 PEN 12.25

$2.66 PEN 8.96

36.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.85 PEN 16.37

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.57 PEN 15.43

$3.31 PEN 11.16

38.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.37 PEN 24.86

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 PEN 9.00

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 PEN 2.85

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 PEN 5.15

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 PEN 2.95

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 PEN 3.61

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 PEN 3.89

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 PEN 1.82

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 PEN 2.62

$0.87 PEN 2.94

-10.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.90 PEN 19.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 PEN 6.62

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.35 PEN 14.69

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 PEN 1.05

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PEN 6.09

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 PEN 6.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 PEN 9.88

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 PEN 5.21

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

$30.32 PEN 102

$35.89 PEN 121

-15.52%

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

$14.64 PEN 49.41

$11.42 PEN 38.54

28.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.76 PEN 148

$8.74 PEN 29.48

400.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.37 PEN 119

$29.65 PEN 100

19.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.68 PEN 29.29

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 PEN 14.68

$6.00 PEN 20.23

-27.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,904 PEN 9,798

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.77 PEN 131

$87.5 PEN 295

-55.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.83 PEN 114

$36.35 PEN 123

-6.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.7 PEN 188

$53.0 PEN 179

4.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.7 PEN 249

$27.22 PEN 91.9

170.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$146 PEN 493

$358 PEN 1,207

-59.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 PEN 592

$270 PEN 911

-35.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$361 PEN 1,218

$899 PEN 3,035

-59.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 PEN 900

$748 PEN 2,524

-64.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,914 PEN 13.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,841 PEN 6,211

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$442 PEN 1,490

$585 PEN 1,974

-24.51%

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

Last update for Cusco: September 14, 2026

Last update for Iquitos: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $146 in Cusco and $358 in Iquitos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iquitos pays 32% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $21.00 in Cusco vs $39.00 in Iquitos. Groceries flip the comparison at $192 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

Cusco vs Iquitos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iquitos is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 32% lower in Iquitos. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $146 in Cusco versus $358 in Iquitos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 140% higher in Cusco. 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 $21.00 in Cusco. 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.

For families, Iquitos is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cusco, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Iquitos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.