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: $765 in Cusco versus $641 in Iquitos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,172 in Cusco versus $1,154 in Iquitos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,579 in Cusco versus $1,666 in Iquitos.

Living in Cusco is roughly 19% more expensive than Iquitos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cusco 43% lower, Iquitos 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.86 PEN 10.07

$4.08 PEN 14.36

-29.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.88 PEN 98.2

$36.24 PEN 128

-23.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 PEN 19.82

$6.84 PEN 24.08

-17.69%

Cappuccino

$2.06 PEN 7.26

$3.36 PEN 11.82

-38.69%

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

$1.23 PEN 4.33

$0.81 PEN 2.87

51.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 PEN 2.78

$1.00 PEN 3.54

-21.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 PEN 7.69

$2.84 PEN 10.00

-23.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 PEN 14.32

$7.13 PEN 25.09

-42.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 PEN 5.28

$1.71 PEN 6.04

-12.28%

White Bread (500g)

$2.94 PEN 10.34

$2.25 PEN 7.91

30.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.48

Eggs

$3.83 PEN 13.47

$2.37 PEN 8.36

61.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.59 PEN 16.15

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.97 PEN 17.51

$3.05 PEN 10.72

62.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.72 PEN 23.66

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 PEN 8.54

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 PEN 2.73

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.48

Tomato (1kg)

$0.95 PEN 3.33

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.69

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 PEN 3.58

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 PEN 2.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 PEN 2.62

$0.87 PEN 3.06

-14.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.89 PEN 17.22

Wine (Bottle)

$6.50 PEN 22.87

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 PEN 6.96

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 PEN 10.88

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 PEN 0.94

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 PEN 5.76

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 PEN 5.87

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 PEN 9.98

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 PEN 5.25

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

$18.4K PEN 64.9K

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

$21.8K PEN 76.6K

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

$33.97 PEN 120

$33.44 PEN 118

1.58%

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

$13.86 PEN 48.80

$10.80 PEN 38.01

28.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.58 PEN 108

$8.32 PEN 29.28

267.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.62 PEN 108

$28.27 PEN 99.5

8.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.16 PEN 28.71

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 PEN 17.24

$5.48 PEN 19.30

-10.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,667 PEN 9,389

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.47 PEN 128

$81.7 PEN 288

-55.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.97 PEN 102

$33.05 PEN 116

-12.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.4 PEN 216

$50.8 PEN 179

20.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 PEN 250

$25.37 PEN 89.3

179.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$309 PEN 1,089

$329 PEN 1,159

-5.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 PEN 885

$248 PEN 873

1.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$585 PEN 2,060

$828 PEN 2,916

-29.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 PEN 1,446

$701 PEN 2,466

-41.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,824 PEN 13.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,755 PEN 6,179

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 PEN 1,679

$575 PEN 2,026

-17.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Cusco: April 27, 2026

Last update for Iquitos: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $309 in Cusco and $329 in Iquitos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iquitos pays 21% 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 Cusco vs $36.00 in Iquitos. Groceries flip the comparison at $196 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

Cusco vs Iquitos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iquitos is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Iquitos earns 21% less. 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: $309 in Cusco versus $329 in Iquitos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 162% 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 $36.00 versus $28.00 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 19% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.