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: $762 in Cusco versus $633 in Iquitos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,171 in Cusco versus $1,133 in Iquitos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,579 in Cusco versus $1,633 in Iquitos.

Living in Cusco is roughly 20% more expensive than Iquitos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cusco 43% lower, Iquitos 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.79 PEN 9.49

$4.21 PEN 14.30

-33.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.84 PEN 94.7

$36.32 PEN 123

-23.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.50 PEN 18.70

$6.96 PEN 23.65

-20.98%

Cappuccino

$2.02 PEN 6.87

$3.29 PEN 11.18

-38.60%

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

$1.21 PEN 4.12

$0.86 PEN 2.92

40.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 PEN 2.66

$0.94 PEN 3.20

-17.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 PEN 7.45

$2.84 PEN 9.67

-22.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 PEN 13.92

$6.84 PEN 23.27

-40.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 PEN 4.90

$1.63 PEN 5.55

-11.66%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 PEN 9.83

$2.15 PEN 7.32

34.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PEN 4.35

Eggs

$3.93 PEN 13.37

$2.41 PEN 8.20

63.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.60 PEN 15.64

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 PEN 16.87

$3.11 PEN 10.56

59.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 PEN 23.49

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 PEN 7.95

Banana (1kg)

$0.73 PEN 2.47

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 PEN 4.38

Tomato (1kg)

$0.97 PEN 3.28

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.56

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 PEN 3.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 PEN 2.36

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 PEN 2.38

$0.85 PEN 2.87

-17.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.97 PEN 16.90

Wine (Bottle)

$5.82 PEN 19.78

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 PEN 6.77

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 PEN 10.82

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.70 PEN 5.78

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 PEN 5.64

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 PEN 9.30

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 PEN 5.10

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

$18.8K PEN 64.0K

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

$22.3K PEN 75.8K

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

$33.90 PEN 115

$33.11 PEN 113

2.39%

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

$13.93 PEN 47.35

$10.73 PEN 36.48

29.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 PEN 103

$8.29 PEN 28.18

266.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.36 PEN 103

$27.82 PEN 94.6

9.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PEN 28.77

Cinema Ticket

$4.79 PEN 16.30

$5.61 PEN 19.07

-14.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,698 PEN 9,171

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.64 PEN 121

$83.5 PEN 284

-57.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.22 PEN 95.9

$33.64 PEN 114

-16.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.1 PEN 214

$49.23 PEN 167

28.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.9 PEN 241

$24.79 PEN 84.3

186.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$311 PEN 1,057

$337 PEN 1,147

-7.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$247 PEN 841

$254 PEN 864

-2.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 PEN 1,985

$842 PEN 2,862

-30.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$419 PEN 1,426

$700 PEN 2,381

-40.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,773 PEN 12.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,760 PEN 5,985

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$426 PEN 1,447

$579 PEN 1,967

-26.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Cusco: June 8, 2026

Last update for Iquitos: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $311 in Cusco and $337 in Iquitos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iquitos pays 36% 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 $194 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

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 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Iquitos earns 36% 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: $311 in Cusco versus $337 in Iquitos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 165% 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 20% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.