Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Pucallpa Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Pucallpa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $689 in Cusco versus $525 in Pucallpa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,056 in Cusco versus $848 in Pucallpa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,423 in Cusco versus $1,171 in Pucallpa.

Living in Cusco is roughly 31% more expensive than in Pucallpa, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cusco 50% lower, Pucallpa 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.58 PEN 8.70

$2.44 PEN 8.23

5.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.08 PEN 71.1

$11.79 PEN 39.76

78.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.46 PEN 21.80

$5.35 PEN 18.05

20.75%

Cappuccino

$2.21 PEN 7.44

$2.11 PEN 7.12

4.74%

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

$0.75 PEN 2.52

$1.03 PEN 3.46

-27.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 PEN 1.13

$0.29 PEN 0.97

13.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 PEN 7.20

$1.76 PEN 5.95

21.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.49 PEN 15.13

$2.40 PEN 8.10

87.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 PEN 4.49

$1.06 PEN 3.57

25.47%

White Bread (500g)

$2.36 PEN 7.95

$3.74 PEN 12.61

-36.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 PEN 4.45

$1.16 PEN 3.91

13.79%

Eggs

$3.63 PEN 12.25

$1.78 PEN 6.00

103.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.85 PEN 16.37

$2.12 PEN 7.15

128.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.57 PEN 15.43

$4.13 PEN 13.94

10.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.37 PEN 24.86

$3.51 PEN 11.83

109.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 PEN 9.00

$2.34 PEN 7.88

14.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 PEN 2.85

$1.52 PEN 5.14

-44.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 PEN 5.15

$1.52 PEN 5.13

0.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 PEN 2.95

$2.72 PEN 9.19

-67.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 PEN 3.61

$3.06 PEN 10.34

-65.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 PEN 3.89

$2.11 PEN 7.12

-45.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 PEN 1.82

$2.43 PEN 8.19

-77.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 PEN 2.62

$1.06 PEN 3.56

-26.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.71 PEN 15.90

Wine (Bottle)

$5.90 PEN 19.92

$8.00 PEN 27.00

-26.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 PEN 6.62

$2.42 PEN 8.18

-19.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.35 PEN 14.69

$3.48 PEN 11.74

25.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 PEN 1.05

$1.21 PEN 4.07

-74.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PEN 6.09

$1.45 PEN 4.90

24.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 PEN 6.37

$0.58 PEN 1.95

225.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 PEN 9.88

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 PEN 5.21

$1.24 PEN 4.19

24.19%

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

$30.32 PEN 102

$53.4 PEN 180

-43.17%

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

$14.64 PEN 49.41

$35.28 PEN 119

-58.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.76 PEN 148

$44.53 PEN 150

-1.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.37 PEN 119

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 PEN 14.68

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.77 PEN 131

$54.4 PEN 183

-28.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.83 PEN 114

$35.73 PEN 121

-5.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.7 PEN 188

$35.96 PEN 121

54.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.7 PEN 249

$68.4 PEN 231

7.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$146 PEN 493

$118 PEN 397

24.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 PEN 592

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$361 PEN 1,218

$238 PEN 802

51.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 PEN 900

$126 PEN 426

111.11%

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

$417 PEN 1,405

6.02%

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

Last update for Cusco: September 14, 2026

Last update for Pucallpa: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $146 in Cusco and $118 in Pucallpa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cusco pays 6% 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: $21.00 in Cusco vs $12.00 in Pucallpa. Groceries flip the comparison at $192 vs $209, with Cusco 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 Pucallpa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pucallpa is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 6% higher in Cusco, 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: $146 in Cusco versus $118 in Pucallpa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Cusco pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Pucallpa – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $21.00 in Cusco. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Pucallpa gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Pucallpa 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 Pucallpa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.