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: $756 in Cusco versus $447 in Pucallpa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,178 in Cusco versus $740 in Pucallpa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Cusco versus $1,032 in Pucallpa.

Living in Cusco is roughly 69% more expensive than Pucallpa, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cusco 43% lower, Pucallpa 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.86 PEN 9.76

$2.28 PEN 7.77

25.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.37 PEN 96.7

$11.24 PEN 38.32

152.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.41 PEN 18.45

$5.07 PEN 17.27

6.71%

Cappuccino

$2.02 PEN 6.90

$1.96 PEN 6.68

3.06%

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

$1.21 PEN 4.14

$0.99 PEN 3.39

22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 PEN 2.70

$0.27 PEN 0.91

192.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 PEN 7.72

$1.64 PEN 5.59

37.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 PEN 14.31

$2.19 PEN 7.46

91.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 PEN 5.06

$0.97 PEN 3.31

53.61%

White Bread (500g)

$2.90 PEN 9.89

$3.45 PEN 11.77

-15.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PEN 4.39

$1.14 PEN 3.88

13.16%

Eggs

$3.84 PEN 13.08

$1.65 PEN 5.64

132.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.79 PEN 16.32

$2.00 PEN 6.80

139.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.00 PEN 17.04

$3.91 PEN 13.33

27.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.75 PEN 23.02

$3.37 PEN 11.50

100.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 PEN 8.34

$2.28 PEN 7.77

7.46%

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 PEN 2.61

$1.42 PEN 4.85

-45.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.48

$1.42 PEN 4.83

-7.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 PEN 3.08

$2.57 PEN 8.78

-64.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.57

$0.90 PEN 3.05

16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.40

$2.00 PEN 6.81

-50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 PEN 2.43

$0.72 PEN 2.44

-1.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 PEN 2.38

$0.99 PEN 3.37

-29.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.73 PEN 16.12

$4.56 PEN 15.53

3.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.86 PEN 19.99

$8.13 PEN 27.72

-27.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 PEN 6.81

$2.25 PEN 7.68

-11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 PEN 10.36

$3.25 PEN 11.07

-6.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 PEN 0.92

$1.09 PEN 3.73

-75.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 PEN 5.59

$1.37 PEN 4.67

19.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 PEN 5.59

$0.52 PEN 1.77

215.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 PEN 9.41

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 PEN 5.28

$1.17 PEN 3.98

32.48%

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

$18.5K PEN 63.0K

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

$22.0K PEN 75.0K

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

$33.20 PEN 113

$49.79 PEN 170

-33.32%

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

$13.84 PEN 47.20

$14.58 PEN 49.71

-5.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.71 PEN 105

$41.65 PEN 142

-26.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.06 PEN 106

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 PEN 16.69

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.07 PEN 123

$50.5 PEN 172

-28.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.37 PEN 96.7

$33.49 PEN 114

-15.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.5 PEN 210

$32.68 PEN 111

88.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 PEN 242

$63.5 PEN 217

11.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$311 PEN 1,061

$113 PEN 384

176.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$246 PEN 838

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$576 PEN 1,964

$225 PEN 766

156.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$418 PEN 1,424

$119 PEN 406

250.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,856 PEN 13.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,773 PEN 6,043

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$428 PEN 1,460

$414 PEN 1,411

3.49%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Pucallpa: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $311 in Cusco and $113 in Pucallpa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cusco pays 3% 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: $28.00 in Cusco vs $11.00 in Pucallpa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $185 per month, with Pucallpa cheaper across the board.

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 Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 69% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Cusco pays 3% 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: $311 in Cusco versus $113 in Pucallpa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Cusco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Pucallpa – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $28.00 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 69% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.