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: $750 in Cusco versus $448 in Pucallpa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,157 in Cusco versus $754 in Pucallpa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,563 in Cusco versus $1,061 in Pucallpa.

Living in Cusco is roughly 67% more expensive than in Pucallpa, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cusco 44% lower, Pucallpa 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.82 PEN 9.56

$2.26 PEN 7.68

24.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.87 PEN 94.6

$10.91 PEN 37.03

155.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.41 PEN 18.36

$4.98 PEN 16.89

8.63%

Cappuccino

$2.09 PEN 7.08

$1.98 PEN 6.73

5.56%

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

$1.24 PEN 4.21

$0.93 PEN 3.16

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 PEN 2.50

$0.29 PEN 1.00

155.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 PEN 7.38

$1.72 PEN 5.82

26.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 PEN 14.47

$2.25 PEN 7.62

89.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 PEN 4.85

$1.01 PEN 3.43

41.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 PEN 10.30

$3.56 PEN 12.09

-14.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PEN 4.36

$1.09 PEN 3.68

18.35%

Eggs

$3.79 PEN 12.86

$1.72 PEN 5.83

120.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.68 PEN 15.87

$1.99 PEN 6.74

135.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.00 PEN 16.96

$3.78 PEN 12.83

32.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.05 PEN 23.93

$3.38 PEN 11.47

108.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 PEN 7.94

$2.27 PEN 7.71

3.08%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PEN 2.65

$1.42 PEN 4.81

-45.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 PEN 4.50

$1.42 PEN 4.82

-6.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.97 PEN 3.28

$2.49 PEN 8.45

-61.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.56

$0.96 PEN 3.25

9.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 PEN 3.14

$1.90 PEN 6.45

-51.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 PEN 2.25

$0.77 PEN 2.61

-14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 PEN 2.32

$0.96 PEN 3.24

-29.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.90 PEN 16.62

$4.32 PEN 14.66

13.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.05 PEN 20.54

$7.74 PEN 26.29

-21.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 PEN 6.62

$2.17 PEN 7.36

-10.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 PEN 10.69

$3.41 PEN 11.58

-7.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 1.00

$1.09 PEN 3.70

-73.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.66 PEN 5.63

$1.35 PEN 4.59

22.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 PEN 5.55

$0.52 PEN 1.77

213.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.83 PEN 9.60

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 PEN 5.01

$1.16 PEN 3.95

26.72%

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

$18.6K PEN 63.3K

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

$22.5K PEN 76.4K

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

$32.97 PEN 112

$49.39 PEN 168

-33.25%

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

$14.10 PEN 47.87

$15.11 PEN 51.3

-6.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.44 PEN 103

$41.42 PEN 141

-26.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.12 PEN 102

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 PEN 16.67

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.79 PEN 125

$49.77 PEN 169

-26.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.16 PEN 95.6

$33.26 PEN 113

-15.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.1 PEN 211

$33.57 PEN 114

84.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.4 PEN 239

$62.7 PEN 213

12.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$300 PEN 1,020

$109 PEN 371

174.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$253 PEN 860

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$589 PEN 2,000

$226 PEN 769

160.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$415 PEN 1,409

$118 PEN 402

250.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,956 PEN 13.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,793 PEN 6,087

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$424 PEN 1,440

$419 PEN 1,422

1.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Cusco: July 27, 2026

Last update for Pucallpa: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $300 in Cusco and $109 in Pucallpa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cusco pays 1% 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 $196 vs $184 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 67% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 1% 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: $300 in Cusco versus $109 in Pucallpa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% 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 67% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.