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: $765 in Cusco versus $453 in Pucallpa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,172 in Cusco versus $745 in Pucallpa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,579 in Cusco versus $1,036 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 10.07

$2.25 PEN 7.91

27.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.88 PEN 98.2

$11.32 PEN 39.83

146.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 PEN 19.82

$5.01 PEN 17.65

12.38%

Cappuccino

$2.06 PEN 7.26

$1.98 PEN 6.96

4.04%

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

$1.23 PEN 4.33

$0.95 PEN 3.33

29.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 PEN 2.78

$0.27 PEN 0.94

192.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 PEN 7.69

$1.72 PEN 6.05

26.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 PEN 14.32

$2.27 PEN 7.99

79.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 PEN 5.28

$0.98 PEN 3.46

53.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.94 PEN 10.34

$3.56 PEN 12.54

-17.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.48

$1.08 PEN 3.80

17.59%

Eggs

$3.83 PEN 13.47

$1.65 PEN 5.81

132.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.59 PEN 16.15

$1.89 PEN 6.65

142.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.97 PEN 17.51

$3.98 PEN 14.01

24.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.72 PEN 23.66

$3.41 PEN 12.01

97.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 PEN 8.54

$2.18 PEN 7.66

11.01%

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 PEN 2.73

$1.41 PEN 4.98

-45.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.48

$1.42 PEN 5.01

-10.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.95 PEN 3.33

$2.45 PEN 8.64

-61.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.69

$0.95 PEN 3.34

10.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 PEN 3.58

$1.90 PEN 6.67

-46.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 PEN 2.29

$0.76 PEN 2.67

-14.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 PEN 2.62

$0.94 PEN 3.30

-21.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.89 PEN 17.22

$4.38 PEN 15.42

11.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.50 PEN 22.87

$7.70 PEN 27.11

-15.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 PEN 6.96

$2.26 PEN 7.94

-12.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 PEN 10.88

$3.35 PEN 11.79

-7.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 PEN 0.94

$1.13 PEN 3.98

-76.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 PEN 5.76

$1.35 PEN 4.77

21.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 PEN 5.87

$0.52 PEN 1.82

221.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 PEN 9.98

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 PEN 5.25

$1.18 PEN 4.14

26.27%

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

$49.63 PEN 175

-31.55%

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

$13.86 PEN 48.80

$15.10 PEN 53.2

-8.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.58 PEN 108

$41.63 PEN 147

-26.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.62 PEN 108

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 PEN 17.24

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.47 PEN 128

$50.8 PEN 179

-28.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.97 PEN 102

$33.11 PEN 117

-12.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.4 PEN 216

$33.65 PEN 118

82.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 PEN 250

$63.7 PEN 224

11.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$309 PEN 1,089

$111 PEN 392

177.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 PEN 885

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$585 PEN 2,060

$222 PEN 781

163.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 PEN 1,446

$119 PEN 419

245.38%

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

$405 PEN 1,426

17.75%

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 Pucallpa: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $309 in Cusco and $111 in Pucallpa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cusco pays 18% 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 69% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Cusco pays 18% 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: $309 in Cusco versus $111 in Pucallpa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% 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.