Cost of Living Comparison Between Iquitos and Arequipa Cost of Living Comparison Between Iquitos and Arequipa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $678 per month in Iquitos vs $719 in Arequipa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,210 per month in Iquitos vs $1,136 in Arequipa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,741 per month in Iquitos vs $1,553 in Arequipa, rent included.

Iquitos is about 6% cheaper than Arequipa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Iquitos and Arequipa are more affordable than the global median – Iquitos 50% lower, Arequipa 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.44 PEN 14.98

$3.53 PEN 11.92

25.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.60 PEN 130

$28.40 PEN 95.8

35.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.46 PEN 25.17

$6.06 PEN 20.46

23.10%

Cappuccino

$3.48 PEN 11.73

$2.59 PEN 8.75

34.36%

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

$0.88 PEN 2.96

$0.85 PEN 2.86

3.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 PEN 2.09

$0.37 PEN 1.25

67.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 PEN 10.23

$2.10 PEN 7.07

44.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.28 PEN 24.55

$4.39 PEN 14.82

65.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 PEN 6.13

$1.36 PEN 4.60

33.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.43 PEN 8.20

$1.39 PEN 4.69

74.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 PEN 5.01

Eggs

$2.66 PEN 8.96

$2.35 PEN 7.93

13.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.51 PEN 21.97

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.31 PEN 11.16

$4.58 PEN 15.44

-27.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.68 PEN 25.92

Apples (1kg)

$1.77 PEN 5.98

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 PEN 4.26

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 PEN 3.97

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 PEN 3.59

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 PEN 2.30

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 PEN 2.30

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 PEN 1.90

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PEN 2.94

$0.76 PEN 2.56

14.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.09 PEN 17.19

Wine (Bottle)

$5.12 PEN 17.27

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.76 PEN 9.30

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 PEN 7.82

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 PEN 1.05

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 PEN 7.06

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 PEN 7.14

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.12 PEN 44.26

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 PEN 5.27

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

$19.1K PEN 64.6K

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

$25.8K PEN 87.0K

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

$35.89 PEN 121

$24.60 PEN 83.0

45.89%

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

$11.42 PEN 38.54

$10.35 PEN 34.94

10.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.74 PEN 29.48

$23.49 PEN 79.3

-62.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.65 PEN 100

$24.85 PEN 83.9

19.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.68 PEN 29.29

$8.04 PEN 27.13

7.96%

Cinema Ticket

$6.00 PEN 20.23

$7.34 PEN 24.77

-18.26%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$76.7 PEN 259

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,904 PEN 9,798

$6,936 PEN 23.4K

-58.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.5 PEN 295

$49.48 PEN 167

76.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.35 PEN 123

$27.26 PEN 92.0

33.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.0 PEN 179

$67.3 PEN 227

-21.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.22 PEN 91.9

$60.6 PEN 204

-55.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$358 PEN 1,207

-0.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 PEN 911

$238 PEN 803

13.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$899 PEN 3,035

$746 PEN 2,517

20.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$748 PEN 2,524

$431 PEN 1,455

73.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,005 PEN 6,765

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,007 PEN 3,397

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$585 PEN 1,974

$630 PEN 2,124

-7.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Iquitos: September 14, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $358 in Iquitos versus $358 in Arequipa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 8% higher in Arequipa, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Iquitos versus $28.00 in Arequipa. Groceries tell a different story – $80.0 in Iquitos vs $178 in Arequipa – so Iquitos wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Iquitos vs Arequipa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arequipa costs about 6% more than Iquitos, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,018 per month in Iquitos and $1,079 in Arequipa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Iquitos, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $678 in Iquitos and $719 in Arequipa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 123% more in Arequipa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $678 in Iquitos and $719 in Arequipa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Iquitos costs $678 versus $719 in Arequipa. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Iquitos. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arequipa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.