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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $620 per month in Iquitos vs $641 in Arequipa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,145 per month in Iquitos vs $1,058 in Arequipa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,670 per month in Iquitos vs $1,475 in Arequipa, rent included.

Iquitos is about 3% cheaper than Arequipa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Iquitos and Arequipa are more affordable than the global median – Iquitos 53% lower, Arequipa 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.22 PEN 14.31

$4.14 PEN 14.06

1.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.59 PEN 124

$28.18 PEN 95.7

29.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.99 PEN 23.72

$5.51 PEN 18.69

26.86%

Cappuccino

$3.34 PEN 11.35

$2.49 PEN 8.47

34.14%

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

$0.79 PEN 2.70

$0.76 PEN 2.58

3.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 PEN 3.36

$0.39 PEN 1.33

153.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.71 PEN 9.18

$2.23 PEN 7.57

21.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.85 PEN 23.26

$5.98 PEN 20.31

14.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 PEN 5.77

$1.52 PEN 5.17

11.84%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 PEN 7.63

$1.24 PEN 4.19

81.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.31

Eggs

$2.42 PEN 8.23

$2.14 PEN 7.25

13.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.36 PEN 18.21

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.97 PEN 10.10

$5.26 PEN 17.84

-43.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.72 PEN 26.22

Apples (1kg)

$1.45 PEN 4.94

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 PEN 4.04

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 PEN 4.03

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 PEN 2.76

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 PEN 2.01

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 PEN 1.86

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 PEN 1.50

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 PEN 2.70

$0.76 PEN 2.59

5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.07 PEN 17.21

Wine (Bottle)

$5.26 PEN 17.85

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 PEN 8.33

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 PEN 7.59

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 PEN 7.07

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 PEN 7.02

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.84 PEN 43.58

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 PEN 5.52

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

$18.6K PEN 63.1K

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

$25.2K PEN 85.5K

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

$33.54 PEN 114

$39.89 PEN 135

-15.92%

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

$11.00 PEN 37.35

$10.74 PEN 36.45

2.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.30 PEN 28.18

$30.30 PEN 103

-72.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.67 PEN 93.9

$21.61 PEN 73.4

28.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.47 PEN 28.76

$8.13 PEN 27.60

4.18%

Cinema Ticket

$5.73 PEN 19.44

$4.33 PEN 14.70

32.33%

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

$59.5 PEN 202

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,648 PEN 8,989

$6,278 PEN 21.3K

-57.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.4 PEN 286

$36.91 PEN 125

128.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.22 PEN 113

$21.81 PEN 74.0

52.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.61 PEN 168

$62.3 PEN 211

-20.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.12 PEN 85.3

$54.9 PEN 186

-54.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$328 PEN 1,114

$237 PEN 804

38.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$246 PEN 834

$156 PEN 528

57.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$830 PEN 2,819

$538 PEN 1,827

54.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$694 PEN 2,355

$382 PEN 1,297

81.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,014 PEN 6,838

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$988 PEN 3,353

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 PEN 2,008

$645 PEN 2,189

-8.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Iquitos: July 25, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $328 in Iquitos versus $237 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 9% 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 $37.00 in Iquitos versus $28.00 in Arequipa. Groceries tell a different story – $74.0 in Iquitos vs $171 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 3% 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 $930 per month in Iquitos and $961 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 $620 in Iquitos and $641 in Arequipa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 132% 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 $620 in Iquitos and $641 in Arequipa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Iquitos costs $620 versus $641 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.