Cost of Living Comparison Between Iquitos and Cajamarca Cost of Living Comparison Between Iquitos and Cajamarca

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $678 in Iquitos versus $701 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,210 in Iquitos versus $1,192 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,741 in Iquitos versus $1,683 in Cajamarca.

Living in Iquitos costs roughly 3% less than in Cajamarca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Iquitos 50% lower, Cajamarca 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.44 PEN 14.98

$3.66 PEN 12.34

21.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.60 PEN 130

$29.95 PEN 101

28.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.46 PEN 25.17

$6.01 PEN 20.27

24.13%

Cappuccino

$3.48 PEN 11.73

$2.63 PEN 8.86

32.32%

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

$0.88 PEN 2.96

$0.81 PEN 2.74

8.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 PEN 2.09

$0.57 PEN 1.93

8.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 PEN 10.23

$2.41 PEN 8.12

25.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.28 PEN 24.55

$3.67 PEN 12.39

98.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 PEN 6.13

$1.35 PEN 4.55

34.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.43 PEN 8.20

$3.31 PEN 11.18

-26.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.27

Eggs

$2.66 PEN 8.96

$2.31 PEN 7.78

15.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.89 PEN 26.61

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.31 PEN 11.16

$6.12 PEN 20.64

-45.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.01 PEN 43.88

Apples (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.76

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 PEN 2.65

Oranges (1kg)

$1.21 PEN 4.09

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 PEN 3.77

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 PEN 2.72

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.40

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 PEN 2.56

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PEN 2.94

$0.76 PEN 2.57

14.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.02 PEN 30.42

Wine (Bottle)

$10.53 PEN 35.51

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 PEN 8.76

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 PEN 8.57

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 PEN 1.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.86 PEN 29.89

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PEN 6.16

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 PEN 4.44

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.12 PEN 17.29

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 PEN 5.41

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

$23.6K PEN 79.7K

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

$49.68 PEN 168

-27.76%

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

$11.42 PEN 38.54

$9.48 PEN 32.00

20.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.74 PEN 29.48

$29.30 PEN 98.9

-70.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.65 PEN 100

$31.19 PEN 105

-4.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.68 PEN 29.29

$20.98 PEN 70.8

-58.63%

Cinema Ticket

$6.00 PEN 20.23

$4.82 PEN 16.25

24.48%

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

$140 PEN 472

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,904 PEN 9,798

$4,389 PEN 14.8K

-33.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.5 PEN 295

$52.3 PEN 176

67.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.35 PEN 123

$30.27 PEN 102

20.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.0 PEN 179

$83.1 PEN 280

-36.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.22 PEN 91.9

$81.9 PEN 276

-66.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$358 PEN 1,207

$203 PEN 684

76.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 PEN 911

$106 PEN 358

154.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$899 PEN 3,035

$538 PEN 1,813

67.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$748 PEN 2,524

$323 PEN 1,090

131.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,337 PEN 7,884

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$585 PEN 1,974

$728 PEN 2,455

-19.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.5

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

Last update for Iquitos: September 14, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $358 in Iquitos and $203 in Cajamarca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 24% 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: $39.00 in Iquitos vs $30.00 in Cajamarca. Groceries flip the comparison at $80.0 vs $231, with Iquitos cheaper for home cooking.

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 Cajamarca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iquitos is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 24% lower in Cajamarca. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $358 in Iquitos versus $203 in Cajamarca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 188% higher in Cajamarca. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Iquitos – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $30.00 in Cajamarca. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Iquitos gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Iquitos and Cajamarca are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Iquitos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.