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: $641 in Iquitos versus $636 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Iquitos versus $1,084 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,666 in Iquitos versus $1,532 in Cajamarca.

Living in Iquitos is roughly 1% more expensive than Cajamarca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Iquitos 52% lower, Cajamarca 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.08 PEN 14.32

$3.03 PEN 10.64

34.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.24 PEN 127

$28.29 PEN 99.3

28.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 PEN 24.01

$5.67 PEN 19.90

20.63%

Cappuccino

$3.36 PEN 11.78

$2.91 PEN 10.21

15.46%

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

$0.81 PEN 2.86

$0.75 PEN 2.64

8.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.00 PEN 3.53

$0.57 PEN 2.01

75.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 PEN 9.97

$2.24 PEN 7.87

26.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.13 PEN 25.02

$3.27 PEN 11.49

118.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 PEN 6.02

$1.24 PEN 4.36

37.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 PEN 7.89

$3.07 PEN 10.79

-26.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 PEN 3.76

Eggs

$2.37 PEN 8.34

$2.16 PEN 7.57

9.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.17 PEN 21.67

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.05 PEN 10.69

$5.71 PEN 20.04

-46.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.10 PEN 42.48

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 PEN 3.44

Banana (1kg)

$0.74 PEN 2.58

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PEN 3.14

Tomato (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.53

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 PEN 2.64

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 PEN 3.42

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 PEN 2.37

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PEN 3.06

$0.71 PEN 2.50

22.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.41 PEN 29.52

Wine (Bottle)

$10.21 PEN 35.83

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 PEN 8.86

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 PEN 8.32

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 PEN 2.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.49 PEN 29.78

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 PEN 5.77

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 PEN 4.22

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.81 PEN 16.90

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 PEN 5.20

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

$22.5K PEN 79.1K

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

$24.2K PEN 85.0K

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

$33.44 PEN 117

$45.55 PEN 160

-26.59%

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

$10.80 PEN 37.90

$9.22 PEN 32.36

17.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.32 PEN 29.20

$26.93 PEN 94.5

-69.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.27 PEN 99.2

$28.66 PEN 101

-1.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.16 PEN 28.63

$19.19 PEN 67.4

-57.48%

Cinema Ticket

$5.48 PEN 19.24

$4.52 PEN 15.86

21.24%

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

$128 PEN 449

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,667 PEN 9,363

$4,180 PEN 14.7K

-36.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.7 PEN 287

$47.88 PEN 168

70.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.05 PEN 116

$27.30 PEN 95.8

21.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.8 PEN 178

$77.3 PEN 271

-34.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.37 PEN 89.1

$77.0 PEN 270

-67.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$329 PEN 1,155

$198 PEN 694

66.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$248 PEN 870

$95.3 PEN 335

160.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$828 PEN 2,908

$499 PEN 1,750

66.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 PEN 2,459

$296 PEN 1,039

136.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,264 PEN 7,948

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$575 PEN 2,020

$708 PEN 2,484

-18.69%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $329 in Iquitos and $198 in Cajamarca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 23% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Iquitos vs $28.00 in Cajamarca. Groceries flip the comparison at $75.0 vs $211, 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

Cajamarca is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Cajamarca earns 23% less. 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: $329 in Iquitos versus $198 in Cajamarca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Iquitos pay roughly 182% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Cajamarca – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $36.00 in Iquitos. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Cajamarca 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 Cajamarca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Iquitos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.