Cost of Living Comparison Between Iquitos and Cusco Cost of Living Comparison Between Iquitos and Cusco

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $633 in Iquitos versus $762 in Cusco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,133 in Iquitos versus $1,171 in Cusco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,633 in Iquitos versus $1,579 in Cusco.

Living in Iquitos costs roughly 17% less than in Cusco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Iquitos 53% lower, Cusco 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.21 PEN 14.30

$2.79 PEN 9.49

50.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.32 PEN 123

$27.84 PEN 94.7

30.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.96 PEN 23.65

$5.50 PEN 18.70

26.55%

Cappuccino

$3.29 PEN 11.18

$2.02 PEN 6.87

62.87%

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

$0.86 PEN 2.92

$1.21 PEN 4.12

-28.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 PEN 3.20

$0.78 PEN 2.66

20.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 PEN 9.67

$2.19 PEN 7.45

29.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.84 PEN 23.27

$4.09 PEN 13.92

67.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 PEN 5.55

$1.44 PEN 4.90

13.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 PEN 7.32

$2.89 PEN 9.83

-25.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PEN 4.35

Eggs

$2.41 PEN 8.20

$3.93 PEN 13.37

-38.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.60 PEN 15.64

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.11 PEN 10.56

$4.96 PEN 16.87

-37.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 PEN 23.49

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 PEN 7.95

Banana (1kg)

$0.73 PEN 2.47

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 PEN 4.38

Tomato (1kg)

$0.97 PEN 3.28

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.56

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 PEN 3.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 PEN 2.36

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PEN 2.87

$0.70 PEN 2.38

21.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.97 PEN 16.90

Wine (Bottle)

$5.82 PEN 19.78

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 PEN 6.77

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 PEN 10.82

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.70 PEN 5.78

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 PEN 5.64

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 PEN 9.30

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 PEN 5.10

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

$18.8K PEN 64.0K

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

$22.3K PEN 75.8K

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

$33.11 PEN 113

$33.90 PEN 115

-2.33%

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

$10.73 PEN 36.48

$13.93 PEN 47.35

-22.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.29 PEN 28.18

$30.38 PEN 103

-72.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.82 PEN 94.6

$30.36 PEN 103

-8.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PEN 28.77

Cinema Ticket

$5.61 PEN 19.07

$4.79 PEN 16.30

17.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,698 PEN 9,171

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.5 PEN 284

$35.64 PEN 121

134.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.64 PEN 114

$28.22 PEN 95.9

19.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.23 PEN 167

$63.1 PEN 214

-21.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$24.79 PEN 84.3

$70.9 PEN 241

-65.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$337 PEN 1,147

$311 PEN 1,057

8.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$254 PEN 864

$247 PEN 841

2.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$842 PEN 2,862

$584 PEN 1,985

44.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$700 PEN 2,381

$419 PEN 1,426

66.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,773 PEN 12.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,760 PEN 5,985

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 PEN 1,967

$426 PEN 1,447

35.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Iquitos: June 6, 2026

Last update for Cusco: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $337 in Iquitos and $311 in Cusco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iquitos pays 36% 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 Cusco. Groceries flip the comparison at $73.0 vs $194, 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 Cusco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iquitos is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Iquitos pays 36% 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: $337 in Iquitos versus $311 in Cusco. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 165% higher in Cusco. 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 $36.00 versus $28.00 in Cusco. 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.

For families, Iquitos 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 Iquitos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.