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: $678 in Iquitos versus $689 in Cusco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,210 in Iquitos versus $1,056 in Cusco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,741 in Iquitos versus $1,423 in Cusco.

Living in Iquitos costs roughly 2% less than in Cusco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.44 PEN 14.98

$2.58 PEN 8.70

72.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.60 PEN 130

$21.08 PEN 71.1

83.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.46 PEN 25.17

$6.46 PEN 21.80

15.48%

Cappuccino

$3.48 PEN 11.73

$2.21 PEN 7.44

57.47%

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

$0.88 PEN 2.96

$0.75 PEN 2.52

17.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 PEN 2.09

$0.33 PEN 1.13

87.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 PEN 10.23

$2.13 PEN 7.20

42.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.28 PEN 24.55

$4.49 PEN 15.13

62.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 PEN 6.13

$1.33 PEN 4.49

36.84%

White Bread (500g)

$2.43 PEN 8.20

$2.36 PEN 7.95

2.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 PEN 4.45

Eggs

$2.66 PEN 8.96

$3.63 PEN 12.25

-26.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.85 PEN 16.37

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.31 PEN 11.16

$4.57 PEN 15.43

-27.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.37 PEN 24.86

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 PEN 9.00

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 PEN 2.85

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 PEN 5.15

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 PEN 2.95

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 PEN 3.61

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 PEN 3.89

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 PEN 1.82

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PEN 2.94

$0.78 PEN 2.62

11.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.90 PEN 19.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 PEN 6.62

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.35 PEN 14.69

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 PEN 1.05

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PEN 6.09

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 PEN 6.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 PEN 9.88

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 PEN 5.21

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

$35.89 PEN 121

$30.32 PEN 102

18.37%

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

$11.42 PEN 38.54

$14.64 PEN 49.41

-21.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.74 PEN 29.48

$43.76 PEN 148

-80.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.65 PEN 100

$35.37 PEN 119

-16.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.68 PEN 29.29

Cinema Ticket

$6.00 PEN 20.23

$4.35 PEN 14.68

37.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,904 PEN 9,798

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.5 PEN 295

$38.77 PEN 131

125.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.35 PEN 123

$33.83 PEN 114

7.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.0 PEN 179

$55.7 PEN 188

-4.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.22 PEN 91.9

$73.7 PEN 249

-63.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$358 PEN 1,207

$146 PEN 493

144.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 PEN 911

$176 PEN 592

53.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$899 PEN 3,035

$361 PEN 1,218

149.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$748 PEN 2,524

$267 PEN 900

180.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,914 PEN 13.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,841 PEN 6,211

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$585 PEN 1,974

$442 PEN 1,490

32.46%

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

Last update for Iquitos: September 14, 2026

Last update for Cusco: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $358 in Iquitos and $146 in Cusco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iquitos pays 32% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $39.00 in Iquitos vs $21.00 in Cusco. Groceries flip the comparison at $80.0 vs $192, 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 Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 32% higher in Iquitos, 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: $358 in Iquitos versus $146 in Cusco. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 140% 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 $39.00 versus $21.00 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 2% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.