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: $641 in Iquitos versus $765 in Cusco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,154 in Iquitos versus $1,172 in Cusco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,666 in Iquitos versus $1,579 in Cusco.

Living in Iquitos costs roughly 16% less than in Cusco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Iquitos 52% lower, Cusco 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.08 PEN 14.32

$2.86 PEN 10.04

42.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.24 PEN 127

$27.88 PEN 97.9

29.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 PEN 24.01

$5.63 PEN 19.76

21.49%

Cappuccino

$3.36 PEN 11.78

$2.06 PEN 7.24

63.11%

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

$0.81 PEN 2.86

$1.23 PEN 4.32

-34.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.00 PEN 3.53

$0.79 PEN 2.77

26.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 PEN 9.97

$2.18 PEN 7.67

30.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.13 PEN 25.02

$4.07 PEN 14.28

75.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 PEN 6.02

$1.50 PEN 5.26

14.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 PEN 7.89

$2.94 PEN 10.31

-23.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.46

Eggs

$2.37 PEN 8.34

$3.83 PEN 13.43

-38.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.59 PEN 16.10

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.05 PEN 10.69

$4.97 PEN 17.46

-38.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.72 PEN 23.59

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 PEN 8.51

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 PEN 2.72

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.47

Tomato (1kg)

$0.95 PEN 3.32

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.68

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 PEN 3.57

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 PEN 2.28

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 PEN 3.06

$0.74 PEN 2.61

17.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.89 PEN 17.17

Wine (Bottle)

$6.50 PEN 22.80

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 PEN 6.94

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 PEN 10.85

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 PEN 0.94

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 PEN 5.74

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 PEN 5.85

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 PEN 9.95

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 PEN 5.23

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

$18.4K PEN 64.7K

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

$21.8K PEN 76.4K

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

$33.44 PEN 117

$33.97 PEN 119

-1.56%

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

$10.80 PEN 37.90

$13.86 PEN 48.66

-22.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.32 PEN 29.20

$30.58 PEN 107

-72.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.27 PEN 99.2

$30.62 PEN 107

-7.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.16 PEN 28.63

Cinema Ticket

$5.48 PEN 19.24

$4.90 PEN 17.19

11.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,667 PEN 9,363

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.7 PEN 287

$36.47 PEN 128

123.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.05 PEN 116

$28.97 PEN 102

14.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.8 PEN 178

$61.4 PEN 216

-17.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.37 PEN 89.1

$71.0 PEN 249

-64.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$329 PEN 1,155

$309 PEN 1,086

6.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$248 PEN 870

$251 PEN 883

-1.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$828 PEN 2,908

$585 PEN 2,054

41.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 PEN 2,459

$411 PEN 1,442

70.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,824 PEN 13.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,755 PEN 6,161

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$575 PEN 2,020

$477 PEN 1,674

20.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Iquitos: April 25, 2026

Last update for Cusco: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $329 in Iquitos and $309 in Cusco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iquitos pays 21% 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 $75.0 vs $196, 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 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Iquitos pays 21% 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: $329 in Iquitos versus $309 in Cusco. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 162% 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 19% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.