Cost of Living Comparison Between Iquitos and Lima Cost of Living Comparison Between Iquitos and Lima

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $641 per month in Iquitos vs $985 in Lima, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,151 per month in Iquitos vs $1,537 in Lima, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,661 per month in Iquitos vs $2,089 in Lima, rent included.

Iquitos is about 35% cheaper than Lima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Iquitos and Lima are more affordable than the global median – Iquitos 52% lower, Lima 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.21 PEN 14.33

$4.11 PEN 13.98

2.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.35 PEN 124

$32.93 PEN 112

10.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.14 PEN 24.29

$7.00 PEN 23.81

2.00%

Cappuccino

$3.31 PEN 11.27

$2.54 PEN 8.64

30.31%

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

$0.86 PEN 2.91

$0.92 PEN 3.13

-6.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 PEN 3.25

$0.61 PEN 2.06

55.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.80 PEN 9.54

$2.24 PEN 7.62

25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.75 PEN 22.96

$3.84 PEN 13.07

75.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 PEN 5.72

$1.41 PEN 4.79

19.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.23 PEN 7.59

$2.73 PEN 9.30

-18.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PEN 4.44

Eggs

$2.40 PEN 8.17

$2.96 PEN 10.06

-18.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.97 PEN 27.11

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.11 PEN 10.58

$5.67 PEN 19.30

-45.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 PEN 36.00

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 PEN 6.87

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 PEN 3.65

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 PEN 3.85

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 PEN 4.26

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 PEN 3.51

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 PEN 3.25

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 PEN 2.96

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 PEN 2.71

$0.88 PEN 3.00

-9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 PEN 18.58

Wine (Bottle)

$8.98 PEN 30.55

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 PEN 5.96

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 PEN 10.47

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 PEN 2.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.61 PEN 104

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 PEN 11.51

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 PEN 7.53

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.22 PEN 27.96

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.60

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

$19.3K PEN 65.7K

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

$24.3K PEN 82.7K

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

$33.94 PEN 115

$56.7 PEN 193

-40.15%

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

$10.94 PEN 37.22

$12.64 PEN 43.00

-13.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.52 PEN 28.99

$24.00 PEN 81.7

-64.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.43 PEN 93.3

$30.10 PEN 102

-8.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.41 PEN 28.60

$18.95 PEN 64.5

-55.62%

Cinema Ticket

$5.59 PEN 19.02

$6.74 PEN 22.92

-17.06%

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

$218 PEN 740

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,624 PEN 8,927

$7,895 PEN 26.9K

-66.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.2 PEN 286

$49.95 PEN 170

68.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.40 PEN 114

$36.59 PEN 125

-8.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.7 PEN 173

$89.7 PEN 305

-43.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.26 PEN 86.0

$88.1 PEN 300

-71.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$339 PEN 1,153

$606 PEN 2,062

-44.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$245 PEN 835

$350 PEN 1,189

-29.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 PEN 2,875

$1,036 PEN 3,524

-18.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$691 PEN 2,351

$628 PEN 2,135

10.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,367 PEN 8,054

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,434 PEN 4,880

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$583 PEN 1,983

$626 PEN 2,131

-6.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.11

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

Last update for Iquitos: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lima: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $339 in Iquitos versus $606 in Lima. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 7% higher in Lima, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Iquitos versus $33.00 in Lima. Groceries tell a different story – $74.0 in Iquitos vs $222 in Lima – so Iquitos wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lima is pricier by about 54%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $962 per month in Iquitos and $1,477 in Lima. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Iquitos, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 200% more in Lima, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Iquitos and $33.00 in Lima. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Iquitos, where all-in costs run around $641, than in Lima at $985. In Iquitos it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lima it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Iquitos – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Iquitos. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lima makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.