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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $675 per month in Iquitos vs $1,016 in Lima, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,226 per month in Iquitos vs $1,623 in Lima, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,778 per month in Iquitos vs $2,229 in Lima, rent included.

Iquitos is about 34% cheaper than Lima, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Iquitos and Lima are more affordable than the global median – Iquitos 51% lower, Lima 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.52 PEN 15.15

$4.35 PEN 14.59

3.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.51 PEN 129

$32.17 PEN 108

19.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.46 PEN 25.01

$7.03 PEN 23.58

6.12%

Cappuccino

$3.51 PEN 11.75

$3.23 PEN 10.84

8.67%

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

$0.86 PEN 2.88

$1.13 PEN 3.79

-23.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 PEN 2.04

$0.62 PEN 2.08

-1.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 PEN 9.89

$2.68 PEN 8.99

10.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 PEN 24.69

$4.53 PEN 15.19

62.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 PEN 5.90

$1.64 PEN 5.50

7.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 PEN 7.81

$2.60 PEN 8.72

-10.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 PEN 4.50

Eggs

$2.63 PEN 8.82

$3.05 PEN 10.24

-13.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.01 PEN 30.22

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 PEN 11.05

$5.93 PEN 19.87

-44.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.80 PEN 32.87

Apples (1kg)

$2.10 PEN 7.03

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.53

Oranges (1kg)

$1.45 PEN 4.87

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 PEN 5.03

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 PEN 3.10

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 PEN 3.16

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 PEN 3.00

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PEN 2.85

$0.95 PEN 3.19

-10.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.82 PEN 19.50

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 PEN 30.26

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 PEN 6.50

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 PEN 10.82

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 PEN 2.30

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.19 PEN 91.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 PEN 13.07

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.03 PEN 6.81

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.45 PEN 24.97

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.71 PEN 5.75

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

$22.2K PEN 74.4K

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

$26.7K PEN 89.6K

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

$35.33 PEN 118

$71.1 PEN 238

-50.29%

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

$11.76 PEN 39.45

$16.93 PEN 56.8

-30.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.10 PEN 30.52

$28.29 PEN 94.9

-67.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.31 PEN 98.3

$33.80 PEN 113

-13.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.09 PEN 30.48

$19.96 PEN 66.9

-54.46%

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 PEN 19.50

$7.23 PEN 24.23

-19.50%

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

$181 PEN 606

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,868 PEN 9,615

$13.4K PEN 45.1K

-78.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.8 PEN 294

$54.0 PEN 181

62.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.19 PEN 121

$35.57 PEN 119

1.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.3 PEN 179

$85.9 PEN 288

-37.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.67 PEN 89.4

$81.0 PEN 272

-67.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 PEN 1,186

$759 PEN 2,543

-53.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 PEN 889

$346 PEN 1,162

-23.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$902 PEN 3,023

$1,254 PEN 4,205

-28.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$740 PEN 2,481

$646 PEN 2,165

14.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,479 PEN 8,312

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,391 PEN 4,663

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 PEN 1,995

$669 PEN 2,242

-11.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.94

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

Last update for Iquitos: August 31, 2026

Last update for Lima: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $354 in Iquitos versus $759 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 12% 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 $39.00 in Iquitos versus $32.00 in Lima. Groceries tell a different story – $78.0 in Iquitos vs $230 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 51%, 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 $1,012 per month in Iquitos and $1,524 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 194% 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 $39.00 in Iquitos and $32.00 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 $675, than in Lima at $1,016. 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.