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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $999 per month in Lima vs $625 in Iquitos, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,561 per month in Lima vs $1,138 in Iquitos, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,124 per month in Lima vs $1,651 in Iquitos, rent included.

Lima costs about 60% more than Iquitos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lima and Iquitos are more affordable than the global median – Lima 25% lower, Iquitos 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.06 PEN 13.77

$4.20 PEN 14.24

-3.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.99 PEN 115

$36.76 PEN 125

-7.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.74 PEN 22.86

$7.08 PEN 24.03

-4.80%

Cappuccino

$2.52 PEN 8.56

$3.37 PEN 11.44

-25.22%

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

$0.94 PEN 3.18

$0.79 PEN 2.68

18.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 PEN 2.21

$0.92 PEN 3.13

-29.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 PEN 7.35

$2.83 PEN 9.61

-23.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 PEN 13.39

$6.87 PEN 23.32

-42.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 PEN 4.78

$1.69 PEN 5.72

-16.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 PEN 9.22

$2.17 PEN 7.37

25.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 PEN 4.64

Eggs

$2.94 PEN 9.98

$2.50 PEN 8.50

17.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 PEN 26.87

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.76 PEN 19.54

$3.15 PEN 10.68

82.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.71 PEN 36.32

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 PEN 6.72

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.66

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 PEN 3.72

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 PEN 4.05

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 PEN 3.51

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 PEN 2.94

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 PEN 2.93

$0.85 PEN 2.88

1.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.59 PEN 18.96

Wine (Bottle)

$8.99 PEN 30.51

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 PEN 5.99

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 PEN 10.42

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 PEN 2.29

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.68 PEN 107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.37 PEN 11.43

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 PEN 7.54

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.26 PEN 28.00

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.58

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

$19.4K PEN 65.8K

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

$24.3K PEN 82.3K

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

$56.4 PEN 191

$33.71 PEN 114

67.43%

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

$12.57 PEN 42.63

$10.81 PEN 36.68

16.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.66 PEN 80.3

$8.18 PEN 27.75

189.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.04 PEN 105

$27.71 PEN 94.0

12.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 PEN 63.4

$8.29 PEN 28.13

125.45%

Cinema Ticket

$6.83 PEN 23.17

$5.40 PEN 18.31

26.48%

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

$219 PEN 743

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,096 PEN 27.5K

$2,657 PEN 9,012

204.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.58 PEN 168

$82.6 PEN 280

-40.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.59 PEN 121

$33.25 PEN 113

7.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.3 PEN 303

$49.91 PEN 169

78.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 PEN 302

$25.19 PEN 85.4

252.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$623 PEN 2,115

$329 PEN 1,117

89.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 PEN 1,167

$248 PEN 843

38.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 PEN 3,484

$832 PEN 2,821

23.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$618 PEN 2,098

$700 PEN 2,374

-11.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,315 PEN 7,852

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,395 PEN 4,734

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 PEN 2,120

$580 PEN 1,967

7.81%

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 Lima: July 12, 2026

Last update for Iquitos: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $623 in Lima versus $329 in Iquitos. 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 8% 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 $34.00 in Lima versus $37.00 in Iquitos. Groceries tell a different story – $222 in Lima vs $75.0 in Iquitos – 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

Lima vs Iquitos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lima is pricier by about 60%, 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 $1,498 per month in Lima and $938 in Iquitos. 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 198% 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 $34.00 in Lima and $37.00 in Iquitos. 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 $625, than in Lima at $999. 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.