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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Lima costs about 51% more than Iquitos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.35 PEN 14.59

$4.52 PEN 15.15

-3.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.17 PEN 108

$38.51 PEN 129

-16.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.03 PEN 23.58

$7.46 PEN 25.01

-5.76%

Cappuccino

$3.23 PEN 10.84

$3.51 PEN 11.75

-7.98%

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

$1.13 PEN 3.79

$0.86 PEN 2.88

31.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 PEN 2.08

$0.61 PEN 2.04

1.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.68 PEN 8.99

$2.95 PEN 9.89

-9.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 PEN 15.19

$7.36 PEN 24.69

-38.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 PEN 5.50

$1.76 PEN 5.90

-6.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.60 PEN 8.72

$2.33 PEN 7.81

11.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 PEN 4.50

Eggs

$3.05 PEN 10.24

$2.63 PEN 8.82

15.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.01 PEN 30.22

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.93 PEN 19.87

$3.30 PEN 11.05

79.70%

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)

$0.95 PEN 3.19

$0.85 PEN 2.85

11.76%

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)

$71.1 PEN 238

$35.33 PEN 118

101.16%

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

$16.93 PEN 56.8

$11.76 PEN 39.45

43.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.29 PEN 94.9

$9.10 PEN 30.52

210.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.80 PEN 113

$29.31 PEN 98.3

15.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.96 PEN 66.9

$9.09 PEN 30.48

119.58%

Cinema Ticket

$7.23 PEN 24.23

$5.82 PEN 19.50

24.23%

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

$181 PEN 606

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K PEN 45.1K

$2,868 PEN 9,615

368.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 PEN 181

$87.8 PEN 294

-38.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.57 PEN 119

$36.19 PEN 121

-1.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.9 PEN 288

$53.3 PEN 179

61.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.0 PEN 272

$26.67 PEN 89.4

203.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$759 PEN 2,543

$354 PEN 1,186

114.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 PEN 1,162

$265 PEN 889

30.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 PEN 4,205

$902 PEN 3,023

39.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 PEN 2,165

$740 PEN 2,481

-12.71%

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)

$669 PEN 2,242

$595 PEN 1,995

12.39%

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 Lima: August 30, 2026

Last update for Iquitos: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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