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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Lima costs about 54% more than Iquitos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.11 PEN 13.98

$4.21 PEN 14.33

-2.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.93 PEN 112

$36.35 PEN 124

-9.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.00 PEN 23.81

$7.14 PEN 24.29

-1.96%

Cappuccino

$2.54 PEN 8.64

$3.31 PEN 11.27

-23.26%

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

$0.92 PEN 3.13

$0.86 PEN 2.91

6.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 PEN 2.06

$0.95 PEN 3.25

-35.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 PEN 7.62

$2.80 PEN 9.54

-20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 PEN 13.07

$6.75 PEN 22.96

-43.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 PEN 4.79

$1.68 PEN 5.72

-16.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.73 PEN 9.30

$2.23 PEN 7.59

22.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PEN 4.44

Eggs

$2.96 PEN 10.06

$2.40 PEN 8.17

23.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.97 PEN 27.11

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.67 PEN 19.30

$3.11 PEN 10.58

82.32%

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)

$0.88 PEN 3.00

$0.80 PEN 2.71

10.00%

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)

$56.7 PEN 193

$33.94 PEN 115

67.09%

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

$12.64 PEN 43.00

$10.94 PEN 37.22

15.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.00 PEN 81.7

$8.52 PEN 28.99

181.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.10 PEN 102

$27.43 PEN 93.3

9.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.95 PEN 64.5

$8.41 PEN 28.60

125.33%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 PEN 22.92

$5.59 PEN 19.02

20.57%

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

$218 PEN 740

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,895 PEN 26.9K

$2,624 PEN 8,927

200.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.95 PEN 170

$84.2 PEN 286

-40.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.59 PEN 125

$33.40 PEN 114

9.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 PEN 305

$50.7 PEN 173

76.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.1 PEN 300

$25.26 PEN 86.0

248.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$606 PEN 2,062

$339 PEN 1,153

78.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 PEN 1,189

$245 PEN 835

42.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,036 PEN 3,524

$845 PEN 2,875

22.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$628 PEN 2,135

$691 PEN 2,351

-9.19%

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)

$626 PEN 2,131

$583 PEN 1,983

7.43%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Iquitos: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $606 in Lima versus $339 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 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 $33.00 in Lima versus $36.00 in Iquitos. Groceries tell a different story – $222 in Lima vs $74.0 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 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 $1,477 per month in Lima and $962 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 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 $33.00 in Lima and $36.00 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 $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.