Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Pucallpa Cost of Living Comparison Between Lima and Pucallpa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $999 in Lima versus $451 in Pucallpa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,561 in Lima versus $739 in Pucallpa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,124 in Lima versus $1,028 in Pucallpa.

Living in Lima is roughly 121% more expensive than in Pucallpa, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lima 25% lower, Pucallpa 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.06 PEN 13.77

$2.25 PEN 7.64

80.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.99 PEN 115

$11.17 PEN 37.88

204.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.74 PEN 22.86

$4.90 PEN 16.63

37.55%

Cappuccino

$2.52 PEN 8.56

$1.99 PEN 6.74

26.63%

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

$0.94 PEN 3.18

$0.99 PEN 3.36

-5.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 PEN 2.21

$0.29 PEN 0.98

124.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 PEN 7.35

$1.66 PEN 5.62

30.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 PEN 13.39

$2.24 PEN 7.58

76.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 PEN 4.78

$0.98 PEN 3.33

43.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 PEN 9.22

$3.45 PEN 11.72

-21.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 PEN 4.64

$1.08 PEN 3.66

26.85%

Eggs

$2.94 PEN 9.98

$1.63 PEN 5.52

80.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 PEN 26.87

$1.90 PEN 6.45

316.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.76 PEN 19.54

$3.85 PEN 13.07

49.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.71 PEN 36.32

$3.27 PEN 11.08

227.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 PEN 6.72

$2.24 PEN 7.59

-11.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.66

$1.36 PEN 4.62

-20.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 PEN 3.72

$1.42 PEN 4.81

-22.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 PEN 4.05

$2.57 PEN 8.71

-53.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 PEN 3.51

$0.89 PEN 3.03

16.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.38

$1.89 PEN 6.40

-47.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 PEN 2.94

$0.71 PEN 2.40

22.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 PEN 2.93

$0.98 PEN 3.34

-12.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.59 PEN 18.96

$4.47 PEN 15.16

25.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.99 PEN 30.51

$8.10 PEN 27.48

10.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 PEN 5.99

$2.24 PEN 7.60

-20.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 PEN 10.42

$3.31 PEN 11.23

-7.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 PEN 2.29

$1.09 PEN 3.70

-37.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.68 PEN 107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.37 PEN 11.43

$1.37 PEN 4.63

145.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 PEN 7.54

$0.56 PEN 1.91

296.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.26 PEN 28.00

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.58

$1.17 PEN 3.96

15.38%

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

$49.61 PEN 168

13.77%

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

$12.57 PEN 42.63

$15.03 PEN 51.0

-16.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.66 PEN 80.3

$42.37 PEN 144

-44.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.04 PEN 105

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 PEN 63.4

Cinema Ticket

$6.83 PEN 23.17

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

$219 PEN 743

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,096 PEN 27.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.58 PEN 168

$49.28 PEN 167

0.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.59 PEN 121

$33.87 PEN 115

5.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.3 PEN 303

$32.75 PEN 111

172.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 PEN 302

$64.6 PEN 219

37.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$623 PEN 2,115

$110 PEN 373

466.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 PEN 1,167

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 PEN 3,484

$224 PEN 759

359.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$618 PEN 2,098

$120 PEN 407

415.56%

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

$418 PEN 1,416

49.68%

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 Pucallpa: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $623 in Lima and $110 in Pucallpa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lima pays 50% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $34.00 in Lima vs $11.00 in Pucallpa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 vs $183 per month, with Pucallpa cheaper across the board.

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 Pucallpa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lima and Pucallpa differ by about 121% in total monthly costs ($999 vs $451 including rent). Pucallpa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 50% higher in Lima, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $623 in Lima versus $110 in Pucallpa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Pucallpa – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $34.00 in Lima. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $999 per month in Lima versus $451 in Pucallpa – a 121% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $451 in Pucallpa versus $999 in Lima, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pucallpa but tight or insufficient in Lima. The gap between the two cities makes Pucallpa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Pucallpa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 121% less than in Lima. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.