Cost of Living Comparison Between Pucallpa and Arequipa Cost of Living Comparison Between Pucallpa and Arequipa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $448 per month in Pucallpa vs $641 in Arequipa, rent included.

A couple spends around $754 per month in Pucallpa vs $1,058 in Arequipa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,061 per month in Pucallpa vs $1,475 in Arequipa, rent included.

Pucallpa is about 30% cheaper than Arequipa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Pucallpa and Arequipa are more affordable than the global median – Pucallpa 66% lower, Arequipa 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.26 PEN 7.68

$4.14 PEN 14.06

-45.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.91 PEN 37.03

$28.18 PEN 95.7

-61.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.98 PEN 16.89

$5.51 PEN 18.69

-9.62%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PEN 6.73

$2.49 PEN 8.47

-20.48%

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

$0.93 PEN 3.16

$0.76 PEN 2.58

22.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 PEN 1.00

$0.39 PEN 1.33

-25.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PEN 5.82

$2.23 PEN 7.57

-22.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 PEN 7.62

$5.98 PEN 20.31

-62.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 PEN 3.43

$1.52 PEN 5.17

-33.55%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 PEN 12.09

$1.24 PEN 4.19

187.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 PEN 3.68

$1.27 PEN 4.31

-14.17%

Eggs

$1.72 PEN 5.83

$2.14 PEN 7.25

-19.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.99 PEN 6.74

$5.36 PEN 18.21

-62.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 PEN 12.83

$5.26 PEN 17.84

-28.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.38 PEN 11.47

$7.72 PEN 26.22

-56.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 PEN 7.71

$1.45 PEN 4.94

56.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 PEN 4.81

$1.19 PEN 4.04

19.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.42 PEN 4.82

$1.19 PEN 4.03

19.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 PEN 8.45

$0.81 PEN 2.76

207.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 PEN 3.25

$0.59 PEN 2.01

62.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 PEN 6.45

$0.55 PEN 1.86

245.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 PEN 2.61

$0.44 PEN 1.50

75.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 PEN 3.24

$0.76 PEN 2.59

26.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.32 PEN 14.66

$5.07 PEN 17.21

-14.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.74 PEN 26.29

$5.26 PEN 17.85

47.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 PEN 7.36

$2.45 PEN 8.33

-11.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 PEN 11.58

$2.24 PEN 7.59

52.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 PEN 3.70

$0.29 PEN 0.99

275.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 PEN 4.59

$2.08 PEN 7.07

-35.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 PEN 1.77

$2.07 PEN 7.02

-74.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.84 PEN 43.58

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 PEN 3.95

$1.63 PEN 5.52

-28.83%

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

$18.6K PEN 63.1K

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

$25.2K PEN 85.5K

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

$49.39 PEN 168

$39.89 PEN 135

23.82%

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

$15.11 PEN 51.3

$10.74 PEN 36.45

40.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.42 PEN 141

$30.30 PEN 103

36.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.61 PEN 73.4

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.13 PEN 27.60

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 PEN 14.70

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

$59.5 PEN 202

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,278 PEN 21.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.77 PEN 169

$36.91 PEN 125

34.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.26 PEN 113

$21.81 PEN 74.0

52.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$33.57 PEN 114

$62.3 PEN 211

-46.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.7 PEN 213

$54.9 PEN 186

14.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$109 PEN 371

$237 PEN 804

-53.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 PEN 528

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 PEN 769

$538 PEN 1,827

-57.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 PEN 402

$382 PEN 1,297

-69.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,014 PEN 6,838

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$988 PEN 3,353

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$419 PEN 1,422

$645 PEN 2,189

-35.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Pucallpa: July 27, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $109 in Pucallpa versus $237 in Arequipa. 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 54% higher in Arequipa, 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 $11.00 in Pucallpa versus $28.00 in Arequipa. Groceries tell a different story – $184 in Pucallpa vs $171 in Arequipa – so Arequipa 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

Pucallpa vs Arequipa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arequipa costs about 43% more than Pucallpa, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $672 per month in Pucallpa and $961 in Arequipa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pucallpa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $448 in Pucallpa and $641 in Arequipa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Arequipa – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $448 in Pucallpa and $641 in Arequipa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pucallpa costs $448 versus $641 in Arequipa. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Pucallpa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arequipa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.