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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $453 per month in Pucallpa vs $650 in Arequipa, rent included.

A couple spends around $745 per month in Pucallpa vs $1,067 in Arequipa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,036 per month in Pucallpa vs $1,485 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 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.25 PEN 7.89

$4.07 PEN 14.28

-44.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.32 PEN 39.72

$28.21 PEN 99.0

-59.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 PEN 17.60

$5.68 PEN 19.95

-11.80%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PEN 6.94

$2.61 PEN 9.15

-24.14%

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

$0.95 PEN 3.33

$0.82 PEN 2.87

15.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 PEN 0.94

$0.37 PEN 1.30

-27.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PEN 6.04

$2.19 PEN 7.67

-21.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 PEN 7.97

$5.88 PEN 20.63

-61.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 PEN 3.45

$1.53 PEN 5.38

-35.95%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 PEN 12.51

$1.27 PEN 4.45

180.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.79

$1.22 PEN 4.27

-11.48%

Eggs

$1.65 PEN 5.79

$2.06 PEN 7.22

-19.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.89 PEN 6.63

$5.38 PEN 18.88

-64.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.98 PEN 13.97

$5.26 PEN 18.46

-24.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.41 PEN 11.97

$7.45 PEN 26.14

-54.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 PEN 7.64

$1.46 PEN 5.13

49.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 PEN 4.96

$1.22 PEN 4.27

15.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.42 PEN 5.00

$1.19 PEN 4.16

19.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 PEN 8.61

$0.77 PEN 2.70

218.18%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 PEN 3.34

$0.55 PEN 1.95

72.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 PEN 6.65

$0.54 PEN 1.90

251.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 PEN 2.66

$0.44 PEN 1.54

72.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 PEN 3.29

$0.76 PEN 2.66

23.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 PEN 15.37

$4.95 PEN 17.36

-11.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.70 PEN 27.03

$4.87 PEN 17.09

58.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 PEN 7.92

$2.40 PEN 8.41

-5.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 PEN 11.76

$2.32 PEN 8.13

44.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 PEN 3.97

$0.29 PEN 1.03

289.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 PEN 4.75

$2.08 PEN 7.31

-35.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 PEN 1.81

$2.11 PEN 7.41

-75.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.82 PEN 44.99

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 PEN 4.12

$1.60 PEN 5.62

-26.25%

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

$18.7K PEN 65.7K

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

$25.0K PEN 87.8K

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

$49.63 PEN 174

$39.83 PEN 140

24.60%

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

$15.10 PEN 53.0

$10.73 PEN 37.66

40.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.63 PEN 146

$30.64 PEN 108

35.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.47 PEN 75.4

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.22 PEN 28.85

Cinema Ticket

$4.39 PEN 15.40

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

$59.9 PEN 210

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,271 PEN 22.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.8 PEN 178

$36.93 PEN 130

37.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.11 PEN 116

$22.01 PEN 77.3

50.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$33.65 PEN 118

$61.6 PEN 216

-45.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.7 PEN 224

$55.1 PEN 194

15.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PEN 391

$245 PEN 858

-54.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 PEN 547

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$222 PEN 779

$542 PEN 1,902

-59.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$119 PEN 417

$384 PEN 1,346

-69.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 PEN 7,003

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,002 PEN 3,516

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$405 PEN 1,422

$631 PEN 2,216

-35.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Pucallpa: April 26, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $111 in Pucallpa versus $245 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 56% 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 $169 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 $680 per month in Pucallpa and $975 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 $453 in Pucallpa and $650 in Arequipa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% 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 $453 in Pucallpa and $650 in Arequipa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pucallpa costs $453 versus $650 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.