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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $450 per month in Pucallpa vs $639 in Arequipa, rent included.

A couple spends around $756 per month in Pucallpa vs $1,078 in Arequipa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,062 per month in Pucallpa vs $1,518 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 67% lower, Arequipa 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PEN 7.47

$4.10 PEN 13.94

-46.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.18 PEN 38.01

$27.33 PEN 92.9

-59.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.87 PEN 16.55

$5.70 PEN 19.37

-14.56%

Cappuccino

$1.92 PEN 6.52

$2.58 PEN 8.77

-25.58%

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

$1.00 PEN 3.39

$0.80 PEN 2.73

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

$0.39 PEN 1.33

-25.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 PEN 5.80

$2.15 PEN 7.32

-20.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 PEN 7.47

$5.95 PEN 20.23

-63.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 PEN 3.45

$1.61 PEN 5.48

-37.27%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 PEN 11.59

$1.22 PEN 4.13

179.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 PEN 3.73

$1.23 PEN 4.19

-10.57%

Eggs

$1.69 PEN 5.75

$2.07 PEN 7.04

-18.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.89 PEN 6.43

$5.42 PEN 18.42

-65.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.00 PEN 13.59

$5.24 PEN 17.83

-23.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.27 PEN 11.10

$7.75 PEN 26.36

-57.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 PEN 7.63

$1.45 PEN 4.93

54.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 PEN 4.80

$1.22 PEN 4.15

15.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.43 PEN 4.87

$1.21 PEN 4.13

18.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 PEN 8.63

$0.83 PEN 2.82

206.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 PEN 3.23

$0.55 PEN 1.87

72.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 PEN 6.53

$0.57 PEN 1.94

236.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 PEN 2.42

$0.44 PEN 1.51

61.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 PEN 3.43

$0.78 PEN 2.64

29.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 PEN 15.48

$4.89 PEN 16.61

-6.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.87 PEN 26.74

$5.06 PEN 17.21

55.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 PEN 7.70

$2.45 PEN 8.33

-7.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 PEN 11.48

$2.23 PEN 7.58

51.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 PEN 3.70

$0.29 PEN 0.99

275.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 PEN 4.80

$2.08 PEN 7.08

-32.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.55 PEN 1.88

$2.10 PEN 7.14

-73.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.90 PEN 43.87

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 PEN 4.10

$1.61 PEN 5.48

-24.84%

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

$18.6K PEN 63.3K

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

$25.1K PEN 85.2K

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

$50.1 PEN 170

$40.46 PEN 138

23.85%

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

$15.00 PEN 51.0

$10.61 PEN 36.07

41.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.85 PEN 142

$30.57 PEN 104

36.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.94 PEN 74.6

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.35 PEN 28.38

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 PEN 15.42

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

$59.3 PEN 202

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,474 PEN 22.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.79 PEN 169

$37.77 PEN 128

31.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.24 PEN 113

$21.81 PEN 74.2

52.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$33.51 PEN 114

$61.3 PEN 208

-45.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.1 PEN 215

$55.3 PEN 188

14.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$111 PEN 377

$241 PEN 820

-53.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 PEN 529

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$221 PEN 751

$542 PEN 1,844

-59.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 PEN 401

$395 PEN 1,343

-70.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 PEN 6,646

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$969 PEN 3,295

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$411 PEN 1,397

$644 PEN 2,188

-36.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Pucallpa: June 9, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $111 in Pucallpa versus $241 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 57% 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 $27.00 in Arequipa. Groceries tell a different story – $184 in Pucallpa vs $172 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 42% 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 $675 per month in Pucallpa and $958 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 $450 in Pucallpa and $639 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 $450 in Pucallpa and $639 in Arequipa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pucallpa costs $450 versus $639 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.