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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $525 per month in Pucallpa vs $719 in Arequipa, rent included.

A couple spends around $848 per month in Pucallpa vs $1,136 in Arequipa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,171 per month in Pucallpa vs $1,553 in Arequipa, rent included.

Pucallpa is about 27% cheaper than Arequipa, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Pucallpa and Arequipa are more affordable than the global median – Pucallpa 62% lower, Arequipa 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.44 PEN 8.23

$3.53 PEN 11.92

-30.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.79 PEN 39.76

$28.40 PEN 95.8

-58.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 PEN 18.05

$6.06 PEN 20.46

-11.72%

Cappuccino

$2.11 PEN 7.12

$2.59 PEN 8.75

-18.53%

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

$1.03 PEN 3.46

$0.85 PEN 2.86

21.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 PEN 0.97

$0.37 PEN 1.25

-21.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PEN 5.95

$2.10 PEN 7.07

-16.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PEN 8.10

$4.39 PEN 14.82

-45.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 PEN 3.57

$1.36 PEN 4.60

-22.06%

White Bread (500g)

$3.74 PEN 12.61

$1.39 PEN 4.69

169.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PEN 3.91

$1.48 PEN 5.01

-21.62%

Eggs

$1.78 PEN 6.00

$2.35 PEN 7.93

-24.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.12 PEN 7.15

$6.51 PEN 21.97

-67.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.13 PEN 13.94

$4.58 PEN 15.44

-9.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.51 PEN 11.83

$7.68 PEN 25.92

-54.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 PEN 7.88

$1.77 PEN 5.98

32.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 PEN 5.14

$1.26 PEN 4.26

20.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 PEN 5.13

$1.18 PEN 3.97

28.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.72 PEN 9.19

$1.06 PEN 3.59

156.60%

Potato (1kg)

$3.06 PEN 10.34

$0.68 PEN 2.30

350.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 PEN 7.12

$0.68 PEN 2.30

210.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 PEN 8.19

$0.56 PEN 1.90

333.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 PEN 3.56

$0.76 PEN 2.56

39.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.71 PEN 15.90

$5.09 PEN 17.19

-7.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.00 PEN 27.00

$5.12 PEN 17.27

56.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 PEN 8.18

$2.76 PEN 9.30

-12.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 PEN 11.74

$2.32 PEN 7.82

50.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.21 PEN 4.07

$0.31 PEN 1.05

290.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 PEN 4.90

$2.09 PEN 7.06

-30.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 PEN 1.95

$2.12 PEN 7.14

-72.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.12 PEN 44.26

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 PEN 4.19

$1.56 PEN 5.27

-20.51%

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

$19.1K PEN 64.6K

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

$25.8K PEN 87.0K

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

$53.4 PEN 180

$24.60 PEN 83.0

116.87%

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

$35.28 PEN 119

$10.35 PEN 34.94

240.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.53 PEN 150

$23.49 PEN 79.3

89.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.85 PEN 83.9

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.04 PEN 27.13

Cinema Ticket

$7.34 PEN 24.77

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

$76.7 PEN 259

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,936 PEN 23.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 PEN 183

$49.48 PEN 167

9.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.73 PEN 121

$27.26 PEN 92.0

31.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.96 PEN 121

$67.3 PEN 227

-46.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.4 PEN 231

$60.6 PEN 204

12.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PEN 397

$358 PEN 1,207

-67.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 PEN 803

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 PEN 802

$746 PEN 2,517

-68.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$126 PEN 426

$431 PEN 1,455

-70.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,005 PEN 6,765

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,007 PEN 3,397

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$417 PEN 1,405

$630 PEN 2,124

-33.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Pucallpa: September 14, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Pucallpa versus $358 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 51% 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 $12.00 in Pucallpa versus $28.00 in Arequipa. Groceries tell a different story – $209 in Pucallpa vs $178 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 37% more than Pucallpa, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $787 per month in Pucallpa and $1,079 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 $525 in Pucallpa and $719 in Arequipa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 17% 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 $525 in Pucallpa and $719 in Arequipa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pucallpa costs $525 versus $719 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.