Cost of Living Comparison Between Pucallpa and Cusco Cost of Living Comparison Between Pucallpa and Cusco

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $447 in Pucallpa versus $756 in Cusco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $740 in Pucallpa versus $1,178 in Cusco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,032 in Pucallpa versus $1,600 in Cusco.

Living in Pucallpa costs roughly 41% less than in Cusco, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pucallpa 66% lower, Cusco 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.28 PEN 7.77

$2.86 PEN 9.76

-20.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.24 PEN 38.32

$28.37 PEN 96.7

-60.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 PEN 17.27

$5.41 PEN 18.45

-6.28%

Cappuccino

$1.96 PEN 6.68

$2.02 PEN 6.90

-2.97%

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

$0.99 PEN 3.39

$1.21 PEN 4.14

-18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 PEN 0.91

$0.79 PEN 2.70

-65.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.64 PEN 5.59

$2.26 PEN 7.72

-27.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 PEN 7.46

$4.20 PEN 14.31

-47.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 PEN 3.31

$1.49 PEN 5.06

-34.90%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 PEN 11.77

$2.90 PEN 9.89

18.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 PEN 3.88

$1.29 PEN 4.39

-11.63%

Eggs

$1.65 PEN 5.64

$3.84 PEN 13.08

-57.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.00 PEN 6.80

$4.79 PEN 16.32

-58.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.91 PEN 13.33

$5.00 PEN 17.04

-21.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.37 PEN 11.50

$6.75 PEN 23.02

-50.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 PEN 7.77

$2.45 PEN 8.34

-6.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 PEN 4.85

$0.77 PEN 2.61

84.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.42 PEN 4.83

$1.31 PEN 4.48

8.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 PEN 8.78

$0.90 PEN 3.08

185.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 PEN 3.05

$1.05 PEN 3.57

-14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 PEN 6.81

$1.00 PEN 3.40

100.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 PEN 2.44

$0.71 PEN 2.43

1.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 PEN 3.37

$0.70 PEN 2.38

41.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.56 PEN 15.53

$4.73 PEN 16.12

-3.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.13 PEN 27.72

$5.86 PEN 19.99

38.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 PEN 7.68

$2.00 PEN 6.81

12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 PEN 11.07

$3.04 PEN 10.36

6.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 PEN 3.73

$0.27 PEN 0.92

303.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.37 PEN 4.67

$1.64 PEN 5.59

-16.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 PEN 1.77

$1.64 PEN 5.59

-68.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 PEN 9.41

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 PEN 3.98

$1.55 PEN 5.28

-24.52%

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

$18.5K PEN 63.0K

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

$22.0K PEN 75.0K

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

$49.79 PEN 170

$33.20 PEN 113

49.97%

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

$14.58 PEN 49.71

$13.84 PEN 47.20

5.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.65 PEN 142

$30.71 PEN 105

35.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.06 PEN 106

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 PEN 16.69

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 PEN 172

$36.07 PEN 123

40.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.49 PEN 114

$28.37 PEN 96.7

18.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$32.68 PEN 111

$61.5 PEN 210

-46.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.5 PEN 217

$71.0 PEN 242

-10.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$113 PEN 384

$311 PEN 1,061

-63.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$246 PEN 838

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$225 PEN 766

$576 PEN 1,964

-61.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$119 PEN 406

$418 PEN 1,424

-71.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,856 PEN 13.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,773 PEN 6,043

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$414 PEN 1,411

$428 PEN 1,460

-3.37%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Cusco: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $113 in Pucallpa and $311 in Cusco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cusco pays 3% 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: $11.00 in Pucallpa vs $28.00 in Cusco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 vs $195 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

Pucallpa vs Cusco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pucallpa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 69% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Cusco earns 3% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $113 in Pucallpa versus $311 in Cusco. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Cusco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Pucallpa – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $28.00 in Cusco. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Pucallpa gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Pucallpa is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cusco, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Pucallpa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.