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: $448 in Pucallpa versus $750 in Cusco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $754 in Pucallpa versus $1,157 in Cusco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,061 in Pucallpa versus $1,563 in Cusco.

Living in Pucallpa costs roughly 40% less than in Cusco, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pucallpa 66% lower, Cusco 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.26 PEN 7.68

$2.82 PEN 9.56

-19.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.91 PEN 37.03

$27.87 PEN 94.6

-60.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.98 PEN 16.89

$5.41 PEN 18.36

-7.95%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PEN 6.73

$2.09 PEN 7.08

-5.26%

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

$0.93 PEN 3.16

$1.24 PEN 4.21

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 PEN 1.00

$0.74 PEN 2.50

-60.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PEN 5.82

$2.18 PEN 7.38

-21.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 PEN 7.62

$4.26 PEN 14.47

-47.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 PEN 3.43

$1.43 PEN 4.85

-29.37%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 PEN 12.09

$3.03 PEN 10.30

17.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 PEN 3.68

$1.29 PEN 4.36

-15.50%

Eggs

$1.72 PEN 5.83

$3.79 PEN 12.86

-54.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.99 PEN 6.74

$4.68 PEN 15.87

-57.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 PEN 12.83

$5.00 PEN 16.96

-24.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.38 PEN 11.47

$7.05 PEN 23.93

-52.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 PEN 7.71

$2.34 PEN 7.94

-2.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 PEN 4.81

$0.78 PEN 2.65

82.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.42 PEN 4.82

$1.33 PEN 4.50

6.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 PEN 8.45

$0.97 PEN 3.28

156.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 PEN 3.25

$1.05 PEN 3.56

-8.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 PEN 6.45

$0.92 PEN 3.14

106.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 PEN 2.61

$0.66 PEN 2.25

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 PEN 3.24

$0.68 PEN 2.32

41.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.32 PEN 14.66

$4.90 PEN 16.62

-11.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.74 PEN 26.29

$6.05 PEN 20.54

27.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 PEN 7.36

$1.95 PEN 6.62

11.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 PEN 11.58

$3.15 PEN 10.69

8.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 PEN 3.70

$0.29 PEN 1.00

275.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 PEN 4.59

$1.66 PEN 5.63

-18.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 PEN 1.77

$1.63 PEN 5.55

-68.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.83 PEN 9.60

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 PEN 3.95

$1.47 PEN 5.01

-21.09%

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)

$22.5K PEN 76.4K

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

$49.39 PEN 168

$32.97 PEN 112

49.80%

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

$15.11 PEN 51.3

$14.10 PEN 47.87

7.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.42 PEN 141

$30.44 PEN 103

36.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.12 PEN 102

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 PEN 16.67

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.77 PEN 169

$36.79 PEN 125

35.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.26 PEN 113

$28.16 PEN 95.6

18.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$33.57 PEN 114

$62.1 PEN 211

-45.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.7 PEN 213

$70.4 PEN 239

-11.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$109 PEN 371

$300 PEN 1,020

-63.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$253 PEN 860

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 PEN 769

$589 PEN 2,000

-61.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 PEN 402

$415 PEN 1,409

-71.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,956 PEN 13.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,793 PEN 6,087

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$419 PEN 1,422

$424 PEN 1,440

-1.22%

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 Cusco: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $109 in Pucallpa and $300 in Cusco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cusco pays 1% 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 $184 vs $196 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 67% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 1% lower in Cusco. 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: $109 in Pucallpa versus $300 in Cusco. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% 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 67% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.