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: $525 in Pucallpa versus $689 in Cusco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $848 in Pucallpa versus $1,056 in Cusco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,171 in Pucallpa versus $1,423 in Cusco.

Living in Pucallpa costs roughly 24% less than in Cusco, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pucallpa 62% lower, Cusco 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.44 PEN 8.23

$2.58 PEN 8.70

-5.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.79 PEN 39.76

$21.08 PEN 71.1

-44.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 PEN 18.05

$6.46 PEN 21.80

-17.18%

Cappuccino

$2.11 PEN 7.12

$2.21 PEN 7.44

-4.52%

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

$1.03 PEN 3.46

$0.75 PEN 2.52

37.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 PEN 0.97

$0.33 PEN 1.13

-12.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PEN 5.95

$2.13 PEN 7.20

-17.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PEN 8.10

$4.49 PEN 15.13

-46.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 PEN 3.57

$1.33 PEN 4.49

-20.30%

White Bread (500g)

$3.74 PEN 12.61

$2.36 PEN 7.95

58.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PEN 3.91

$1.32 PEN 4.45

-12.12%

Eggs

$1.78 PEN 6.00

$3.63 PEN 12.25

-50.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.12 PEN 7.15

$4.85 PEN 16.37

-56.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.13 PEN 13.94

$4.57 PEN 15.43

-9.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.51 PEN 11.83

$7.37 PEN 24.86

-52.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 PEN 7.88

$2.67 PEN 9.00

-12.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 PEN 5.14

$0.85 PEN 2.85

78.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 PEN 5.13

$1.53 PEN 5.15

-0.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.72 PEN 9.19

$0.88 PEN 2.95

209.09%

Potato (1kg)

$3.06 PEN 10.34

$1.07 PEN 3.61

185.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 PEN 7.12

$1.15 PEN 3.89

83.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 PEN 8.19

$0.54 PEN 1.82

350.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 PEN 3.56

$0.78 PEN 2.62

35.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.71 PEN 15.90

Wine (Bottle)

$8.00 PEN 27.00

$5.90 PEN 19.92

35.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 PEN 8.18

$1.96 PEN 6.62

23.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 PEN 11.74

$4.35 PEN 14.69

-20.00%

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

$1.81 PEN 6.09

-19.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 PEN 1.95

$1.89 PEN 6.37

-69.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 PEN 9.88

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 PEN 4.19

$1.54 PEN 5.21

-19.48%

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

$53.4 PEN 180

$30.32 PEN 102

75.96%

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

$35.28 PEN 119

$14.64 PEN 49.41

140.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.53 PEN 150

$43.76 PEN 148

1.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.37 PEN 119

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 PEN 14.68

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 PEN 183

$38.77 PEN 131

40.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.73 PEN 121

$33.83 PEN 114

5.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.96 PEN 121

$55.7 PEN 188

-35.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.4 PEN 231

$73.7 PEN 249

-7.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PEN 397

$146 PEN 493

-19.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 PEN 592

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 PEN 802

$361 PEN 1,218

-34.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$126 PEN 426

$267 PEN 900

-52.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,914 PEN 13.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,841 PEN 6,211

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$417 PEN 1,405

$442 PEN 1,490

-5.68%

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

Last update for Pucallpa: September 14, 2026

Last update for Cusco: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Pucallpa and $146 in Cusco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cusco pays 6% 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: $12.00 in Pucallpa vs $21.00 in Cusco. Groceries flip the comparison at $209 vs $192, with Cusco cheaper for home cooking.

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 Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 6% 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: $118 in Pucallpa versus $146 in Cusco. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Cusco pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Pucallpa – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $21.00 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 31% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.