Cost of Living Comparison Between Pucallpa and Lima Cost of Living Comparison Between Pucallpa and Lima

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $451 in Pucallpa versus $999 in Lima.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $739 in Pucallpa versus $1,561 in Lima.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,028 in Pucallpa versus $2,124 in Lima.

Living in Pucallpa costs roughly 55% less than in Lima, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pucallpa 66% lower, Lima 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.25 PEN 7.64

$4.06 PEN 13.76

-44.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.17 PEN 37.86

$33.99 PEN 115

-67.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.90 PEN 16.62

$6.74 PEN 22.85

-27.30%

Cappuccino

$1.99 PEN 6.74

$2.52 PEN 8.55

-21.03%

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

$0.99 PEN 3.36

$0.94 PEN 3.18

5.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 PEN 0.98

$0.65 PEN 2.21

-55.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.66 PEN 5.62

$2.17 PEN 7.34

-23.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 PEN 7.58

$3.95 PEN 13.38

-43.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 PEN 3.33

$1.41 PEN 4.78

-30.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.45 PEN 11.71

$2.72 PEN 9.21

26.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.66

$1.37 PEN 4.64

-21.17%

Eggs

$1.63 PEN 5.52

$2.94 PEN 9.98

-44.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.90 PEN 6.44

$7.92 PEN 26.85

-76.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.85 PEN 13.06

$5.76 PEN 19.53

-33.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.27 PEN 11.07

$10.71 PEN 36.29

-69.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 PEN 7.59

$1.98 PEN 6.71

13.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.36 PEN 4.61

$1.08 PEN 3.66

25.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.42 PEN 4.81

$1.10 PEN 3.72

29.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 PEN 8.70

$1.19 PEN 4.05

115.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 PEN 3.03

$1.04 PEN 3.51

-14.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 PEN 6.40

$1.00 PEN 3.38

89.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 PEN 2.40

$0.87 PEN 2.93

-18.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 PEN 3.34

$0.86 PEN 2.93

13.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.47 PEN 15.14

$5.59 PEN 18.95

-20.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.10 PEN 27.46

$8.99 PEN 30.49

-9.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 PEN 7.60

$1.77 PEN 5.98

26.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 PEN 11.22

$3.07 PEN 10.41

7.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 PEN 3.70

$0.68 PEN 2.29

60.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.68 PEN 107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.37 PEN 4.63

$3.37 PEN 11.42

-59.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 PEN 1.91

$2.22 PEN 7.53

-74.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.26 PEN 27.98

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 PEN 3.96

$1.35 PEN 4.58

-13.33%

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

$19.4K PEN 65.8K

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

$24.3K PEN 82.2K

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

$49.61 PEN 168

$56.4 PEN 191

-12.10%

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

$15.03 PEN 51.0

$12.57 PEN 42.60

19.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.37 PEN 144

$23.66 PEN 80.2

79.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.04 PEN 105

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.69 PEN 63.4

Cinema Ticket

$6.83 PEN 23.16

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

$219 PEN 742

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,096 PEN 27.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.28 PEN 167

$49.58 PEN 168

-0.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.87 PEN 115

$35.59 PEN 121

-4.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$32.75 PEN 111

$89.3 PEN 303

-63.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.6 PEN 219

$88.9 PEN 301

-27.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$110 PEN 373

$623 PEN 2,113

-82.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 PEN 1,167

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$224 PEN 758

$1,027 PEN 3,482

-78.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$120 PEN 407

$618 PEN 2,096

-80.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,315 PEN 7,846

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,395 PEN 4,730

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$418 PEN 1,415

$625 PEN 2,119

-33.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.11

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

Last update for Pucallpa: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lima: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $110 in Pucallpa and $623 in Lima. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lima pays 50% 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 $34.00 in Lima for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $222 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 Lima: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pucallpa and Lima differ by about 121% in total monthly costs ($451 vs $999 including rent). Pucallpa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 50% lower in Lima. 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: $110 in Pucallpa versus $623 in Lima. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Pucallpa – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $34.00 in Lima. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $451 per month in Pucallpa versus $999 in Lima – a 121% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $451 in Pucallpa versus $999 in Lima, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pucallpa but tight or insufficient in Lima. The gap between the two cities makes Pucallpa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Pucallpa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 121% less than in Lima. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.