Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pucallpa and Lima

For one person, living is cheaper in Pucallpa: $506 a month against $1,045 in Lima, rent and utilities included – about $6,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Pucallpa, Peru
Lima, Peru
Pucallpa
🇵🇪 Peru
$506
/mo nomad
Lima
🇵🇪 Peru
$1,045
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pucallpa and in Lima

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pucallpa and in Lima actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $506 in Pucallpa versus $1,045 in Lima.

  • Pucallpa $506
  • Lima $1,045

Estimated couple costs with rent: $833 in Pucallpa versus $1,668 in Lima.

  • Pucallpa $833
  • Lima $1,668

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,159 in Pucallpa versus $2,292 in Lima.

  • Pucallpa $1,159
  • Lima $2,292

Living in Pucallpa costs roughly 52% less than in Lima, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pucallpa 63% lower, Lima 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pucallpa
Lima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.33 PEN 8.05
$4.25 PEN 14.67
-45.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.69 PEN 40.35
$35.07 PEN 121
-66.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.13 PEN 17.71
$7.04 PEN 24.29
-27.13%
Cappuccino
$1.98 PEN 6.84
$3.30 PEN 11.41
-40.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 PEN 3.42
$1.11 PEN 3.83
-10.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 PEN 0.95
$0.62 PEN 2.14
-54.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.70 PEN 5.86
$2.64 PEN 9.12
-35.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 PEN 8.14
$4.41 PEN 15.23
-46.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pucallpa
Lima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 PEN 3.50
$1.62 PEN 5.60
-37.65%
White Bread (500g)
$3.66 PEN 12.62
$2.59 PEN 8.94
41.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 PEN 4.09
$1.32 PEN 4.55
-10.61%
Eggs
$1.78 PEN 6.15
$2.95 PEN 10.17
-39.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$1.99 PEN 6.88
$9.59 PEN 33.11
-79.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.17 PEN 14.39
$5.70 PEN 19.69
-26.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.39 PEN 11.69
$9.95 PEN 34.35
-65.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.38 PEN 8.23
$1.94 PEN 6.71
22.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 PEN 4.90
$1.03 PEN 3.55
37.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.48 PEN 5.09
$1.44 PEN 4.96
2.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.65 PEN 9.16
$1.53 PEN 5.27
73.20%
Potato (1kg)
$2.84 PEN 9.79
$0.90 PEN 3.10
215.56%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 PEN 6.96
$0.89 PEN 3.08
126.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 PEN 8.14
$0.87 PEN 3.01
171.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 PEN 3.48
$0.88 PEN 3.03
14.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60 PEN 15.88
$5.64 PEN 19.48
-18.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.99 PEN 27.59
$9.56 PEN 33.01
-16.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 PEN 7.89
$1.92 PEN 6.64
19.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 PEN 11.84
$3.16 PEN 10.89
8.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Pucallpa
Lima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.19 PEN 4.11
$0.72 PEN 2.48
65.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$32.28 PEN 111
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 PEN 4.90
$3.56 PEN 12.29
-60.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.59 PEN 2.05
$1.99 PEN 6.87
-70.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$7.83 PEN 27.02
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 PEN 4.41
$1.65 PEN 5.69
-22.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.7K PEN 75.0K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$28.3K PEN 97.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pucallpa
Lima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.5 PEN 181
$67.7 PEN 234
-22.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.19 PEN 121
$15.71 PEN 54.2
124.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.14 PEN 152
$26.76 PEN 92.4
64.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pucallpa
Lima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$32.50 PEN 112
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.68 PEN 67.9
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$7.39 PEN 25.50
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pucallpa
Lima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$309 PEN 1,066
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$13.0K PEN 44.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pucallpa
Lima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.9 PEN 183
$53.9 PEN 186
-1.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.26 PEN 122
$35.93 PEN 124
-1.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$34.67 PEN 120
$81.5 PEN 281
-57.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.0 PEN 231
$79.5 PEN 275
-15.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pucallpa
Lima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$116 PEN 399
$734 PEN 2,533
-84.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$373 PEN 1,288
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$236 PEN 814
$1,287 PEN 4,441
-81.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$126 PEN 436
$764 PEN 2,636
-83.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,434 PEN 8,402
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,359 PEN 4,689
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pucallpa
Lima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$408 PEN 1,408
$666 PEN 2,298
-38.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
8.78
-

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

Last update for Pucallpa: October 26, 2026

Last update for Lima: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Pucallpa
–
Lima
$373
Groceries & Markets
Pucallpa
–
Lima
$229
Eating Out
Pucallpa
–
Lima
$124
Clothing & Footwear
Pucallpa
–
Lima
$113
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pucallpa
–
Lima
$110
Getting Around
Pucallpa
–
Lima
$49
Sport & Entertainment
Pucallpa
–
Lima
$47

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $116 in Pucallpa and $734 in Lima. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lima pays 63% 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 in Pucallpa vs $35 in Lima for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $229 per month, with Pucallpa cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇪 Pucallpa
🇵🇪 Lima
🕒 Local time
01:27 1:27 AM
01:27 1:27 AM
Same time as Pucallpa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
326,040
9,989,369 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PEN – Peruvian Sol Converter

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 3.45 PEN (1 PEN = 0.29 USD). 1 EUR = 3.84 PEN (1 PEN = 0.26 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Pucallpa Lima 490 km
From you
  • Pucallpa
  • Lima

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
What is the total cost difference between living in Pucallpa and in Lima?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $506 in Pucallpa and $1,045 in Lima, so Pucallpa is about 52% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 39% lower in Pucallpa. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Pucallpa and in Lima?
Rent for a central apartment: $116 in Pucallpa versus $734 in Lima. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Pucallpa – a meal for two runs $12 versus $35 in Lima. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Pucallpa or Lima?
All in, you’ll spend $506 per month in Pucallpa versus $1,045 in Lima – Pucallpa is about 52% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city is more doable on $800 per month?
At $506 in Pucallpa versus $1,045 in Lima, a $800 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.
How does quality of life compare between Pucallpa and Lima?
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.
How do I decide between Pucallpa and Lima?
It comes down to priorities – Pucallpa wins on affordability, Lima on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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