Cost of Living Comparison Between Tarapoto and Arequipa Cost of Living Comparison Between Tarapoto and Arequipa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $31.71 per month in Tarapoto vs $650 in Arequipa, rent included.

A couple spends around $48.00 per month in Tarapoto vs $1,067 in Arequipa, rent included.

A family of three spends $65.2 per month in Tarapoto vs $1,485 in Arequipa, rent included.

Tarapoto is about 95% cheaper than Arequipa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Tarapoto and Arequipa are more affordable than the global median – Tarapoto 98% lower, Arequipa 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.70 PEN 9.48

$4.07 PEN 14.28

-33.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.21 PEN 99.0

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.68 PEN 19.95

Cappuccino

$2.61 PEN 9.15

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

$0.80 PEN 2.82

$0.82 PEN 2.87

-2.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 PEN 1.30

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 PEN 7.67

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 PEN 9.67

$5.88 PEN 20.63

-53.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 PEN 5.38

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 PEN 4.45

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 PEN 4.27

Eggs

$2.06 PEN 7.22

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.38 PEN 18.88

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 PEN 18.46

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.45 PEN 26.14

Apples (1kg)

$1.46 PEN 5.13

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 PEN 4.27

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 PEN 4.16

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 PEN 2.70

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 PEN 1.95

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PEN 1.90

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 PEN 1.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.66

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.95 PEN 17.36

Wine (Bottle)

$4.87 PEN 17.09

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 PEN 8.41

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 PEN 8.13

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 1.03

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 PEN 7.31

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 PEN 7.41

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.82 PEN 44.99

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 PEN 5.62

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

$18.7K PEN 65.7K

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

$25.0K PEN 87.8K

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

$39.83 PEN 140

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

$10.73 PEN 37.66

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.64 PEN 108

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.47 PEN 75.4

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.22 PEN 28.85

Cinema Ticket

$4.39 PEN 15.40

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

$59.9 PEN 210

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,271 PEN 22.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.93 PEN 130

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.01 PEN 77.3

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.6 PEN 216

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.1 PEN 194

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$245 PEN 858

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 PEN 547

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$542 PEN 1,902

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 PEN 1,346

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 PEN 7,003

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,002 PEN 3,516

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$631 PEN 2,216

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Tarapoto: April 28, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: April 27, 2026

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

Tarapoto vs Arequipa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arequipa costs about 1950% more than Tarapoto, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $47.57 per month in Tarapoto and $975 in Arequipa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $31.71 in Tarapoto and $650 in Arequipa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tarapoto costs $31.71 versus $650 in Arequipa. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Tarapoto. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arequipa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.