Iquitos vs Pucallpa
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Iquitos leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Pucallpa where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Pucallpa's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Iquitos | Pucallpa |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 65 | 64 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 47 | 47 |
| Climate | 87 | 86 |
| Safety | 63 | 61 |
| Summer °C | 26.6 | 26.7 |
| Winter °C | 25.3 | 25.1 |
| Top disaster risk | flooding | flooding |
Iquitos vs Pucallpa: the short answer
Iquitos comes out ahead on overall livability (65/100), only marginally above Pucallpa (64/100). The two cities diverge most on natural-disaster exposure. On affordability Pucallpa is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Iquitos 47 vs Pucallpa 47, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Pucallpa runs warmer in summer (about 26.7°C peak vs 26.6°C in Iquitos), while winter lows sit near 25.3°C in Iquitos and 25.1°C in Pucallpa. On natural-disaster exposure Iquitos is the safer choice (safety 63/100); the dominant modelled hazard is flooding for Iquitos and flooding for Pucallpa.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Pucallpa — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Pucallpa — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Iquitos — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Iquitos — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is Iquitos or Pucallpa better to live in?
Iquitos scores higher overall — 65 vs 64 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Iquitos or Pucallpa?
Pucallpa has the lower cost of living (cost index 47 vs 47; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Iquitos or Pucallpa?
Pucallpa — summer highs reach about 26.7°C versus 26.6°C in Iquitos.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Iquitos or Pucallpa?
Iquitos (disaster-safety 63/100). Main hazard: flooding in Iquitos, flooding in Pucallpa.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Iquitos?
flooding is the dominant modelled hazard for Iquitos on our risk index.
How is the Iquitos vs Pucallpa comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.