Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Cusco Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Cusco

😐 Solo nomad: Arequipa is 12.9% more expensive than Cusco without rent, and 15.6% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Arequipa is 3.3% more expensive than Cusco without rent, and 3.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arequipa
Cusco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.26 PEN 14.63
$2.82 PEN 9.68
51.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.24 PEN 96.9
$28.39 PEN 97.4
-0.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.70 PEN 19.56
$5.53 PEN 18.95
3.07%
Cappuccino
$2.49 PEN 8.55
$2.09 PEN 7.18
19.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 PEN 2.78
$1.22 PEN 4.20
-33.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 PEN 1.26
$0.74 PEN 2.54
-50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 PEN 7.57
$2.17 PEN 7.44
1.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.94 PEN 20.37
$4.20 PEN 14.40
41.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arequipa
Cusco
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 PEN 5.26
$1.48 PEN 5.08
3.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 PEN 4.19
$2.89 PEN 9.92
-57.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 PEN 4.33
$1.28 PEN 4.39
-1.56%
Eggs
$2.16 PEN 7.42
$4.00 PEN 13.72
-46.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.58 PEN 19.14
$4.59 PEN 15.73
21.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.29 PEN 18.13
$4.84 PEN 16.59
9.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.57 PEN 25.96
$6.90 PEN 23.66
9.71%
Apples (1kg)
$1.45 PEN 4.98
$2.42 PEN 8.32
-40.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 PEN 4.01
$0.78 PEN 2.68
50.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.18 PEN 4.04
$1.29 PEN 4.42
-8.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.75 PEN 2.59
$0.88 PEN 3.02
-14.77%
Potato (1kg)
$0.59 PEN 2.01
$1.04 PEN 3.57
-43.27%
Onion (1kg)
$0.54 PEN 1.85
$1.01 PEN 3.47
-46.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.44 PEN 1.50
$0.67 PEN 2.28
-34.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 PEN 2.50
$0.69 PEN 2.36
5.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.94 PEN 16.95
$4.88 PEN 16.73
1.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.06 PEN 17.35
$6.48 PEN 22.24
-21.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 PEN 8.29
$1.89 PEN 6.47
28.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 PEN 7.94
$3.05 PEN 10.48
-24.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Arequipa
Cusco
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 PEN 0.91
$0.29 PEN 1.00
-6.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.12 PEN 7.28
$1.71 PEN 5.86
23.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.12 PEN 7.28
$1.58 PEN 5.40
34.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.88 PEN 44.18
$2.74 PEN 9.38
370.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 PEN 5.31
$1.48 PEN 5.06
4.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K PEN 64.9K
$18.4K PEN 63.3K
2.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K PEN 86.1K
$21.6K PEN 74.2K
15.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arequipa
Cusco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.21 PEN 138
$33.05 PEN 113
21.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.71 PEN 36.75
$14.07 PEN 48.26
-23.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.34 PEN 104
$30.89 PEN 106
-1.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arequipa
Cusco
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.65 PEN 74.3
$30.30 PEN 104
-28.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.56 PEN 29.37
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.52 PEN 15.52
$5.00 PEN 17.14
-9.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arequipa
Cusco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$60.6 PEN 208
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,415 PEN 22.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arequipa
Cusco
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.93 PEN 127
$35.43 PEN 122
4.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.20 PEN 76.1
$28.94 PEN 99.3
-23.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.7 PEN 219
$62.1 PEN 213
2.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.7 PEN 188
$70.4 PEN 242
-22.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arequipa
Cusco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$237 PEN 812
$309 PEN 1,061
-23.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 PEN 536
$251 PEN 862
-37.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$542 PEN 1,859
$574 PEN 1,970
-5.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$391 PEN 1,342
$409 PEN 1,403
-4.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,004 PEN 6,874
$4,005 PEN 13.7K
-49.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$997 PEN 3,420
$1,834 PEN 6,291
-45.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arequipa
Cusco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$649 PEN 2,226
$483 PEN 1,657
34.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15
11
36.36%

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

Last update for Arequipa: April 12, 2026

Last update for Cusco: April 12, 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

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