Cost of Living Comparison Between Cerro de Pasco and Cusco Cost of Living Comparison Between Cerro de Pasco and Cusco

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $524 per month in Cerro de Pasco vs $762 in Cusco, rent included.

A couple spends around $854 per month in Cerro de Pasco vs $1,171 in Cusco, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,183 per month in Cerro de Pasco vs $1,579 in Cusco, rent included.

Cerro de Pasco is about 31% cheaper than Cusco, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Cerro de Pasco and Cusco are more affordable than the global median – Cerro de Pasco 61% lower, Cusco 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.81 PEN 9.55

$2.79 PEN 9.49

0.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.35 PEN 93.0

$27.84 PEN 94.7

-1.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 PEN 23.88

$5.50 PEN 18.70

27.64%

Cappuccino

$1.91 PEN 6.48

$2.02 PEN 6.87

-5.45%

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

$0.71 PEN 2.41

$1.21 PEN 4.12

-41.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 PEN 1.36

$0.78 PEN 2.66

-48.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 PEN 7.72

$2.19 PEN 7.45

3.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 PEN 13.44

$4.09 PEN 13.92

-3.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 PEN 4.81

$1.44 PEN 4.90

-1.39%

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 PEN 7.69

$2.89 PEN 9.83

-21.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PEN 4.26

$1.28 PEN 4.35

-2.34%

Eggs

$2.29 PEN 7.77

$3.93 PEN 13.37

-41.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.02 PEN 27.27

$4.60 PEN 15.64

74.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.72 PEN 19.44

$4.96 PEN 16.87

15.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.93 PEN 26.94

$6.91 PEN 23.49

14.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 PEN 6.67

$2.34 PEN 7.95

-16.24%

Banana (1kg)

$0.72 PEN 2.45

$0.73 PEN 2.47

-1.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.44 PEN 1.48

$1.29 PEN 4.38

-65.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 PEN 3.88

$0.97 PEN 3.28

17.53%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 PEN 2.46

$1.05 PEN 3.56

-31.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PEN 1.78

$0.99 PEN 3.37

-47.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 PEN 2.99

$0.69 PEN 2.36

27.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PEN 2.91

$0.70 PEN 2.38

21.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.42 PEN 18.41

$4.97 PEN 16.90

9.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.04 PEN 23.94

$5.82 PEN 19.78

20.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PEN 5.73

$1.99 PEN 6.77

-15.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 PEN 8.59

$3.18 PEN 10.82

-20.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.27 PEN 11.12

$1.70 PEN 5.78

92.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 PEN 7.26

$1.66 PEN 5.64

28.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.37 PEN 28.46

$2.74 PEN 9.30

205.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.60

$1.50 PEN 5.10

-10.00%

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

$19.2K PEN 65.2K

$18.8K PEN 64.0K

1.80%

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

$25.0K PEN 84.9K

$22.3K PEN 75.8K

12.03%

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

$55.8 PEN 190

$33.90 PEN 115

64.54%

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

$12.40 PEN 42.16

$13.93 PEN 47.35

-10.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.47 PEN 79.8

$30.38 PEN 103

-22.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.36 PEN 103

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 PEN 22.92

$4.79 PEN 16.30

40.71%

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

$221 PEN 751

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,138 PEN 27.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.25 PEN 167

$35.64 PEN 121

38.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.69 PEN 121

$28.22 PEN 95.9

26.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.8 PEN 312

$63.1 PEN 214

45.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.9 PEN 299

$70.9 PEN 241

23.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$311 PEN 1,057

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$247 PEN 841

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 PEN 1,332

$584 PEN 1,985

-32.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$419 PEN 1,426

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,773 PEN 12.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,760 PEN 5,985

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$453 PEN 1,538

$426 PEN 1,447

6.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.11

-8.09%

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

Last update for Cerro de Pasco: June 9, 2026

Last update for Cusco: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 6% higher in Cerro de Pasco, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Cerro de Pasco versus $28.00 in Cusco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $194 – making Cerro de Pasco the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Cerro de Pasco vs Cusco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cusco is pricier by about 46%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $786 per month in Cerro de Pasco and $1,143 in Cusco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 0% more in Cusco, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Cerro de Pasco and $28.00 in Cusco. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $524 in Cerro de Pasco and $762 in Cusco, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Cerro de Pasco – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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