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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $699 per month in Cusco vs $726 in Arequipa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,042 per month in Cusco vs $1,150 in Arequipa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,385 per month in Cusco vs $1,573 in Arequipa, rent included.

Cusco is about 4% cheaper than Arequipa, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Cusco and Arequipa are more affordable than the global median – Cusco 49% lower, Arequipa 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.51 PEN 8.43

$3.59 PEN 12.07

-30.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.88 PEN 70.2

$29.83 PEN 100

-30.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.44 PEN 21.62

$5.85 PEN 19.68

10.09%

Cappuccino

$2.23 PEN 7.50

$2.61 PEN 8.77

-14.56%

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

$0.80 PEN 2.70

$0.83 PEN 2.80

-3.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 PEN 1.14

$0.36 PEN 1.23

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 PEN 6.81

$2.21 PEN 7.42

-8.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 PEN 14.56

$4.34 PEN 14.59

-0.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 PEN 4.48

$1.37 PEN 4.60

-2.92%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 PEN 7.98

$1.45 PEN 4.86

63.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.42

$1.53 PEN 5.14

-14.38%

Eggs

$3.61 PEN 12.12

$2.36 PEN 7.93

52.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.77 PEN 16.02

$6.46 PEN 21.71

-26.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.36 PEN 14.67

$4.47 PEN 15.01

-2.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.32 PEN 24.60

$7.44 PEN 25.00

-1.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 PEN 8.88

$1.83 PEN 6.15

44.26%

Banana (1kg)

$0.80 PEN 2.67

$1.25 PEN 4.21

-36.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 PEN 4.96

$1.16 PEN 3.91

26.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 PEN 2.94

$1.02 PEN 3.44

-13.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 PEN 3.56

$0.67 PEN 2.26

58.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.63

$0.72 PEN 2.43

50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 PEN 1.83

$0.56 PEN 1.90

-3.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 PEN 2.38

$0.77 PEN 2.57

-7.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.22 PEN 17.55

Wine (Bottle)

$6.03 PEN 20.25

$5.29 PEN 17.78

13.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 PEN 6.62

$2.89 PEN 9.71

-31.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 PEN 14.33

$2.40 PEN 8.06

77.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 PEN 1.05

$0.29 PEN 0.97

6.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PEN 6.15

$2.10 PEN 7.07

-12.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 PEN 6.32

$2.05 PEN 6.88

-8.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 PEN 9.88

$12.85 PEN 43.18

-77.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 PEN 5.23

$1.52 PEN 5.09

2.63%

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

$18.6K PEN 62.4K

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

$26.0K PEN 87.5K

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

$29.75 PEN 100.0

$24.42 PEN 82.1

21.83%

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

$14.73 PEN 49.51

$10.19 PEN 34.24

44.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.70 PEN 150

$23.41 PEN 78.7

90.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.37 PEN 119

$25.53 PEN 85.8

38.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.36 PEN 28.10

Cinema Ticket

$4.39 PEN 14.77

$7.50 PEN 25.22

-41.47%

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

$75.6 PEN 254

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,836 PEN 23.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.00 PEN 131

$49.44 PEN 166

-21.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.68 PEN 113

$26.25 PEN 88.2

28.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.7 PEN 184

$69.3 PEN 233

-21.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.0 PEN 252

$59.7 PEN 201

25.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 PEN 509

$362 PEN 1,217

-58.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PEN 605

$240 PEN 806

-24.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 PEN 1,220

$731 PEN 2,458

-50.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 PEN 897

$421 PEN 1,415

-36.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,955 PEN 13.3K

$1,995 PEN 6,703

98.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,776 PEN 5,967

$1,016 PEN 3,413

74.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$433 PEN 1,454

$656 PEN 2,203

-34.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Cusco: August 30, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $151 in Cusco versus $362 in Arequipa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 52% higher in Arequipa, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Cusco versus $30.00 in Arequipa. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Cusco vs $179 in Arequipa – so Arequipa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Cusco vs Arequipa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arequipa costs about 4% more than Cusco, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,049 per month in Cusco and $1,089 in Arequipa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cusco, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $699 in Cusco and $726 in Arequipa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Arequipa – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $699 in Cusco and $726 in Arequipa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cusco costs $699 versus $726 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 Cusco. 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.