Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Ayacucho Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Ayacucho

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $699 in Cusco versus $491 in Ayacucho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,042 in Cusco versus $793 in Ayacucho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,385 in Cusco versus $1,095 in Ayacucho.

Living in Cusco is roughly 42% more expensive than in Ayacucho, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cusco 49% lower, Ayacucho 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.51 PEN 8.41

$1.76 PEN 5.90

42.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.88 PEN 70.0

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.44 PEN 21.58

Cappuccino

$2.23 PEN 7.48

$1.76 PEN 5.89

26.70%

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

$0.80 PEN 2.69

$0.86 PEN 2.89

-6.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 PEN 1.14

$0.31 PEN 1.05

9.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 PEN 6.79

$1.50 PEN 5.04

35.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 PEN 14.53

$4.39 PEN 14.72

-1.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 PEN 4.47

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 PEN 7.96

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.41

$0.61 PEN 2.06

114.75%

Eggs

$3.61 PEN 12.10

$1.73 PEN 5.81

108.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.77 PEN 15.98

$2.92 PEN 9.78

63.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.36 PEN 14.63

$4.41 PEN 14.78

-1.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.32 PEN 24.54

$5.91 PEN 19.80

23.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 PEN 8.86

$1.22 PEN 4.08

116.39%

Banana (1kg)

$0.80 PEN 2.67

$0.61 PEN 2.05

31.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 PEN 4.95

$0.60 PEN 2.02

145.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 PEN 2.93

$0.56 PEN 1.88

57.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 PEN 3.55

$0.29 PEN 0.97

265.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.62

$0.31 PEN 1.04

248.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 PEN 1.82

$0.31 PEN 1.06

74.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 PEN 2.38

$0.85 PEN 2.86

-16.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.03 PEN 20.21

$5.77 PEN 19.36

4.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 PEN 6.60

$2.98 PEN 10.01

-33.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 PEN 14.29

$4.45 PEN 14.91

-4.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 PEN 1.04

$0.60 PEN 2.02

-48.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.11 PEN 121

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PEN 6.14

$2.32 PEN 7.80

-21.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 PEN 6.31

$1.21 PEN 4.06

55.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 PEN 9.86

$4.58 PEN 15.35

-35.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 PEN 5.22

$1.79 PEN 6.01

-12.85%

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

$10.5K PEN 35.1K

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

$12.6K PEN 42.1K

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

$29.75 PEN 99.8

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

$14.73 PEN 49.40

$11.94 PEN 40.05

23.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.70 PEN 150

$17.97 PEN 60.3

148.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.37 PEN 119

$15.11 PEN 50.7

134.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.03 PEN 101

Cinema Ticket

$4.39 PEN 14.74

$4.35 PEN 14.57

0.92%

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

$73.7 PEN 247

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.00 PEN 131

$17.68 PEN 59.3

120.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.68 PEN 113

$26.24 PEN 88.0

28.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.7 PEN 183

$103 PEN 344

-46.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.0 PEN 251

$105 PEN 354

-28.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 PEN 508

$353 PEN 1,184

-57.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PEN 603

$89.4 PEN 300

101.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 PEN 1,217

$880 PEN 2,951

-58.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 PEN 895

$234 PEN 784

14.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,955 PEN 13.3K

$1,981 PEN 6,644

99.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,776 PEN 5,953

$1,755 PEN 5,885

1.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$433 PEN 1,451

$490 PEN 1,643

-11.71%

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

Last update for Cusco: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ayacucho: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $151 in Cusco and $353 in Ayacucho. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ayacucho pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Ayacucho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ayacucho wins on cost – living expenses run 42% lower than in Cusco. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ayacucho the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 13% lower in Ayacucho. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $151 in Cusco versus $353 in Ayacucho. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 56% higher in Cusco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $699 per month in Cusco versus $491 in Ayacucho – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Ayacucho gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ayacucho delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $491 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ayacucho hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Cusco and Ayacucho are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ayacucho gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.