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: $747 in Cusco versus $110 in Ayacucho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,171 in Cusco versus $191 in Ayacucho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,596 in Cusco versus $272 in Ayacucho.

Living in Cusco is roughly 581% more expensive than Ayacucho, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cusco 44% lower, Ayacucho 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.81 PEN 9.56

$1.64 PEN 5.57

71.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.73 PEN 94.3

$13.75 PEN 46.77

101.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.64 PEN 19.20

$4.07 PEN 13.84

38.57%

Cappuccino

$2.02 PEN 6.86

$2.25 PEN 7.66

-10.22%

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

$1.23 PEN 4.17

$0.80 PEN 2.71

53.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 PEN 2.50

$0.29 PEN 1.00

155.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 PEN 7.44

$1.89 PEN 6.42

15.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 PEN 14.39

$2.25 PEN 7.66

88.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 PEN 4.95

White Bread (500g)

$3.01 PEN 10.24

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 PEN 4.53

Eggs

$3.87 PEN 13.15

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.76 PEN 16.20

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 PEN 16.62

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.88 PEN 23.41

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 PEN 8.06

Banana (1kg)

$0.72 PEN 2.45

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.32

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 PEN 3.05

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.39

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 PEN 3.26

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 PEN 2.37

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 PEN 2.31

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.83 PEN 16.42

Wine (Bottle)

$5.86 PEN 19.93

$5.80 PEN 19.73

1.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 PEN 6.74

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 PEN 10.42

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 PEN 0.91

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 PEN 5.74

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 PEN 5.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 PEN 9.49

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 PEN 5.13

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

$18.8K PEN 63.9K

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

$22.1K PEN 75.2K

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

$33.09 PEN 113

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

$14.07 PEN 47.86

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.14 PEN 103

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.93 PEN 105

$24.55 PEN 83.5

25.99%

Cinema Ticket

$4.76 PEN 16.19

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.52 PEN 124

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.63 PEN 97.4

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.6 PEN 210

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.4 PEN 239

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$304 PEN 1,033

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$250 PEN 850

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$582 PEN 1,979

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 PEN 1,395

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,889 PEN 13.2K

$1,944 PEN 6,615

100.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,754 PEN 5,968

$1,747 PEN 5,942

0.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$432 PEN 1,471

$492 PEN 1,675

-12.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Cusco: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ayacucho: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ayacucho pays 14% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $28.00 in Cusco vs $14.00 in Ayacucho for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $12.00 per month, with Ayacucho cheaper across the board.

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 581% 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, Ayacucho earns 14% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

All in, you'll spend $747 per month in Cusco versus $110 in Ayacucho – a 581% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1573% higher in Cusco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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 $110 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 581% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.