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: $739 in Cusco versus $109 in Ayacucho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,164 in Cusco versus $191 in Ayacucho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,589 in Cusco versus $273 in Ayacucho.

Living in Cusco is roughly 579% more expensive than in Ayacucho, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cusco 45% lower, Ayacucho 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.73 PEN 9.25

$1.70 PEN 5.78

60.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.05 PEN 95.2

$13.69 PEN 46.43

104.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.64 PEN 19.12

$4.13 PEN 14.00

36.56%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PEN 6.79

$2.17 PEN 7.38

-7.83%

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

$1.23 PEN 4.17

$0.84 PEN 2.87

46.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 PEN 2.49

$0.29 PEN 0.99

151.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 PEN 7.58

$1.89 PEN 6.41

17.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.29 PEN 14.57

$2.25 PEN 7.62

90.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 PEN 4.90

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 PEN 9.78

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.32

Eggs

$3.80 PEN 12.90

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.64 PEN 15.75

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 PEN 16.34

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.78 PEN 22.99

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 PEN 8.31

Banana (1kg)

$0.72 PEN 2.45

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 PEN 4.49

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 PEN 3.00

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.38

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 PEN 3.34

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 PEN 2.20

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 PEN 2.36

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.75 PEN 16.10

Wine (Bottle)

$5.83 PEN 19.77

$5.94 PEN 20.16

-1.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 PEN 6.45

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 PEN 10.72

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 PEN 5.56

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 PEN 5.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 PEN 9.47

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 PEN 5.06

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

$19.1K PEN 64.9K

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

$21.9K PEN 74.2K

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

$33.89 PEN 115

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

$14.14 PEN 47.96

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.07 PEN 105

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.62 PEN 104

$25.40 PEN 86.2

20.55%

Cinema Ticket

$5.00 PEN 16.95

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.06 PEN 122

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.00 PEN 98.4

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.9 PEN 210

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.3 PEN 245

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$303 PEN 1,029

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$247 PEN 839

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 PEN 1,995

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$424 PEN 1,437

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,891 PEN 13.2K

$1,890 PEN 6,413

105.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,798 PEN 6,101

$1,764 PEN 5,983

1.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$427 PEN 1,449

$481 PEN 1,631

-11.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Cusco: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ayacucho: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Ayacucho pays 13% 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 $192 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 579% 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.

All in, you'll spend $739 per month in Cusco versus $109 in Ayacucho – a 579% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1512% 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 $109 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 579% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.