Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Barcelona Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Barcelona

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $699 in Cusco versus $2,495 in Barcelona.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,042 in Cusco versus $3,550 in Barcelona.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,385 in Cusco versus $4,605 in Barcelona.

Living in Cusco costs roughly 72% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cusco is 49% below, Barcelona is 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.51 PEN 8.43

$18.39 €15.86

-86.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.88 PEN 70.2

$69.2 €59.7

-69.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.44 PEN 21.62

$14.13 €12.19

-54.42%

Cappuccino

$2.23 PEN 7.50

$3.13 €2.70

-28.75%

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

$0.80 PEN 2.70

$3.02 €2.60

-73.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 PEN 1.14

$1.96 €1.69

-82.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 PEN 6.81

$4.00 €3.45

-49.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 PEN 14.56

$4.76 €4.11

-9.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 PEN 4.48

$1.25 €1.08

6.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 PEN 7.98

$2.16 €1.87

9.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.42

$1.69 €1.45

-22.49%

Eggs

$3.61 PEN 12.12

$4.93 €4.25

-26.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.77 PEN 16.02

$17.88 €15.42

-73.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.36 PEN 14.67

$9.61 €8.29

-54.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.32 PEN 24.60

$19.34 €16.68

-62.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 PEN 8.88

$3.24 €2.79

-18.52%

Banana (1kg)

$0.80 PEN 2.67

$2.18 €1.88

-63.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 PEN 4.96

$2.67 €2.30

-44.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 PEN 2.94

$2.77 €2.39

-68.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 PEN 3.56

$2.21 €1.91

-52.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.63

$2.19 €1.89

-50.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 PEN 1.83

$1.52 €1.31

-64.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 PEN 2.38

$0.92 €0.79

-22.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.12 €6.14

Wine (Bottle)

$6.03 PEN 20.25

$8.14 €7.02

-25.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 PEN 6.62

$1.50 €1.29

31.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 PEN 14.33

$2.78 €2.40

53.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 PEN 1.05

$3.15 €2.72

-90.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.99 €23.28

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PEN 6.15

$3.25 €2.80

-43.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 PEN 6.32

$1.50 €1.29

25.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 PEN 9.88

$34.89 €30.10

-91.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 PEN 5.23

$1.75 €1.51

-10.86%

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

$36.7K €31.6K

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

$30.9K €26.7K

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

$29.75 PEN 100.0

$188 €162

-84.14%

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

$14.73 PEN 49.51

$15.44 €13.32

-4.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.70 PEN 150

$37.80 €32.60

18.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.37 PEN 119

$57.2 €49.32

-38.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 €14.49

Cinema Ticket

$4.39 PEN 14.77

$11.58 €9.99

-62.09%

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

$1,003 €865

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.0K €14.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.00 PEN 131

$89.2 €77.0

-56.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.68 PEN 113

$40.87 €35.25

-17.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.7 PEN 184

$110 €94.9

-50.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.0 PEN 252

$123 €106

-38.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 PEN 509

$1,673 €1,443

-90.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PEN 605

$1,331 €1,148

-86.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 PEN 1,220

$2,596 €2,239

-86.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 PEN 897

$1,950 €1,682

-86.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,955 PEN 13.3K

$7,573 €6,532

-47.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,776 PEN 5,967

$5,370 €4,632

-66.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$433 PEN 1,454

$2,402 €2,072

-81.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.16

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

Last update for Cusco: August 30, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $151 in Cusco and $1,673 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 455% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $21.00 in Cusco vs $69.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $332 per month, with Cusco 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 Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cusco and Barcelona differ by about 257% in total monthly costs ($699 vs $2,495 including rent). Cusco is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 455% lower in Barcelona. 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 $1,673 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Cusco – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $69.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $699 per month in Cusco versus $2,495 in Barcelona – a 257% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $699 in Cusco versus $2,495 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cusco but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Cusco the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Cusco and Barcelona 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 Cusco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 257% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.