Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Chiclayo Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Chiclayo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $699 per month in Cusco vs $790 in Chiclayo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,042 per month in Cusco vs $1,335 in Chiclayo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,385 per month in Cusco vs $1,879 in Chiclayo, rent included.

Cusco is about 12% cheaper than Chiclayo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Cusco and Chiclayo are more affordable than the global median – Cusco 49% lower, Chiclayo 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.51 PEN 8.43

$5.29 PEN 17.76

-52.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.88 PEN 70.2

$35.81 PEN 120

-41.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.44 PEN 21.62

$8.72 PEN 29.31

-26.15%

Cappuccino

$2.23 PEN 7.50

$4.51 PEN 15.17

-50.55%

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

$0.80 PEN 2.70

$0.85 PEN 2.87

-5.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 PEN 1.14

$0.46 PEN 1.55

-26.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 PEN 6.81

$8.72 PEN 29.29

-76.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 PEN 14.56

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 PEN 4.48

$1.99 PEN 6.69

-33.17%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 PEN 7.98

$2.68 PEN 9.01

-11.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.42

$2.65 PEN 8.91

-50.57%

Eggs

$3.61 PEN 12.12

$1.82 PEN 6.11

98.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.77 PEN 16.02

$9.71 PEN 32.61

-50.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.36 PEN 14.67

$9.90 PEN 33.28

-55.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.32 PEN 24.60

$7.95 PEN 26.73

-7.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 PEN 8.88

Banana (1kg)

$0.80 PEN 2.67

$1.99 PEN 6.69

-59.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 PEN 4.96

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 PEN 2.94

$1.95 PEN 6.55

-54.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 PEN 3.56

$1.29 PEN 4.33

-17.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.63

$1.94 PEN 6.50

-44.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 PEN 1.83

$0.93 PEN 3.12

-41.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 PEN 2.38

$0.91 PEN 3.06

-21.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 PEN 14.83

Wine (Bottle)

$6.03 PEN 20.25

$14.99 PEN 50.4

-59.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 PEN 6.62

$1.50 PEN 5.05

31.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 PEN 14.33

$1.17 PEN 3.94

264.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 PEN 1.05

$0.51 PEN 1.72

-39.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.37 PEN 98.7

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PEN 6.15

$4.38 PEN 14.72

-58.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 PEN 6.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 PEN 9.88

$6.04 PEN 20.31

-51.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 PEN 5.23

$1.30 PEN 4.36

20.00%

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

$25.1K PEN 84.3K

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

$24.2K PEN 81.5K

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

$29.75 PEN 100.0

$51.4 PEN 173

-42.12%

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

$14.73 PEN 49.51

$44.91 PEN 151

-67.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.70 PEN 150

$24.14 PEN 81.1

85.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.37 PEN 119

$43.80 PEN 147

-19.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.68 PEN 120

Cinema Ticket

$4.39 PEN 14.77

$7.52 PEN 25.27

-41.62%

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

$359 PEN 1,206

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,248 PEN 17.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.00 PEN 131

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.68 PEN 113

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.7 PEN 184

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.0 PEN 252

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 PEN 509

$176 PEN 590

-13.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PEN 605

$149 PEN 501

20.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 PEN 1,220

$444 PEN 1,490

-18.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 PEN 897

$411 PEN 1,382

-35.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,955 PEN 13.3K

$1,144 PEN 3,846

245.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,776 PEN 5,967

$1,100 PEN 3,696

61.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$433 PEN 1,454

$487 PEN 1,637

-11.19%

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 Chiclayo: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $151 in Cusco versus $176 in Chiclayo. 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 13% higher in Chiclayo, 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 $36.00 in Chiclayo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $251 – making Cusco the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Chiclayo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $699 in Cusco, $790 in Chiclayo – roughly 13% apart. Chiclayo costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,049 per month in Cusco and $1,186 in Chiclayo. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Cusco and $36.00 in Chiclayo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $699 in Cusco and $790 in Chiclayo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $699 in Cusco and $790 in Chiclayo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Cusco has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $699 in Cusco to $790 in Chiclayo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Cusco. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiclayo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.