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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $739 per month in Cusco vs $739 in Chiclayo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,164 per month in Cusco vs $1,244 in Chiclayo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,589 per month in Cusco vs $1,748 in Chiclayo, rent included.

Cusco and Chiclayo have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Cusco and Chiclayo are more affordable than the global median – Cusco 45% lower, Chiclayo 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.73 PEN 9.24

$4.97 PEN 16.84

-45.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.05 PEN 95.1

$32.94 PEN 112

-14.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.64 PEN 19.11

$8.22 PEN 27.85

-31.39%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PEN 6.78

$4.06 PEN 13.77

-50.74%

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

$1.23 PEN 4.16

$0.79 PEN 2.69

55.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 PEN 2.48

$0.50 PEN 1.70

46.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 PEN 7.57

$2.60 PEN 8.80

-14.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.29 PEN 14.55

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 PEN 4.90

$1.42 PEN 4.82

2.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 PEN 9.78

$1.64 PEN 5.54

75.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.31

$1.70 PEN 5.75

-25.29%

Eggs

$3.80 PEN 12.89

$3.03 PEN 10.28

25.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.64 PEN 15.74

$6.06 PEN 20.54

-23.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 PEN 16.33

$5.90 PEN 20.00

-18.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.78 PEN 22.97

$8.49 PEN 28.78

-20.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 PEN 8.31

$1.99 PEN 6.76

23.12%

Banana (1kg)

$0.72 PEN 2.45

$1.65 PEN 5.60

-56.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 PEN 4.49

$1.09 PEN 3.69

21.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 PEN 3.00

$1.57 PEN 5.32

-43.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.38

$0.99 PEN 3.35

1.01%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 PEN 3.34

$1.42 PEN 4.82

-30.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 PEN 2.19

$0.66 PEN 2.23

-1.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 PEN 2.36

$0.67 PEN 2.28

4.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.75 PEN 16.08

$4.18 PEN 14.18

13.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.83 PEN 19.76

$14.71 PEN 49.88

-60.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 PEN 6.45

$1.35 PEN 4.57

40.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 PEN 10.71

$1.58 PEN 5.36

100.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

$0.48 PEN 1.64

-39.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.55 PEN 93.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 PEN 5.56

$2.71 PEN 9.20

-39.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 PEN 5.64

$1.09 PEN 3.69

52.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 PEN 9.46

$4.84 PEN 16.40

-42.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 PEN 5.06

$1.28 PEN 4.35

16.41%

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

$19.1K PEN 64.8K

$23.5K PEN 79.8K

-18.76%

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

$21.9K PEN 74.2K

$22.7K PEN 77.0K

-3.70%

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

$33.89 PEN 115

$37.97 PEN 129

-10.75%

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

$14.14 PEN 47.92

$15.05 PEN 51.0

-6.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.07 PEN 105

$35.57 PEN 121

-12.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.62 PEN 104

$32.57 PEN 110

-5.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.41 PEN 113

Cinema Ticket

$5.00 PEN 16.94

$5.48 PEN 18.56

-8.76%

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

$221 PEN 749

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,498 PEN 11.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.06 PEN 122

$43.80 PEN 148

-17.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.00 PEN 98.3

$35.99 PEN 122

-19.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.9 PEN 210

$82.1 PEN 278

-24.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.3 PEN 245

$38.54 PEN 131

87.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$303 PEN 1,028

$125 PEN 422

143.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$247 PEN 838

$139 PEN 471

78.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 PEN 1,993

$317 PEN 1,075

85.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$424 PEN 1,436

$362 PEN 1,229

16.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,891 PEN 13.2K

$1,119 PEN 3,794

247.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,798 PEN 6,096

$1,088 PEN 3,689

65.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$427 PEN 1,448

$473 PEN 1,603

-9.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.00%

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

Last update for Cusco: July 14, 2026

Last update for Chiclayo: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $303 in Cusco versus $125 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 11% higher in Chiclayo. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Cusco versus $33.00 in Chiclayo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $211 – 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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,109 per month in Cusco and $1,109 in Chiclayo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiclayo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Cusco – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Cusco and $33.00 in Chiclayo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $739 in Cusco and $739 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 $739 in Chiclayo to $739 in Cusco. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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