Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Huancayo Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Huancayo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $699 in Cusco versus $507 in Huancayo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,042 in Cusco versus $828 in Huancayo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,385 in Cusco versus $1,148 in Huancayo.

Living in Cusco is roughly 38% more expensive than in Huancayo, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cusco 49% lower, Huancayo 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.51 PEN 8.41

$2.44 PEN 8.17

2.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.88 PEN 70.0

$33.10 PEN 111

-36.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.44 PEN 21.58

$7.11 PEN 23.85

-9.42%

Cappuccino

$2.23 PEN 7.48

$3.32 PEN 11.15

-32.83%

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

$0.80 PEN 2.69

$1.12 PEN 3.75

-28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 PEN 1.14

$0.67 PEN 2.25

-49.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 PEN 6.79

$2.73 PEN 9.16

-25.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 PEN 14.53

$4.53 PEN 15.17

-4.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 PEN 4.47

$1.22 PEN 4.08

9.02%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 PEN 7.96

$1.07 PEN 3.59

121.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.41

$1.33 PEN 4.47

-1.50%

Eggs

$3.61 PEN 12.10

$2.48 PEN 8.33

45.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.77 PEN 15.98

$5.40 PEN 18.10

-11.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.36 PEN 14.63

$5.92 PEN 19.84

-26.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.32 PEN 24.54

$5.37 PEN 18.00

36.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 PEN 8.86

$1.52 PEN 5.11

73.68%

Banana (1kg)

$0.80 PEN 2.67

$1.07 PEN 3.58

-25.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 PEN 4.95

$0.56 PEN 1.89

162.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 PEN 2.93

$1.16 PEN 3.90

-24.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 PEN 3.55

$0.86 PEN 2.90

23.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.62

$0.91 PEN 3.06

18.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 PEN 1.82

$0.62 PEN 2.08

-12.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 PEN 2.38

$0.86 PEN 2.88

-17.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.96 PEN 19.99

Wine (Bottle)

$6.03 PEN 20.21

$5.39 PEN 18.07

11.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 PEN 6.60

$1.90 PEN 6.38

3.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 PEN 14.29

$3.29 PEN 11.04

29.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 PEN 1.04

$0.61 PEN 2.05

-49.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.06 PEN 60.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PEN 6.14

$1.95 PEN 6.53

-6.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 PEN 6.31

$2.11 PEN 7.08

-10.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 PEN 9.86

$7.29 PEN 24.43

-59.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 PEN 5.22

$1.51 PEN 5.05

3.31%

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

$22.2K PEN 74.4K

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

$26.1K PEN 87.5K

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

$29.75 PEN 99.8

$35.51 PEN 119

-16.22%

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

$14.73 PEN 49.40

$12.11 PEN 40.61

21.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.70 PEN 150

$11.75 PEN 39.41

280.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.37 PEN 119

Cinema Ticket

$4.39 PEN 14.74

$7.64 PEN 25.63

-42.54%

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

$185 PEN 620

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K PEN 44.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.00 PEN 131

$53.7 PEN 180

-27.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.68 PEN 113

$36.05 PEN 121

-6.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.7 PEN 183

$85.5 PEN 287

-35.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.0 PEN 251

$80.0 PEN 268

-6.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 PEN 508

$331 PEN 1,110

-54.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PEN 603

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 PEN 1,217

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 PEN 895

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,955 PEN 13.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,776 PEN 5,953

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$433 PEN 1,451

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.94

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

Last update for Cusco: August 30, 2026

Last update for Huancayo: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $151 in Cusco and $331 in Huancayo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $21.00 in Cusco vs $33.00 in Huancayo. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $166, with Huancayo cheaper for home cooking.

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 Huancayo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Huancayo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,049 in Cusco and $760 in Huancayo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $151 in Cusco versus $331 in Huancayo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Cusco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Huancayo – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $21.00 in Cusco. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Huancayo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Huancayo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cusco, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Cusco and Huancayo 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 Huancayo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.