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: $747 in Cusco versus $476 in Huancayo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,171 in Cusco versus $804 in Huancayo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,596 in Cusco versus $1,133 in Huancayo.

Living in Cusco is roughly 57% more expensive than Huancayo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cusco 44% lower, Huancayo 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.81 PEN 9.56

$2.20 PEN 7.49

27.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.73 PEN 94.3

$33.86 PEN 115

-18.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.64 PEN 19.20

$6.99 PEN 23.78

-19.31%

Cappuccino

$2.02 PEN 6.86

$2.53 PEN 8.59

-20.16%

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

$1.23 PEN 4.17

$0.99 PEN 3.38

24.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 PEN 2.50

$0.66 PEN 2.25

12.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 PEN 7.44

$2.23 PEN 7.59

-1.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 PEN 14.39

$3.80 PEN 12.91

11.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 PEN 4.95

$1.14 PEN 3.88

28.07%

White Bread (500g)

$3.01 PEN 10.24

$0.92 PEN 3.14

227.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 PEN 4.53

$1.32 PEN 4.49

0.76%

Eggs

$3.87 PEN 13.15

$2.32 PEN 7.89

66.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.76 PEN 16.20

$5.04 PEN 17.14

-5.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 PEN 16.62

$5.44 PEN 18.52

-10.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.88 PEN 23.41

$4.88 PEN 16.61

40.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 PEN 8.06

$1.37 PEN 4.65

72.99%

Banana (1kg)

$0.72 PEN 2.45

$1.12 PEN 3.80

-35.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.32

$0.57 PEN 1.96

122.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 PEN 3.05

$1.09 PEN 3.72

-17.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.39

$0.81 PEN 2.76

23.46%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 PEN 3.26

$0.80 PEN 2.73

20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 PEN 2.37

$0.57 PEN 1.95

22.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 PEN 2.31

$0.82 PEN 2.77

-17.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.83 PEN 16.42

$5.54 PEN 18.85

-12.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.86 PEN 19.93

$5.32 PEN 18.10

10.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 PEN 6.74

$1.70 PEN 5.77

16.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 PEN 10.42

$2.96 PEN 10.07

3.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 PEN 0.91

$0.53 PEN 1.81

-49.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.51 PEN 56.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 PEN 5.74

$1.76 PEN 5.98

-3.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 PEN 5.48

$2.18 PEN 7.42

-26.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 PEN 9.49

$8.54 PEN 29.05

-67.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 PEN 5.13

$1.31 PEN 4.46

15.27%

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

$18.8K PEN 63.9K

$19.7K PEN 66.9K

-4.45%

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

$22.1K PEN 75.2K

$24.8K PEN 84.5K

-10.97%

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

$33.09 PEN 113

$33.15 PEN 113

-0.18%

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

$14.07 PEN 47.86

$10.94 PEN 37.21

28.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.14 PEN 103

$11.00 PEN 37.42

174.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.93 PEN 105

Cinema Ticket

$4.76 PEN 16.19

$6.84 PEN 23.27

-30.41%

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

$217 PEN 737

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,980 PEN 27.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.52 PEN 124

$49.90 PEN 170

-26.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.63 PEN 97.4

$36.52 PEN 124

-21.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.6 PEN 210

$90.9 PEN 309

-32.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.4 PEN 239

$88.0 PEN 299

-20.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$304 PEN 1,033

$302 PEN 1,028

0.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$250 PEN 850

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$582 PEN 1,979

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 PEN 1,395

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,889 PEN 13.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,754 PEN 5,968

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$432 PEN 1,471

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.11

8.80%

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

Last update for Cusco: June 2, 2026

Last update for Huancayo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $304 in Cusco and $302 in Huancayo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $28.00 in Cusco vs $34.00 in Huancayo. Groceries flip the comparison at $194 vs $155, 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 57% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,120 in Cusco and $713 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: $304 in Cusco versus $302 in Huancayo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% 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 $34.00 versus $28.00 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 57% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.