Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and La Merced Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and La Merced

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $756 in Cusco versus $523 in La Merced.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,178 in Cusco versus $864 in La Merced.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Cusco versus $1,205 in La Merced.

Living in Cusco is roughly 45% more expensive than La Merced, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cusco 43% lower, La Merced 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.86 PEN 9.76

$4.08 PEN 13.93

-29.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.37 PEN 96.7

$32.98 PEN 112

-13.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.41 PEN 18.45

$6.88 PEN 23.46

-21.37%

Cappuccino

$2.02 PEN 6.90

$2.62 PEN 8.92

-22.90%

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

$1.21 PEN 4.14

$0.96 PEN 3.28

26.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 PEN 2.70

$0.64 PEN 2.20

23.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 PEN 7.72

$2.19 PEN 7.45

3.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 PEN 14.31

$3.98 PEN 13.56

5.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 PEN 5.06

$1.42 PEN 4.83

4.93%

White Bread (500g)

$2.90 PEN 9.89

$1.98 PEN 6.75

46.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PEN 4.39

$1.24 PEN 4.21

4.03%

Eggs

$3.84 PEN 13.08

$2.19 PEN 7.45

75.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.79 PEN 16.32

$6.89 PEN 23.49

-30.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.00 PEN 17.04

$5.48 PEN 18.68

-8.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.75 PEN 23.02

$8.54 PEN 29.11

-20.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 PEN 8.34

$0.91 PEN 3.09

169.23%

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 PEN 2.61

$0.40 PEN 1.36

92.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.48

$0.29 PEN 1.00

351.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 PEN 3.08

$0.67 PEN 2.27

34.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.57

$0.27 PEN 0.91

288.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.40

$0.43 PEN 1.47

132.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 PEN 2.43

$0.54 PEN 1.83

31.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 PEN 2.38

$0.86 PEN 2.95

-18.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.73 PEN 16.12

$5.52 PEN 18.83

-14.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.86 PEN 19.99

$7.54 PEN 25.69

-22.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 PEN 6.81

$1.76 PEN 6.00

13.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 PEN 10.36

$2.94 PEN 10.02

3.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 PEN 0.92

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 PEN 5.59

$3.31 PEN 11.27

-50.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 PEN 5.59

$2.19 PEN 7.46

-25.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 PEN 9.41

$8.25 PEN 28.12

-66.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 PEN 5.28

$1.31 PEN 4.46

18.32%

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

$18.5K PEN 63.0K

$19.3K PEN 65.8K

-4.21%

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

$22.0K PEN 75.0K

$24.5K PEN 83.5K

-10.18%

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

$33.20 PEN 113

$55.8 PEN 190

-40.46%

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

$13.84 PEN 47.20

$12.38 PEN 42.22

11.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.71 PEN 105

$23.63 PEN 80.6

29.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.06 PEN 106

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 PEN 16.69

$7.11 PEN 24.25

-31.22%

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

$221 PEN 752

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,855 PEN 26.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.07 PEN 123

$50.5 PEN 172

-28.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.37 PEN 96.7

$36.63 PEN 125

-22.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.5 PEN 210

$89.8 PEN 306

-31.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 PEN 242

$91.1 PEN 310

-22.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$311 PEN 1,061

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$246 PEN 838

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$576 PEN 1,964

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$418 PEN 1,424

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,856 PEN 13.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,773 PEN 6,043

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$428 PEN 1,460

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 13, 2026

Last update for La Merced: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $28.00 in Cusco vs $33.00 in La Merced. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 vs $177, with La Merced 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 La Merced: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

La Merced is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 45% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,134 in Cusco and $785 in La Merced 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Cusco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in La Merced – a meal for two runs $33.00 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 La Merced gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, La Merced 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.

Expats usually find La Merced gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.