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: $689 in Cusco versus $566 in La Merced.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,056 in Cusco versus $926 in La Merced.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,423 in Cusco versus $1,286 in La Merced.

Living in Cusco is roughly 22% more expensive than in La Merced, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cusco 50% lower, La Merced 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.58 PEN 8.70

$4.49 PEN 15.15

-42.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.08 PEN 71.1

$35.82 PEN 121

-41.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.46 PEN 21.80

$7.03 PEN 23.73

-8.11%

Cappuccino

$2.21 PEN 7.44

$3.42 PEN 11.53

-35.38%

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

$0.75 PEN 2.52

$1.14 PEN 3.86

-34.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 PEN 1.13

$0.62 PEN 2.10

-46.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 PEN 7.20

$2.71 PEN 9.15

-21.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.49 PEN 15.13

$4.59 PEN 15.48

-2.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 PEN 4.49

$1.68 PEN 5.67

-20.83%

White Bread (500g)

$2.36 PEN 7.95

$2.06 PEN 6.94

14.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 PEN 4.45

$1.30 PEN 4.40

1.54%

Eggs

$3.63 PEN 12.25

$2.42 PEN 8.16

50.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.85 PEN 16.37

$7.50 PEN 25.31

-35.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.57 PEN 15.43

$5.96 PEN 20.12

-23.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.37 PEN 24.86

$9.09 PEN 30.66

-18.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 PEN 9.00

$1.00 PEN 3.38

167.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 PEN 2.85

$0.47 PEN 1.57

80.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 PEN 5.15

$0.31 PEN 1.05

393.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 PEN 2.95

$0.70 PEN 2.38

25.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 PEN 3.61

$0.31 PEN 1.06

245.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 PEN 3.89

$0.47 PEN 1.59

144.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 PEN 1.82

$0.62 PEN 2.09

-12.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 PEN 2.62

$0.95 PEN 3.20

-17.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.94 PEN 20.05

Wine (Bottle)

$5.90 PEN 19.92

$7.64 PEN 25.76

-22.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 PEN 6.62

$1.98 PEN 6.68

-1.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.35 PEN 14.69

$3.31 PEN 11.18

31.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 PEN 1.05

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 PEN 6.09

$4.12 PEN 13.91

-56.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 PEN 6.37

$2.05 PEN 6.93

-7.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 PEN 9.88

$7.37 PEN 24.87

-60.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 PEN 5.21

$1.72 PEN 5.81

-10.47%

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

$22.3K PEN 75.3K

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

$25.9K PEN 87.2K

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

$30.32 PEN 102

$70.0 PEN 236

-56.71%

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

$14.64 PEN 49.41

$17.07 PEN 57.6

-14.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.76 PEN 148

$28.18 PEN 95.1

55.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.37 PEN 119

Cinema Ticket

$4.35 PEN 14.68

$7.60 PEN 25.64

-42.76%

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

$183 PEN 618

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K PEN 44.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.77 PEN 131

$54.6 PEN 184

-28.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.83 PEN 114

$35.22 PEN 119

-3.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.7 PEN 188

$84.8 PEN 286

-34.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.7 PEN 249

$80.7 PEN 272

-8.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$146 PEN 493

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 PEN 592

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$361 PEN 1,218

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 PEN 900

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,914 PEN 13.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,841 PEN 6,211

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$442 PEN 1,490

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: September 14, 2026

Last update for La Merced: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $21.00 in Cusco vs $36.00 in La Merced for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $192 per month, with Cusco cheaper across the board.

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 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,034 in Cusco and $849 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 0% 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 $36.00 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 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 22% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.