Measurement units Temperature, distance and clock format
Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Lisbon
For one person, living is cheaper in Cusco: $692 a month against $2,223 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $18,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cusco and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $692 in Cusco versus $2,223 in Lisbon.
Cusco $692
Lisbon $2,223
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,102 in Cusco versus $3,271 in Lisbon.
Cusco $1,102
Lisbon $3,271
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,512 in Cusco versus $4,319 in Lisbon.
Cusco $1,512
Lisbon $4,319
🌍
Living in Cusco costs roughly 69% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Cusco is 49% below, Lisbon is 65% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Cusco
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.07PEN 7.11
$16.50€14.67
-87.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.09PEN 69.0
$61.3€54.5
-67.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.49PEN 22.28
$11.27€10.03
-42.41%
Cappuccino
$2.18PEN 7.48
$3.06€2.72
-28.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78PEN 2.67
$2.26€2.01
-65.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33PEN 1.12
$1.73€1.54
-80.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.70PEN 5.83
$3.39€3.02
-49.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.23PEN 14.51
$3.40€3.02
24.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cusco
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26PEN 4.33
$1.12€1.00
12.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.31PEN 7.92
$1.86€1.65
24.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30PEN 4.46
$1.53€1.36
-15.03%
Eggs
$3.52PEN 12.07
$3.96€3.53
-11.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.68PEN 16.07
$12.76€11.35
-63.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.39PEN 15.08
$7.90€7.02
-44.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.12PEN 24.44
$16.97€15.09
-58.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.66PEN 9.15
$2.27€2.02
17.18%
Banana(1kg)
$0.82PEN 2.81
$1.75€1.55
-53.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.42PEN 4.89
$1.85€1.64
-23.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.90PEN 3.09
$2.57€2.28
-64.98%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03PEN 3.55
$1.86€1.65
-44.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12PEN 3.85
$2.02€1.80
-44.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.53PEN 1.84
$1.44€1.28
-63.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75PEN 2.57
$0.82€0.73
-8.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$6.56€5.83
-
Wine(Bottle)
$5.86PEN 20.13
$5.62€5.00
4.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93PEN 6.63
$1.28€1.14
50.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13PEN 14.18
$2.07€1.84
99.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Cusco
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28PEN 0.96
$2.35€2.09
-88.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$44.18€39.30
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.73PEN 5.94
$3.99€3.55
-56.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92PEN 6.58
$1.09€0.97
76.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.94PEN 10.10
$16.64€14.81
-82.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57PEN 5.39
$2.28€2.03
-31.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$33.7K€30.0K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2KPEN 100.3K
$39.3K€35.0K
-25.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cusco
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$28.88PEN 99.2
$167€149
-82.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.39PEN 49.41
$18.80€16.72
-23.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.08PEN 151
$33.09€29.43
33.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cusco
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.16PEN 100
$46.01€40.93
-36.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.19€17.07
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.47PEN 15.35
$9.84€8.75
-54.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cusco
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$677€602
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$16.9K€15.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cusco
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.01PEN 127
$101€90.1
-63.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.94PEN 117
$45.76€40.70
-25.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.6PEN 187
$100.0€88.9
-45.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3PEN 252
$123€109
-40.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cusco
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$214PEN 736
$1,614€1,436
-86.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$194PEN 666
$1,197€1,065
-83.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$539PEN 1,850
$2,862€2,545
-81.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$421PEN 1,446
$1,990€1,770
-78.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,183PEN 10.9K
$7,577€6,740
-57.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,825PEN 6,269
$4,307€3,831
-57.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cusco
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$420PEN 1,442
$1,588€1,412
-73.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
3.85
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cusco: October 11, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cusco
$194 28%
Lisbon
$1.2K 53.9% ↑ 517%$1K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cusco
$187 27%
Lisbon
$269 12.1% ↑ 44.2%$83
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cusco
$89 12.9%
Lisbon
$166 7.5% ↑ 86%$77
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cusco
$87 12.6%
Lisbon
$219 9.9% ↑ 151%$132
🍽Eating Out
Cusco
$84 12.1%
Lisbon
$242 10.9% ↑ 190%$159
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cusco
$38 5.5%
Lisbon
$66 3% ↑ 72.4%$28
🚌Getting Around
Cusco
$12 * 1.8%
Lisbon
$63 2.8% ↑ 407%$51
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Cusco
$421 27.8%
Lisbon
$2K 46.1% ↑ 373%$1.6K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Cusco
$430 28.4%
Lisbon
$642 14.9% ↑ 49.3%$212
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Cusco
$199 13.1%
Lisbon
$370 8.6% ↑ 86%$171
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cusco
$102 6.7%
Lisbon
$238 5.5% ↑ 134%$136
🍽Eating Out
Cusco
$260 17.2%
Lisbon
$798 18.5% ↑ 207%$538
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Cusco
$76 * 5%
Lisbon
$151 3.5% ↑ 97.6%$74
🚌Getting Around
Cusco
$25 * 1.7%
Lisbon
$131 3% ↑ 414%$105
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $214 in Cusco and $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 278% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $20.00 in Cusco vs $61.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $269 per month, with Cusco cheaper across the board.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Cusco?
Cusco is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 221% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cusco or Lisbon?
On paper, salaries run 278% lower in Lisbon. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Cusco and Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $214 in Cusco versus $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Cusco and in Lisbon?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Cusco or in Lisbon?
Dining out is cheaper in Cusco – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $61.0 in Lisbon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cusco or in Lisbon?
At $692 in Cusco versus $2,223 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cusco but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Cusco the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cusco or Lisbon more family-friendly?
For families, Cusco is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cusco or Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Cusco and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cusco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 221% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.