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.

Cusco
🇵🇪 Peru
$692
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cusco and in Lisbon

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
🍽 Eating Out
Cusco
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.07 PEN 7.11
$16.50 €14.67
-87.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.09 PEN 69.0
$61.3 €54.5
-67.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.49 PEN 22.28
$11.27 €10.03
-42.41%
Cappuccino
$2.18 PEN 7.48
$3.06 €2.72
-28.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 PEN 2.67
$2.26 €2.01
-65.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 PEN 1.12
$1.73 €1.54
-80.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.70 PEN 5.83
$3.39 €3.02
-49.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.23 PEN 14.51
$3.40 €3.02
24.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cusco
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 PEN 4.33
$1.12 €1.00
12.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.31 PEN 7.92
$1.86 €1.65
24.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 PEN 4.46
$1.53 €1.36
-15.03%
Eggs
$3.52 PEN 12.07
$3.96 €3.53
-11.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.68 PEN 16.07
$12.76 €11.35
-63.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 PEN 15.08
$7.90 €7.02
-44.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.12 PEN 24.44
$16.97 €15.09
-58.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.66 PEN 9.15
$2.27 €2.02
17.18%
Banana (1kg)
$0.82 PEN 2.81
$1.75 €1.55
-53.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.42 PEN 4.89
$1.85 €1.64
-23.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.90 PEN 3.09
$2.57 €2.28
-64.98%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 PEN 3.55
$1.86 €1.65
-44.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 PEN 3.85
$2.02 €1.80
-44.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.53 PEN 1.84
$1.44 €1.28
-63.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 PEN 2.57
$0.82 €0.73
-8.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$6.56 €5.83
-
Wine (Bottle)
$5.86 PEN 20.13
$5.62 €5.00
4.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 PEN 6.63
$1.28 €1.14
50.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13 PEN 14.18
$2.07 €1.84
99.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Cusco
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 PEN 0.96
$2.35 €2.09
-88.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$44.18 €39.30
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.73 PEN 5.94
$3.99 €3.55
-56.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 PEN 6.58
$1.09 €0.97
76.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 PEN 10.10
$16.64 €14.81
-82.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 PEN 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)
$29.2K PEN 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)
$28.88 PEN 99.2
$167 €149
-82.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.39 PEN 49.41
$18.80 €16.72
-23.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.08 PEN 151
$33.09 €29.43
33.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cusco
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.16 PEN 100
$46.01 €40.93
-36.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.19 €17.07
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.47 PEN 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)
$37.01 PEN 127
$101 €90.1
-63.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.94 PEN 117
$45.76 €40.70
-25.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$54.6 PEN 187
$100.0 €88.9
-45.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 PEN 252
$123 €109
-40.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cusco
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$214 PEN 736
$1,614 €1,436
-86.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$194 PEN 666
$1,197 €1,065
-83.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$539 PEN 1,850
$2,862 €2,545
-81.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$421 PEN 1,446
$1,990 €1,770
-78.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,183 PEN 10.9K
$7,577 €6,740
-57.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,825 PEN 6,269
$4,307 €3,831
-57.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cusco
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$420 PEN 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.
Accommodation & Living
Cusco
$194
Lisbon
$1.2K 517% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Cusco
$187
Lisbon
$269 44.2% $83
Clothing & Footwear
Cusco
$89
Lisbon
$166 86% $77
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cusco
$87
Lisbon
$219 151% $132
Eating Out
Cusco
$84
Lisbon
$242 190% $159
Sport & Entertainment
Cusco
$38
Lisbon
$66 72.4% $28
Getting Around
Cusco
$12 *
Lisbon
$63 407% $51

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.

Good to know
🇵🇪 Cusco
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
14:59 2:59 PM
20:59 8:59 PM
6 h ahead of Cusco
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
428,450
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to PEN – Peruvian Sol Converter

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 3.43 PEN (1 PEN = 0.291 USD). 1 EUR = 3.86 PEN (1 PEN = 0.259 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cusco Lisbon 8,720 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cusco
  • Lisbon

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.

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