Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Moquegua Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Moquegua

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $703 in Cusco versus $468 in Moquegua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,095 in Cusco versus $784 in Moquegua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,486 in Cusco versus $1,099 in Moquegua.

Living in Cusco is roughly 50% more expensive than in Moquegua, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cusco 49% lower, Moquegua 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.48 PEN 8.33

$3.69 PEN 12.37

-32.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.09 PEN 118

$29.34 PEN 98.4

19.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 PEN 19.58

$6.05 PEN 20.28

-3.47%

Cappuccino

$2.16 PEN 7.23

$2.47 PEN 8.26

-12.55%

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

$0.74 PEN 2.47

$0.80 PEN 2.68

-7.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 PEN 1.22

$0.42 PEN 1.40

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 PEN 8.19

$2.33 PEN 7.80

4.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 PEN 15.12

$6.03 PEN 20.21

-25.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 PEN 4.47

$1.37 PEN 4.60

-2.92%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 PEN 7.54

$1.42 PEN 4.77

58.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.40

$1.51 PEN 5.06

-13.25%

Eggs

$3.72 PEN 12.48

$2.32 PEN 7.78

60.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.76 PEN 15.97

$6.51 PEN 21.81

-26.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.51 PEN 15.12

$4.67 PEN 15.66

-3.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 PEN 25.31

$7.45 PEN 24.98

1.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 PEN 9.00

$1.81 PEN 6.07

48.07%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 PEN 2.84

$1.27 PEN 4.26

-33.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 PEN 5.06

$1.17 PEN 3.93

29.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 PEN 3.07

$1.02 PEN 3.43

-10.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.52

$0.68 PEN 2.29

54.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.63

$0.69 PEN 2.31

56.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 PEN 1.80

$0.56 PEN 1.88

-3.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.56

$0.76 PEN 2.55

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.06 PEN 16.98

Wine (Bottle)

$6.06 PEN 20.33

$5.31 PEN 17.79

14.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 PEN 6.61

$3.07 PEN 10.28

-35.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 PEN 14.67

$2.39 PEN 8.00

83.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.97

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PEN 6.09

$2.11 PEN 7.08

-13.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 PEN 6.61

$2.04 PEN 6.84

-3.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 PEN 9.81

$13.04 PEN 43.72

-77.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 PEN 5.31

$1.55 PEN 5.18

1.94%

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

$19.2K PEN 64.5K

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

$26.1K PEN 87.6K

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

$29.76 PEN 99.8

$24.11 PEN 80.8

23.43%

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

$15.06 PEN 50.5

$10.20 PEN 34.20

47.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.59 PEN 149

$23.71 PEN 79.5

88.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.77 PEN 120

Cinema Ticket

$4.42 PEN 14.81

$7.26 PEN 24.35

-39.12%

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

$77.3 PEN 259

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,825 PEN 22.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.54 PEN 129

$49.52 PEN 166

-22.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.84 PEN 117

$27.22 PEN 91.3

27.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.1 PEN 181

$69.6 PEN 233

-22.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 PEN 250

$60.4 PEN 202

23.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 PEN 498

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 PEN 598

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$353 PEN 1,185

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 PEN 886

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,905 PEN 13.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,775 PEN 5,952

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$442 PEN 1,482

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Cusco: August 16, 2026

Last update for Moquegua: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $35.00 in Cusco vs $29.00 in Moquegua for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $181 per month, with Moquegua 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 Moquegua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moquegua is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 50% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,054 in Cusco and $701 in Moquegua 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 6% higher in Cusco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Moquegua – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $35.00 in Cusco. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Moquegua gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Moquegua 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 Moquegua 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 Moquegua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.