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: $688 in Cusco versus $453 in Moquegua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,096 in Cusco versus $751 in Moquegua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,505 in Cusco versus $1,050 in Moquegua.

Living in Cusco is roughly 52% more expensive than in Moquegua, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.99 PEN 6.86

$3.46 PEN 11.93

-42.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.55 PEN 70.8

$27.61 PEN 95.1

-25.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.70 PEN 23.07

$5.82 PEN 20.03

15.12%

Cappuccino

$2.11 PEN 7.25

$2.56 PEN 8.82

-17.58%

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

$0.78 PEN 2.69

$0.82 PEN 2.82

-4.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 PEN 1.13

$0.37 PEN 1.27

-10.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PEN 5.93

$2.16 PEN 7.44

-20.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 PEN 14.92

$4.37 PEN 15.05

-0.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 PEN 4.28

$1.33 PEN 4.59

-6.77%

White Bread (500g)

$2.32 PEN 7.98

$1.37 PEN 4.73

69.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PEN 4.44

$1.54 PEN 5.31

-16.23%

Eggs

$3.63 PEN 12.50

$2.33 PEN 8.01

55.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.69 PEN 16.16

$6.24 PEN 21.50

-24.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.43 PEN 15.26

$4.63 PEN 15.95

-4.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.37 PEN 25.38

Apples (1kg)

$2.55 PEN 8.79

$1.81 PEN 6.22

40.88%

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 PEN 2.64

$1.21 PEN 4.17

-36.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 PEN 5.05

$1.20 PEN 4.13

22.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.85 PEN 2.94

$1.05 PEN 3.63

-19.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 PEN 3.53

$0.69 PEN 2.38

47.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 PEN 3.80

$0.69 PEN 2.39

59.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 PEN 1.67

$0.55 PEN 1.89

-10.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 PEN 2.58

$0.74 PEN 2.56

1.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.28 PEN 18.19

Wine (Bottle)

$5.93 PEN 20.43

$5.11 PEN 17.58

16.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 PEN 6.39

$2.72 PEN 9.38

-31.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 PEN 14.17

$2.25 PEN 7.75

83.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 PEN 1.04

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.72 PEN 5.91

$2.05 PEN 7.06

-16.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 PEN 6.66

$2.02 PEN 6.97

-4.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 PEN 9.70

$13.02 PEN 44.83

-78.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 PEN 5.42

$1.52 PEN 5.25

3.29%

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

$18.5K PEN 63.8K

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

$28.9K PEN 99.7K

$25.2K PEN 86.9K

14.62%

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

$29.31 PEN 101

$23.82 PEN 82.0

23.05%

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

$14.31 PEN 49.28

$10.37 PEN 35.73

37.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.13 PEN 152

$23.27 PEN 80.2

89.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.51 PEN 98.2

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 PEN 14.66

$7.33 PEN 25.26

-41.88%

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

$74.5 PEN 257

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,749 PEN 23.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.39 PEN 129

$48.42 PEN 167

-22.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.43 PEN 115

$26.56 PEN 91.5

25.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.4 PEN 187

$68.0 PEN 234

-20.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 PEN 249

$58.4 PEN 201

23.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$218 PEN 749

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 PEN 657

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$538 PEN 1,851

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$416 PEN 1,433

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,249 PEN 11.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,823 PEN 6,277

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$433 PEN 1,492

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Cusco: October 3, 2026

Last update for Moquegua: October 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $21.00 in Cusco vs $28.00 in Moquegua. Groceries flip the comparison at $187 vs $176, with Moquegua 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 Moquegua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moquegua is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,032 in Cusco and $680 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 $28.00 versus $21.00 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 52% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.