Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Piura Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Piura

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $692 in Cusco versus $735 in Piura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,046 in Cusco versus $1,256 in Piura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,400 in Cusco versus $1,778 in Piura.

Living in Cusco costs roughly 6% less than in Piura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cusco 50% lower, Piura 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.60 PEN 8.73

$3.67 PEN 12.31

-29.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.14 PEN 70.9

$25.34 PEN 85.0

-16.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.59 PEN 22.08

$7.27 PEN 24.36

-9.35%

Cappuccino

$2.24 PEN 7.50

$3.35 PEN 11.23

-33.13%

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

$0.75 PEN 2.51

$1.12 PEN 3.74

-33.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 PEN 1.13

$0.72 PEN 2.41

-52.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 PEN 7.11

$2.34 PEN 7.84

-9.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 PEN 14.70

$3.00 PEN 10.06

46.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 PEN 4.34

$1.46 PEN 4.89

-11.64%

White Bread (500g)

$2.36 PEN 7.90

$2.64 PEN 8.85

-10.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 PEN 4.55

$1.62 PEN 5.43

-16.05%

Eggs

$3.71 PEN 12.45

$2.87 PEN 9.61

29.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.01 PEN 16.81

$10.80 PEN 36.19

-53.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 PEN 15.14

$8.86 PEN 29.69

-48.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.49 PEN 25.11

$10.86 PEN 36.40

-31.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 PEN 8.77

$1.43 PEN 4.78

83.22%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 PEN 2.86

$1.30 PEN 4.36

-34.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.45 PEN 4.86

$1.51 PEN 5.07

-3.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 PEN 3.04

$1.36 PEN 4.57

-33.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 PEN 3.56

$1.28 PEN 4.29

-17.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.70

$0.73 PEN 2.46

52.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 PEN 1.67

$0.91 PEN 3.04

-45.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 PEN 2.63

$1.37 PEN 4.59

-43.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.05 PEN 26.99

Wine (Bottle)

$5.82 PEN 19.50

$11.37 PEN 38.13

-48.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 PEN 6.39

$1.91 PEN 6.41

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 PEN 14.78

$2.91 PEN 9.74

51.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 PEN 1.05

$0.70 PEN 2.34

-55.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.26 PEN 71.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 PEN 5.87

$3.16 PEN 10.58

-44.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 PEN 6.61

$2.36 PEN 7.91

-16.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 PEN 10.18

$7.58 PEN 25.42

-59.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 PEN 5.20

$1.49 PEN 4.98

4.03%

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

$22.3K PEN 74.8K

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

$23.9K PEN 80.2K

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

$29.68 PEN 99.5

$42.21 PEN 142

-29.68%

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

$14.70 PEN 49.29

$8.82 PEN 29.55

66.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.60 PEN 153

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.58 PEN 119

$29.64 PEN 99.4

20.04%

Cinema Ticket

$4.38 PEN 14.69

$2.46 PEN 8.25

78.05%

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

$200 PEN 670

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,379 PEN 7,976

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.30 PEN 132

$44.11 PEN 148

-10.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.46 PEN 116

$13.58 PEN 45.52

153.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.4 PEN 186

$60.7 PEN 203

-8.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 PEN 246

$75.7 PEN 254

-2.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 PEN 501

$236 PEN 790

-36.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 PEN 592

$132 PEN 444

33.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$358 PEN 1,199

$407 PEN 1,364

-12.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$271 PEN 910

$401 PEN 1,343

-32.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,931 PEN 13.2K

$3,896 PEN 13.1K

0.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,777 PEN 5,958

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$447 PEN 1,497

$554 PEN 1,856

-19.34%

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

Last update for Cusco: September 6, 2026

Last update for Piura: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $149 in Cusco and $236 in Piura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Piura pays 24% 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: $21.00 in Cusco vs $25.00 in Piura for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $259 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 Piura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cusco is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 24% lower in Piura. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $149 in Cusco versus $236 in Piura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Piura. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Cusco – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $25.00 in Piura. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

For families, Cusco is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Piura, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Cusco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Piura. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.