Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Tacna Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Tacna

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $750 in Cusco versus $353 in Tacna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,157 in Cusco versus $465 in Tacna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,563 in Cusco versus $577 in Tacna.

Living in Cusco is roughly 113% more expensive than in Tacna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cusco 44% lower, Tacna 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.82 PEN 9.57

$1.89 PEN 6.42

49.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.87 PEN 94.8

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.41 PEN 18.39

Cappuccino

$2.09 PEN 7.09

$2.48 PEN 8.44

-15.73%

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

$1.24 PEN 4.21

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 PEN 2.50

$0.29 PEN 0.99

155.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 PEN 7.40

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 PEN 14.49

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 PEN 4.85

$0.92 PEN 3.12

55.43%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 PEN 10.31

$1.38 PEN 4.69

119.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PEN 4.37

$0.87 PEN 2.95

48.28%

Eggs

$3.79 PEN 12.88

$1.41 PEN 4.81

168.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.68 PEN 15.90

$4.19 PEN 14.25

11.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.00 PEN 16.99

$3.55 PEN 12.07

40.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.05 PEN 23.97

$8.36 PEN 28.41

-15.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 PEN 7.96

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PEN 2.66

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 PEN 4.51

Tomato (1kg)

$0.97 PEN 3.28

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.57

$0.54 PEN 1.84

94.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 PEN 3.14

$0.44 PEN 1.50

109.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 PEN 2.25

$0.29 PEN 1.00

127.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 PEN 2.33

$0.72 PEN 2.46

-5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.90 PEN 16.65

$4.22 PEN 14.34

16.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.05 PEN 20.58

$6.59 PEN 22.40

-8.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 PEN 6.63

$2.44 PEN 8.29

-20.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 PEN 10.71

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 1.00

$0.29 PEN 0.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.66 PEN 5.64

$1.37 PEN 4.67

21.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 PEN 5.56

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.83 PEN 9.61

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 PEN 5.01

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

$18.6K PEN 63.4K

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

$22.5K PEN 76.5K

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

$32.97 PEN 112

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

$14.10 PEN 47.95

$19.64 PEN 66.8

-28.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.44 PEN 104

$24.84 PEN 84.5

22.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.12 PEN 102

$28.28 PEN 96.2

6.51%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 PEN 16.70

$2.46 PEN 8.37

99.59%

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

$56.3 PEN 191

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.79 PEN 125

$19.09 PEN 64.9

92.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.16 PEN 95.8

$19.62 PEN 66.7

43.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.1 PEN 211

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.4 PEN 239

$25.17 PEN 85.6

179.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$300 PEN 1,022

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$253 PEN 861

$65.8 PEN 224

285.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$589 PEN 2,004

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$415 PEN 1,411

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,956 PEN 13.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,793 PEN 6,097

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$424 PEN 1,442

$462 PEN 1,570

-8.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Cusco: July 27, 2026

Last update for Tacna: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Tacna pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Tacna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tacna is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 113% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 9% lower in Tacna. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 56% higher in Cusco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $750 per month in Cusco versus $353 in Tacna – a 113% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Tacna gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Tacna 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 Tacna 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 Tacna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 113% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.