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: $762 in Cusco versus $354 in Tacna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,171 in Cusco versus $465 in Tacna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,579 in Cusco versus $576 in Tacna.

Living in Cusco is roughly 115% more expensive than Tacna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cusco 43% lower, Tacna 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.79 PEN 9.49

$1.99 PEN 6.75

40.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.84 PEN 94.7

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.50 PEN 18.70

Cappuccino

$2.02 PEN 6.87

$2.51 PEN 8.54

-19.52%

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

$1.21 PEN 4.12

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 PEN 2.66

$0.27 PEN 0.91

188.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 PEN 7.45

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 PEN 13.92

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 PEN 4.90

$0.87 PEN 2.95

65.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 PEN 9.83

$1.35 PEN 4.59

114.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PEN 4.35

$0.87 PEN 2.97

47.13%

Eggs

$3.93 PEN 13.37

$1.42 PEN 4.82

176.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.60 PEN 15.64

$4.27 PEN 14.51

7.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 PEN 16.87

$3.64 PEN 12.38

36.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.91 PEN 23.49

$8.49 PEN 28.87

-18.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 PEN 7.95

Banana (1kg)

$0.73 PEN 2.47

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 PEN 4.38

Tomato (1kg)

$0.97 PEN 3.28

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.56

$0.57 PEN 1.94

84.21%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 PEN 3.37

$0.40 PEN 1.36

147.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 PEN 2.36

$0.27 PEN 0.91

155.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 PEN 2.38

$0.71 PEN 2.41

-1.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.97 PEN 16.90

$4.27 PEN 14.52

16.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.82 PEN 19.78

$6.29 PEN 21.37

-7.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 PEN 6.77

$2.51 PEN 8.55

-20.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 PEN 10.82

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.70 PEN 5.78

$1.42 PEN 4.81

19.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 PEN 5.64

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 PEN 9.30

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 PEN 5.10

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

$18.8K PEN 64.0K

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

$22.3K PEN 75.8K

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

$33.90 PEN 115

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

$13.93 PEN 47.35

$19.20 PEN 65.3

-27.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 PEN 103

$24.89 PEN 84.6

22.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.36 PEN 103

$28.24 PEN 96.0

7.51%

Cinema Ticket

$4.79 PEN 16.30

$2.53 PEN 8.59

89.33%

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

$55.7 PEN 189

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.64 PEN 121

$19.54 PEN 66.4

82.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.22 PEN 95.9

$19.17 PEN 65.2

47.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.1 PEN 214

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.9 PEN 241

$25.10 PEN 85.4

182.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$311 PEN 1,057

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$247 PEN 841

$65.4 PEN 222

278.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 PEN 1,985

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$419 PEN 1,426

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,773 PEN 12.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,760 PEN 5,985

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$426 PEN 1,447

$466 PEN 1,586

-8.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Cusco: June 8, 2026

Last update for Tacna: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Tacna pays 10% 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 115% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Tacna earns 10% less. 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 55% higher in Cusco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $762 per month in Cusco versus $354 in Tacna – a 115% 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 115% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.