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: $692 in Cusco versus $449 in Tacna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,046 in Cusco versus $639 in Tacna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,400 in Cusco versus $830 in Tacna.

Living in Cusco is roughly 54% more expensive than in Tacna, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cusco 50% lower, Tacna 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.60 PEN 8.73

$2.93 PEN 9.81

-11.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.14 PEN 70.9

$15.13 PEN 50.7

39.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.59 PEN 22.08

$5.12 PEN 17.17

28.71%

Cappuccino

$2.24 PEN 7.50

$3.64 PEN 12.19

-38.46%

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

$0.75 PEN 2.51

$1.16 PEN 3.90

-35.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 PEN 1.13

$0.47 PEN 1.56

-27.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 PEN 7.11

$2.95 PEN 9.88

-28.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 PEN 14.70

$3.48 PEN 11.68

26.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 PEN 4.34

$1.22 PEN 4.08

5.74%

White Bread (500g)

$2.36 PEN 7.90

$1.51 PEN 5.05

56.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 PEN 4.55

$0.87 PEN 2.90

56.32%

Eggs

$3.71 PEN 12.45

$1.76 PEN 5.92

110.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.01 PEN 16.81

$4.45 PEN 14.92

12.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 PEN 15.14

$4.68 PEN 15.68

-3.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.49 PEN 25.11

$8.93 PEN 29.92

-16.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 PEN 8.77

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 PEN 2.86

$1.50 PEN 5.04

-43.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.45 PEN 4.86

$0.86 PEN 2.88

68.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 PEN 3.04

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 PEN 3.56

$0.72 PEN 2.42

47.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.70

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 PEN 1.67

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 PEN 2.63

$0.72 PEN 2.41

8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 PEN 15.41

Wine (Bottle)

$5.82 PEN 19.50

$6.46 PEN 21.66

-9.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 PEN 6.39

$2.67 PEN 8.94

-28.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 PEN 14.78

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 PEN 1.05

$0.29 PEN 0.96

6.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 PEN 5.87

$1.91 PEN 6.39

-8.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 PEN 6.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 PEN 10.18

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 PEN 5.20

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

$29.68 PEN 99.5

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

$14.70 PEN 49.29

$19.30 PEN 64.7

-23.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.60 PEN 153

$26.91 PEN 90.2

69.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.58 PEN 119

$30.30 PEN 102

17.43%

Cinema Ticket

$4.38 PEN 14.69

$2.65 PEN 8.87

65.28%

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

$60.2 PEN 202

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.30 PEN 132

$20.47 PEN 68.6

91.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.46 PEN 116

$20.46 PEN 68.6

68.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.4 PEN 186

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 PEN 246

$26.72 PEN 89.6

174.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 PEN 501

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 PEN 592

$71.6 PEN 240

146.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$358 PEN 1,199

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$271 PEN 910

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,931 PEN 13.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,777 PEN 5,958

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$447 PEN 1,497

$477 PEN 1,600

-6.42%

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

Last update for Cusco: September 6, 2026

Last update for Tacna: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Tacna pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $21.00 in Cusco vs $15.00 in Tacna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $151 per month, with Tacna 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 Tacna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tacna is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 7% 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 27% higher in Cusco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Tacna – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $21.00 in Cusco. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 54% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.