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: $765 in Cusco versus $350 in Tacna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,172 in Cusco versus $458 in Tacna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,579 in Cusco versus $567 in Tacna.

Living in Cusco is roughly 118% 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

$2.86 PEN 10.07

$1.88 PEN 6.63

52.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.88 PEN 98.2

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 PEN 19.82

Cappuccino

$2.06 PEN 7.26

$2.57 PEN 9.06

-19.84%

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

$1.23 PEN 4.33

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 PEN 2.78

$0.27 PEN 0.94

192.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 PEN 7.69

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 PEN 14.32

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 PEN 5.28

$0.87 PEN 3.07

72.41%

White Bread (500g)

$2.94 PEN 10.34

$1.36 PEN 4.80

116.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.48

$0.91 PEN 3.20

39.56%

Eggs

$3.83 PEN 13.47

$1.36 PEN 4.80

181.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.59 PEN 16.15

$4.07 PEN 14.33

12.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.97 PEN 17.51

$3.59 PEN 12.65

38.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.72 PEN 23.66

$8.55 PEN 30.10

-21.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 PEN 8.54

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 PEN 2.73

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.48

Tomato (1kg)

$0.95 PEN 3.33

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.69

$0.53 PEN 1.88

98.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 PEN 3.58

$0.44 PEN 1.54

131.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 PEN 2.29

$0.27 PEN 0.94

140.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 PEN 2.62

$0.71 PEN 2.48

4.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.89 PEN 17.22

$4.14 PEN 14.58

18.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.50 PEN 22.87

$6.13 PEN 21.59

6.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 PEN 6.96

$2.43 PEN 8.55

-18.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 PEN 10.88

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 PEN 0.94

$0.27 PEN 0.95

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 PEN 5.76

$1.43 PEN 5.03

14.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 PEN 5.87

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 PEN 9.98

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 PEN 5.25

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

$18.4K PEN 64.9K

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

$21.8K PEN 76.6K

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

$33.97 PEN 120

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

$13.86 PEN 48.80

$19.53 PEN 68.7

-29.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.58 PEN 108

$24.59 PEN 86.6

24.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.62 PEN 108

$28.76 PEN 101

6.47%

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 PEN 17.24

$2.53 PEN 8.89

93.68%

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

$54.5 PEN 192

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.47 PEN 128

$19.58 PEN 68.9

86.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.97 PEN 102

$19.48 PEN 68.6

48.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.4 PEN 216

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 PEN 250

$24.75 PEN 87.1

186.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$309 PEN 1,089

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 PEN 885

$67.2 PEN 237

274.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$585 PEN 2,060

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 PEN 1,446

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,824 PEN 13.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,755 PEN 6,179

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 PEN 1,679

$455 PEN 1,601

4.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Cusco: April 27, 2026

Last update for Tacna: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Cusco pays 5% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 118% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Cusco pays 5% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 58% higher in Cusco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $765 per month in Cusco versus $350 in Tacna – a 118% 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 118% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.