Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Trujillo Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Trujillo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $692 in Cusco versus $881 in Trujillo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,046 in Cusco versus $1,351 in Trujillo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,400 in Cusco versus $1,820 in Trujillo.

Living in Cusco costs roughly 21% less than in Trujillo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cusco 50% lower, Trujillo 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.60 PEN 8.73

$3.64 PEN 12.20

-28.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.14 PEN 70.9

$23.92 PEN 80.2

-11.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.59 PEN 22.08

$7.30 PEN 24.47

-9.73%

Cappuccino

$2.24 PEN 7.50

$3.41 PEN 11.45

-34.31%

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

$0.75 PEN 2.51

$0.97 PEN 3.26

-22.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 PEN 1.13

$0.63 PEN 2.10

-46.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 PEN 7.11

$2.08 PEN 6.97

1.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 PEN 14.70

$3.67 PEN 12.32

19.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 PEN 4.34

$1.43 PEN 4.78

-9.79%

White Bread (500g)

$2.36 PEN 7.90

$2.03 PEN 6.80

16.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 PEN 4.55

$1.17 PEN 3.92

16.24%

Eggs

$3.71 PEN 12.45

$4.12 PEN 13.80

-9.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.01 PEN 16.81

$8.10 PEN 27.15

-38.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 PEN 15.14

$6.70 PEN 22.46

-32.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.49 PEN 25.11

$9.19 PEN 30.79

-18.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 PEN 8.77

$1.66 PEN 5.57

57.83%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 PEN 2.86

$0.58 PEN 1.95

46.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.45 PEN 4.86

$0.58 PEN 1.96

150.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 PEN 3.04

$0.93 PEN 3.11

-2.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 PEN 3.56

$1.00 PEN 3.35

6.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.70

$1.20 PEN 4.02

-7.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 PEN 1.67

$1.26 PEN 4.23

-60.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 PEN 2.63

$1.11 PEN 3.72

-29.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 PEN 14.89

Wine (Bottle)

$5.82 PEN 19.50

$6.13 PEN 20.54

-5.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 PEN 6.39

$1.76 PEN 5.91

8.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 PEN 14.78

$1.66 PEN 5.56

165.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 PEN 1.05

$0.57 PEN 1.92

-45.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.56 PEN 58.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.75 PEN 5.87

$2.47 PEN 8.28

-29.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 PEN 6.61

$2.19 PEN 7.35

-10.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 PEN 10.18

$5.84 PEN 19.59

-47.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 PEN 5.20

$1.67 PEN 5.61

-7.19%

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

$17.7K PEN 59.2K

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

$28.8K PEN 96.7K

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

$29.68 PEN 99.5

$97.4 PEN 327

-69.53%

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

$14.70 PEN 49.29

$13.61 PEN 45.62

8.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.60 PEN 153

$28.49 PEN 95.5

60.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.58 PEN 119

$40.38 PEN 135

-11.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.98 PEN 20.04

Cinema Ticket

$4.38 PEN 14.69

$4.38 PEN 14.68

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

$112 PEN 377

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,130 PEN 7,140

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.30 PEN 132

$75.6 PEN 254

-48.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.46 PEN 116

$14.76 PEN 49.47

133.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.4 PEN 186

$47.62 PEN 160

16.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 PEN 246

$45.25 PEN 152

62.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 PEN 501

$400 PEN 1,340

-62.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 PEN 592

$258 PEN 863

-31.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$358 PEN 1,199

$754 PEN 2,528

-52.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$271 PEN 910

$508 PEN 1,704

-46.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,931 PEN 13.2K

$1,172 PEN 3,930

235.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,777 PEN 5,958

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$447 PEN 1,497

$532 PEN 1,783

-16.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.7

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

Last update for Cusco: September 6, 2026

Last update for Trujillo: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $149 in Cusco and $400 in Trujillo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Trujillo pays 19% 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 $24.00 in Trujillo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $208 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 Trujillo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cusco is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 19% lower in Trujillo. 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 $400 in Trujillo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Trujillo. 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 $24.00 in Trujillo. 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 Trujillo, 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 27% less than in Trujillo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.