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: $739 in Cusco versus $779 in Trujillo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,164 in Cusco versus $1,173 in Trujillo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,589 in Cusco versus $1,567 in Trujillo.

Living in Cusco costs roughly 5% less than in Trujillo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cusco 45% lower, Trujillo 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.73 PEN 9.24

$3.24 PEN 10.99

-15.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.05 PEN 95.1

$13.70 PEN 46.43

104.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.64 PEN 19.10

$6.73 PEN 22.80

-16.20%

Cappuccino

$2.00 PEN 6.78

$2.98 PEN 10.08

-32.89%

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

$1.23 PEN 4.16

$0.89 PEN 3.02

38.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 PEN 2.48

$0.59 PEN 2.00

23.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 PEN 7.57

$1.92 PEN 6.51

16.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.29 PEN 14.55

$3.30 PEN 11.17

30.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 PEN 4.90

$1.05 PEN 3.55

38.10%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 PEN 9.77

$1.77 PEN 6.01

62.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.31

$1.13 PEN 3.81

12.39%

Eggs

$3.80 PEN 12.89

$3.88 PEN 13.14

-2.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.64 PEN 15.74

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 PEN 16.32

$6.47 PEN 21.94

-25.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.78 PEN 22.96

$7.52 PEN 25.47

-9.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 PEN 8.30

$1.17 PEN 3.97

109.40%

Banana (1kg)

$0.72 PEN 2.45

$0.58 PEN 1.96

24.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 PEN 4.49

$0.58 PEN 1.95

127.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 PEN 2.99

$0.71 PEN 2.40

23.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.38

$0.92 PEN 3.13

8.70%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 PEN 3.34

$0.82 PEN 2.78

20.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 PEN 2.19

$0.91 PEN 3.09

-28.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 PEN 2.36

$0.92 PEN 3.11

-23.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.75 PEN 16.08

$4.27 PEN 14.48

11.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.83 PEN 19.75

$5.79 PEN 19.61

0.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 PEN 6.45

$1.41 PEN 4.76

34.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 PEN 10.71

$1.65 PEN 5.59

91.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

$0.64 PEN 2.16

-54.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.38 PEN 55.5

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 PEN 5.56

$2.80 PEN 9.48

-41.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 PEN 5.64

$1.99 PEN 6.74

-16.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 PEN 9.46

$5.66 PEN 19.20

-50.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 PEN 5.05

$1.36 PEN 4.61

9.56%

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

$19.1K PEN 64.8K

$16.9K PEN 57.2K

13.17%

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

$21.9K PEN 74.2K

$26.2K PEN 88.8K

-16.45%

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

$33.89 PEN 115

$76.6 PEN 259

-55.73%

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

$14.14 PEN 47.91

$8.48 PEN 28.75

66.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.07 PEN 105

$21.22 PEN 71.9

46.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.62 PEN 104

$36.00 PEN 122

-14.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.39 PEN 18.28

Cinema Ticket

$5.00 PEN 16.93

$4.16 PEN 14.09

20.19%

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

$102 PEN 346

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,963 PEN 6,653

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.06 PEN 122

$70.8 PEN 240

-49.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.00 PEN 98.3

$14.00 PEN 47.43

107.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.9 PEN 210

$32.71 PEN 111

89.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.3 PEN 245

$32.74 PEN 111

120.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$303 PEN 1,028

$365 PEN 1,237

-16.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$247 PEN 838

$257 PEN 870

-3.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 PEN 1,992

$602 PEN 2,040

-2.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$424 PEN 1,435

$489 PEN 1,657

-13.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,891 PEN 13.2K

$1,138 PEN 3,856

242.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,798 PEN 6,094

$821 PEN 2,783

118.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$427 PEN 1,448

$524 PEN 1,777

-18.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.7

-13.39%

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

Last update for Cusco: July 14, 2026

Last update for Trujillo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $303 in Cusco and $365 in Trujillo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Trujillo pays 23% 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: $28.00 in Cusco vs $14.00 in Trujillo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $159 per month, with Trujillo 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 Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 23% 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: $303 in Cusco versus $365 in Trujillo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Trujillo pay roughly 20% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Cusco – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $14.00 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 5% less than in Trujillo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.