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: $747 in Cusco versus $784 in Trujillo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,171 in Cusco versus $1,170 in Trujillo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,596 in Cusco versus $1,557 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 44% lower, Trujillo 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.81 PEN 9.56

$3.21 PEN 10.91

-12.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.73 PEN 94.3

$13.85 PEN 47.14

100.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.64 PEN 19.20

$6.75 PEN 22.96

-16.44%

Cappuccino

$2.02 PEN 6.86

$2.88 PEN 9.81

-29.86%

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

$1.23 PEN 4.17

$0.89 PEN 3.04

38.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 PEN 2.50

$0.57 PEN 1.95

29.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 PEN 7.44

$1.99 PEN 6.77

10.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 PEN 14.39

$3.34 PEN 11.37

26.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 PEN 4.95

$1.01 PEN 3.42

44.55%

White Bread (500g)

$3.01 PEN 10.24

$1.83 PEN 6.24

64.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 PEN 4.53

$1.14 PEN 3.88

16.67%

Eggs

$3.87 PEN 13.15

$3.85 PEN 13.11

0.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.76 PEN 16.20

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.89 PEN 16.62

$6.53 PEN 22.22

-25.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.88 PEN 23.41

$7.62 PEN 25.94

-9.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 PEN 8.06

$1.13 PEN 3.85

109.73%

Banana (1kg)

$0.72 PEN 2.45

$0.58 PEN 1.96

24.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.32

$0.58 PEN 1.96

118.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 PEN 3.05

$0.76 PEN 2.58

18.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.39

$0.93 PEN 3.18

7.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 PEN 3.26

$0.81 PEN 2.74

18.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 PEN 2.37

$0.89 PEN 3.03

-21.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 PEN 2.31

$0.86 PEN 2.94

-20.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.83 PEN 16.42

$4.05 PEN 13.77

19.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.86 PEN 19.93

$5.77 PEN 19.63

1.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 PEN 6.74

$1.42 PEN 4.83

39.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 PEN 10.42

$1.70 PEN 5.80

80.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 PEN 0.91

$0.59 PEN 2.00

-54.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.72 PEN 56.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 PEN 5.74

$2.75 PEN 9.35

-38.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 PEN 5.48

$2.05 PEN 6.97

-21.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.79 PEN 9.49

$5.52 PEN 18.79

-49.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 PEN 5.13

$1.36 PEN 4.62

11.03%

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

$18.8K PEN 63.9K

$16.9K PEN 57.7K

10.87%

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

$22.1K PEN 75.2K

$26.6K PEN 90.4K

-16.76%

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

$33.09 PEN 113

$74.4 PEN 253

-55.50%

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

$14.07 PEN 47.86

$8.19 PEN 27.85

71.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.14 PEN 103

$20.99 PEN 71.4

43.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.93 PEN 105

$35.41 PEN 120

-12.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.65 PEN 19.21

Cinema Ticket

$4.76 PEN 16.19

$4.07 PEN 13.84

16.95%

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

$106 PEN 360

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,029 PEN 6,902

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.52 PEN 124

$69.7 PEN 237

-47.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.63 PEN 97.4

$13.96 PEN 47.48

105.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.6 PEN 210

$33.78 PEN 115

82.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.4 PEN 239

$32.69 PEN 111

115.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$304 PEN 1,033

$366 PEN 1,246

-17.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$250 PEN 850

$254 PEN 865

-1.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$582 PEN 1,979

$602 PEN 2,047

-3.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 PEN 1,395

$477 PEN 1,624

-14.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,889 PEN 13.2K

$1,138 PEN 3,872

241.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,754 PEN 5,968

$834 PEN 2,837

110.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$432 PEN 1,471

$539 PEN 1,834

-19.80%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Trujillo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $304 in Cusco and $366 in Trujillo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Trujillo pays 25% 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 $194 vs $160 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, Trujillo earns 25% less. 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: $304 in Cusco versus $366 in Trujillo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Trujillo pay roughly 22% 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.