Cost of Living Comparison Between Huánuco and Cusco Cost of Living Comparison Between Huánuco and Cusco

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $125 in Huánuco versus $765 in Cusco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $216 in Huánuco versus $1,172 in Cusco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $307 in Huánuco versus $1,579 in Cusco.

Living in Huánuco costs roughly 84% less than in Cusco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Huánuco 91% lower, Cusco 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.42 PEN 12.02

$2.86 PEN 10.04

19.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.82 PEN 62.6

$27.88 PEN 97.9

-36.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 PEN 19.76

Cappuccino

$2.06 PEN 7.24

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

$0.79 PEN 2.77

$1.23 PEN 4.32

-35.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 PEN 1.87

$0.79 PEN 2.77

-32.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 PEN 7.67

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 PEN 14.28

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 PEN 5.26

White Bread (500g)

$2.94 PEN 10.31

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.46

Eggs

$1.54 PEN 5.39

$3.83 PEN 13.43

-59.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.59 PEN 16.10

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.97 PEN 17.46

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.72 PEN 23.59

Apples (1kg)

$2.41 PEN 8.47

$2.42 PEN 8.51

-0.41%

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 PEN 2.72

Oranges (1kg)

$0.55 PEN 1.92

$1.27 PEN 4.47

-56.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.95 PEN 3.32

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 PEN 2.05

$1.05 PEN 3.68

-44.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 PEN 3.57

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PEN 1.03

$0.65 PEN 2.28

-55.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 PEN 2.04

$0.74 PEN 2.61

-21.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.89 PEN 17.17

Wine (Bottle)

$6.45 PEN 22.65

$6.50 PEN 22.80

-0.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 PEN 6.94

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 PEN 10.85

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 PEN 0.94

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 PEN 5.74

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 PEN 1.85

$1.67 PEN 5.85

-68.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 PEN 9.95

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.74

$1.49 PEN 5.23

-9.40%

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

$18.4K PEN 64.7K

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

$21.8K PEN 76.4K

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

$24.89 PEN 87.4

$33.97 PEN 119

-26.73%

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

$13.86 PEN 48.66

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.38 PEN 68.0

$30.58 PEN 107

-36.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.62 PEN 107

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 PEN 17.19

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.47 PEN 128

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.97 PEN 102

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.4 PEN 216

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 PEN 249

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$309 PEN 1,086

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 PEN 883

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PEN 695

$585 PEN 2,054

-66.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 PEN 1,442

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,377 PEN 4,834

$3,824 PEN 13.4K

-63.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,755 PEN 6,161

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 PEN 1,674

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Huánuco: April 28, 2026

Last update for Cusco: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $18.00 in Huánuco vs $28.00 in Cusco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $43.00 vs $196 per month, with Huánuco 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

Huánuco vs Cusco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Huánuco is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear. The 512% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $187 in Huánuco and $1,147 in Cusco to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 354% higher in Cusco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Huánuco – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $28.00 in Cusco. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Huánuco gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Huánuco 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, Huánuco and Cusco 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 Huánuco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 512% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.