Cost of Living Comparison Between La Merced and Cusco Cost of Living Comparison Between La Merced and Cusco

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $525 in La Merced versus $762 in Cusco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $867 in La Merced versus $1,171 in Cusco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,209 in La Merced versus $1,579 in Cusco.

Living in La Merced costs roughly 31% less than in Cusco, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: La Merced 61% lower, Cusco 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.14 PEN 14.06

$2.79 PEN 9.49

48.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.61 PEN 114

$27.84 PEN 94.7

20.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.10 PEN 24.13

$5.50 PEN 18.70

29.09%

Cappuccino

$2.65 PEN 9.00

$2.02 PEN 6.87

31.19%

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

$0.99 PEN 3.36

$1.21 PEN 4.12

-18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 PEN 2.22

$0.78 PEN 2.66

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 PEN 7.66

$2.19 PEN 7.45

2.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 PEN 13.31

$4.09 PEN 13.92

-4.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 PEN 5.01

$1.44 PEN 4.90

2.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.96 PEN 6.65

$2.89 PEN 9.83

-32.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.33

$1.28 PEN 4.35

-0.78%

Eggs

$2.28 PEN 7.74

$3.93 PEN 13.37

-41.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.73 PEN 22.89

$4.60 PEN 15.64

46.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.53 PEN 18.79

$4.96 PEN 16.87

11.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.41 PEN 28.60

$6.91 PEN 23.49

21.71%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 PEN 3.19

$2.34 PEN 7.95

-59.83%

Banana (1kg)

$0.41 PEN 1.39

$0.73 PEN 2.47

-43.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

$1.29 PEN 4.38

-77.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 PEN 2.27

$0.97 PEN 3.28

-30.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

$1.05 PEN 3.56

-72.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 PEN 1.47

$0.99 PEN 3.37

-56.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 PEN 1.96

$0.69 PEN 2.36

-15.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PEN 3.18

$0.70 PEN 2.38

32.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.53 PEN 18.79

$4.97 PEN 16.90

11.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.03 PEN 23.91

$5.82 PEN 19.78

20.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 PEN 6.04

$1.99 PEN 6.77

-10.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 PEN 10.17

$3.18 PEN 10.82

-5.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 PEN 11.22

$1.70 PEN 5.78

94.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 PEN 7.47

$1.66 PEN 5.64

32.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.45 PEN 28.73

$2.74 PEN 9.30

208.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 PEN 4.57

$1.50 PEN 5.10

-10.67%

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

$19.2K PEN 65.3K

$18.8K PEN 64.0K

1.96%

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

$24.7K PEN 84.1K

$22.3K PEN 75.8K

10.94%

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

$56.7 PEN 193

$33.90 PEN 115

67.17%

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

$12.69 PEN 43.15

$13.93 PEN 47.35

-8.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.14 PEN 82.1

$30.38 PEN 103

-20.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.36 PEN 103

Cinema Ticket

$6.87 PEN 23.34

$4.79 PEN 16.30

43.42%

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

$215 PEN 731

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,905 PEN 26.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.51 PEN 168

$35.64 PEN 121

38.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.14 PEN 123

$28.22 PEN 95.9

28.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.3 PEN 304

$63.1 PEN 214

41.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.1 PEN 310

$70.9 PEN 241

28.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$311 PEN 1,057

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$247 PEN 841

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 PEN 1,985

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$419 PEN 1,426

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,773 PEN 12.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,760 PEN 5,985

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$426 PEN 1,447

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.11

-8.09%

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

Last update for La Merced: June 8, 2026

Last update for Cusco: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $34.00 in La Merced vs $28.00 in Cusco. Groceries flip the comparison at $177 vs $194, with La Merced cheaper for home cooking.

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

La Merced vs Cusco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

La Merced is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 45% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $787 in La Merced and $1,143 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 9% higher in Cusco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in La Merced – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $28.00 in Cusco. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though La Merced gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, La Merced 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.

Expats usually find La Merced gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.