Cost of Living Comparison Between Moquegua and Cusco Cost of Living Comparison Between Moquegua and Cusco

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $453 in Moquegua versus $688 in Cusco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $751 in Moquegua versus $1,096 in Cusco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,050 in Moquegua versus $1,505 in Cusco.

Living in Moquegua costs roughly 34% less than in Cusco, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Moquegua 66% lower, Cusco 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.46 PEN 11.93

$1.99 PEN 6.86

73.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.61 PEN 95.1

$20.55 PEN 70.8

34.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.82 PEN 20.03

$6.70 PEN 23.07

-13.13%

Cappuccino

$2.56 PEN 8.82

$2.11 PEN 7.25

21.33%

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

$0.82 PEN 2.82

$0.78 PEN 2.69

5.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 PEN 1.27

$0.33 PEN 1.13

12.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 PEN 7.44

$1.72 PEN 5.93

25.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 PEN 15.05

$4.33 PEN 14.92

0.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 PEN 4.59

$1.24 PEN 4.28

7.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.37 PEN 4.73

$2.32 PEN 7.98

-40.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 PEN 5.31

$1.29 PEN 4.44

19.38%

Eggs

$2.33 PEN 8.01

$3.63 PEN 12.50

-35.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.24 PEN 21.50

$4.69 PEN 16.16

33.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.63 PEN 15.95

$4.43 PEN 15.26

4.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.37 PEN 25.38

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 PEN 6.22

$2.55 PEN 8.79

-29.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 PEN 4.17

$0.77 PEN 2.64

57.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 PEN 4.13

$1.47 PEN 5.05

-18.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.63

$0.85 PEN 2.94

23.53%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 PEN 2.38

$1.02 PEN 3.53

-32.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 PEN 2.39

$1.10 PEN 3.80

-37.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 PEN 1.89

$0.49 PEN 1.67

12.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 PEN 2.56

$0.75 PEN 2.58

-1.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.28 PEN 18.19

Wine (Bottle)

$5.11 PEN 17.58

$5.93 PEN 20.43

-13.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 PEN 9.38

$1.85 PEN 6.39

47.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 PEN 7.75

$4.12 PEN 14.17

-45.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 PEN 1.04

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 PEN 7.06

$1.72 PEN 5.91

19.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 PEN 6.97

$1.93 PEN 6.66

4.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.02 PEN 44.83

$2.82 PEN 9.70

361.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 PEN 5.25

$1.57 PEN 5.42

-3.18%

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

$18.5K PEN 63.8K

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

$25.2K PEN 86.9K

$28.9K PEN 99.7K

-12.76%

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

$23.82 PEN 82.0

$29.31 PEN 101

-18.73%

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

$10.37 PEN 35.73

$14.31 PEN 49.28

-27.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.27 PEN 80.2

$44.13 PEN 152

-47.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.51 PEN 98.2

Cinema Ticket

$7.33 PEN 25.26

$4.26 PEN 14.66

72.07%

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

$74.5 PEN 257

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,749 PEN 23.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.42 PEN 167

$37.39 PEN 129

29.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.56 PEN 91.5

$33.43 PEN 115

-20.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.0 PEN 234

$54.4 PEN 187

25.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.4 PEN 201

$72.2 PEN 249

-19.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$218 PEN 749

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 PEN 657

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$538 PEN 1,851

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$416 PEN 1,433

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,249 PEN 11.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,823 PEN 6,277

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$433 PEN 1,492

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Moquegua: October 5, 2026

Last update for Cusco: October 3, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $28.00 in Moquegua vs $21.00 in Cusco. Groceries flip the comparison at $176 vs $187, with Moquegua 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

Moquegua vs Cusco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moquegua is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $680 in Moquegua and $1,032 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 6% higher in Cusco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Moquegua – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $21.00 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 Moquegua gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Moquegua 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, Moquegua 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 Moquegua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.