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: $468 in Moquegua versus $703 in Cusco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $784 in Moquegua versus $1,095 in Cusco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,099 in Moquegua versus $1,486 in Cusco.

Living in Moquegua costs roughly 33% less than in Cusco, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.69 PEN 12.37

$2.48 PEN 8.33

48.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.34 PEN 98.4

$35.09 PEN 118

-16.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.05 PEN 20.28

$5.84 PEN 19.58

3.60%

Cappuccino

$2.47 PEN 8.26

$2.16 PEN 7.23

14.35%

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

$0.80 PEN 2.68

$0.74 PEN 2.47

8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 PEN 1.40

$0.36 PEN 1.22

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.33 PEN 7.80

$2.44 PEN 8.19

-4.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.03 PEN 20.21

$4.51 PEN 15.12

33.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 PEN 4.60

$1.33 PEN 4.47

3.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 PEN 4.77

$2.25 PEN 7.54

-36.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 PEN 5.06

$1.31 PEN 4.40

15.27%

Eggs

$2.32 PEN 7.78

$3.72 PEN 12.48

-37.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.51 PEN 21.81

$4.76 PEN 15.97

36.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 PEN 15.66

$4.51 PEN 15.12

3.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.45 PEN 24.98

$7.55 PEN 25.31

-1.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 PEN 6.07

$2.68 PEN 9.00

-32.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.26

$0.85 PEN 2.84

49.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.17 PEN 3.93

$1.51 PEN 5.06

-22.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 PEN 3.43

$0.91 PEN 3.07

12.09%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 PEN 2.29

$1.05 PEN 3.52

-35.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 PEN 2.31

$1.08 PEN 3.63

-36.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 PEN 1.88

$0.54 PEN 1.80

3.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.55

$0.76 PEN 2.56

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.06 PEN 16.98

Wine (Bottle)

$5.31 PEN 17.79

$6.06 PEN 20.33

-12.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 PEN 10.28

$1.97 PEN 6.61

55.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 PEN 8.00

$4.38 PEN 14.67

-45.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.97

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 PEN 7.08

$1.82 PEN 6.09

15.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 PEN 6.84

$1.97 PEN 6.61

3.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.04 PEN 43.72

$2.93 PEN 9.81

345.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 PEN 5.18

$1.58 PEN 5.31

-1.90%

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

$19.2K PEN 64.5K

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

$26.1K PEN 87.6K

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

$24.11 PEN 80.8

$29.76 PEN 99.8

-18.99%

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

$10.20 PEN 34.20

$15.06 PEN 50.5

-32.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.71 PEN 79.5

$44.59 PEN 149

-46.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.77 PEN 120

Cinema Ticket

$7.26 PEN 24.35

$4.42 PEN 14.81

64.25%

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

$77.3 PEN 259

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,825 PEN 22.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.52 PEN 166

$38.54 PEN 129

28.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.22 PEN 91.3

$34.84 PEN 117

-21.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.6 PEN 233

$54.1 PEN 181

28.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.4 PEN 202

$74.7 PEN 250

-19.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 PEN 498

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 PEN 598

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$353 PEN 1,185

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 PEN 886

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,905 PEN 13.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,775 PEN 5,952

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$442 PEN 1,482

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Moquegua: August 16, 2026

Last update for Cusco: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $29.00 in Moquegua vs $35.00 in Cusco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $192 per month, with Moquegua 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

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 50% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $701 in Moquegua and $1,054 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 $29.00 versus $35.00 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 50% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.