Cost of Living Comparison Between Pisco and Cusco Cost of Living Comparison Between Pisco and Cusco

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $530 in Pisco versus $747 in Cusco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $822 in Pisco versus $1,171 in Cusco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,114 in Pisco versus $1,596 in Cusco.

Living in Pisco costs roughly 29% less than in Cusco, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pisco 60% lower, Cusco 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.16 PEN 7.33

$2.81 PEN 9.56

-23.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.16 PEN 37.98

$27.73 PEN 94.3

-59.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.31 PEN 11.27

$5.64 PEN 19.20

-41.31%

Cappuccino

$1.40 PEN 4.76

$2.02 PEN 6.86

-30.69%

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

$0.66 PEN 2.24

$1.23 PEN 4.17

-46.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 PEN 0.91

$0.74 PEN 2.50

-63.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.93 PEN 6.57

$2.19 PEN 7.44

-11.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 PEN 13.42

$4.23 PEN 14.39

-6.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 PEN 5.04

$1.46 PEN 4.95

1.37%

White Bread (500g)

$2.63 PEN 8.94

$3.01 PEN 10.24

-12.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 PEN 4.56

$1.33 PEN 4.53

0.75%

Eggs

$2.97 PEN 10.11

$3.87 PEN 13.15

-23.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.76 PEN 26.39

$4.76 PEN 16.20

63.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.77 PEN 19.64

$4.89 PEN 16.62

18.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.66 PEN 36.27

$6.88 PEN 23.41

54.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.05 PEN 6.98

$2.37 PEN 8.06

-13.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.78

$0.72 PEN 2.45

54.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 PEN 3.70

$1.27 PEN 4.32

-14.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 PEN 4.27

$0.90 PEN 3.05

38.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 PEN 3.53

$1.00 PEN 3.39

4.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 PEN 3.24

$0.96 PEN 3.26

-1.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 PEN 2.79

$0.70 PEN 2.37

17.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 PEN 2.92

$0.68 PEN 2.31

26.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.44 PEN 18.50

$4.83 PEN 16.42

12.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.94 PEN 30.43

$5.86 PEN 19.93

52.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 PEN 5.79

$1.98 PEN 6.74

-14.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 PEN 10.35

$3.06 PEN 10.42

-0.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 PEN 0.91

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 PEN 11.50

$1.69 PEN 5.74

100.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 PEN 7.52

$1.61 PEN 5.48

37.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.38 PEN 28.50

$2.79 PEN 9.49

200.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.59

$1.51 PEN 5.13

-10.60%

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

$19.8K PEN 67.3K

$18.8K PEN 63.9K

5.22%

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

$24.8K PEN 84.4K

$22.1K PEN 75.2K

12.18%

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

$57.2 PEN 194

$33.09 PEN 113

72.77%

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

$12.41 PEN 42.22

$14.07 PEN 47.86

-11.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.50 PEN 80.0

$30.14 PEN 103

-22.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.93 PEN 105

Cinema Ticket

$6.91 PEN 23.50

$4.76 PEN 16.19

45.17%

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

$215 PEN 731

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,083 PEN 27.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.79 PEN 169

$36.52 PEN 124

36.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.46 PEN 121

$28.63 PEN 97.4

23.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.9 PEN 303

$61.6 PEN 210

44.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.0 PEN 310

$70.4 PEN 239

29.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$304 PEN 1,033

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$250 PEN 850

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$582 PEN 1,979

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 PEN 1,395

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,809 PEN 6,154

$3,889 PEN 13.2K

-53.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,335 PEN 4,542

$1,754 PEN 5,968

-23.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$583 PEN 1,985

$432 PEN 1,471

34.90%

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 Pisco: May 30, 2026

Last update for Cusco: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Pisco pays 35% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $11.00 in Pisco vs $28.00 in Cusco. Groceries flip the comparison at $221 vs $194, with Cusco 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

Pisco vs Cusco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pisco is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Pisco pays 35% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Cusco pay roughly 14% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Pisco – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $28.00 in Cusco. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Pisco gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Pisco 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 Pisco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.