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: $528 in Pisco versus $739 in Cusco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $830 in Pisco versus $1,164 in Cusco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,132 in Pisco versus $1,589 in Cusco.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Pisco 60% lower, Cusco 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PEN 7.46

$2.73 PEN 9.25

-19.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.05 PEN 37.47

$28.05 PEN 95.2

-60.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.38 PEN 11.47

$5.64 PEN 19.12

-40.07%

Cappuccino

$1.43 PEN 4.83

$2.00 PEN 6.79

-28.50%

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

$0.68 PEN 2.30

$1.23 PEN 4.17

-44.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 PEN 0.98

$0.73 PEN 2.49

-60.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.91 PEN 6.47

$2.23 PEN 7.58

-14.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 PEN 13.00

$4.29 PEN 14.57

-10.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 PEN 4.98

$1.45 PEN 4.90

1.38%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 PEN 9.14

$2.88 PEN 9.78

-6.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PEN 4.43

$1.27 PEN 4.32

2.36%

Eggs

$2.83 PEN 9.61

$3.80 PEN 12.90

-25.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.08 PEN 27.41

$4.64 PEN 15.75

74.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.53 PEN 18.75

$4.82 PEN 16.34

14.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.64 PEN 36.11

$6.78 PEN 22.99

56.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 PEN 6.88

$2.45 PEN 8.31

-17.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.66

$0.72 PEN 2.45

50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 PEN 3.90

$1.32 PEN 4.49

-12.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 PEN 4.26

$0.88 PEN 3.00

43.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.38

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.39

$0.99 PEN 3.34

1.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 PEN 2.98

$0.65 PEN 2.20

35.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PEN 3.12

$0.70 PEN 2.36

31.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.53 PEN 18.76

$4.75 PEN 16.10

16.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.87 PEN 30.10

$5.83 PEN 19.77

52.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 PEN 6.02

$1.90 PEN 6.45

-6.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 PEN 10.14

$3.16 PEN 10.72

-5.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 PEN 11.56

$1.64 PEN 5.56

107.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 PEN 7.23

$1.66 PEN 5.65

28.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.17 PEN 27.70

$2.79 PEN 9.47

192.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 PEN 4.39

$1.49 PEN 5.06

-12.75%

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

$19.6K PEN 66.6K

$19.1K PEN 64.9K

2.66%

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

$24.9K PEN 84.4K

$21.9K PEN 74.2K

13.73%

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

$55.9 PEN 190

$33.89 PEN 115

64.95%

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

$12.50 PEN 42.42

$14.14 PEN 47.96

-11.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.30 PEN 79.0

$31.07 PEN 105

-25.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.62 PEN 104

Cinema Ticket

$7.03 PEN 23.86

$5.00 PEN 16.95

40.60%

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

$220 PEN 748

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,928 PEN 26.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.98 PEN 170

$36.06 PEN 122

38.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.79 PEN 125

$29.00 PEN 98.4

26.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.8 PEN 305

$61.9 PEN 210

44.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.4 PEN 300

$72.3 PEN 245

22.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$303 PEN 1,029

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$247 PEN 839

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 PEN 1,995

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$424 PEN 1,437

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,787 PEN 6,061

$3,891 PEN 13.2K

-54.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,327 PEN 4,502

$1,798 PEN 6,101

-26.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$577 PEN 1,957

$427 PEN 1,449

35.05%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Cusco: July 14, 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 $222 vs $192, 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 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 35% higher in Pisco, 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 16% 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 40% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.