Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacna and Cusco Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacna and Cusco

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $353 in Tacna versus $750 in Cusco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $465 in Tacna versus $1,157 in Cusco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $577 in Tacna versus $1,563 in Cusco.

Living in Tacna costs roughly 53% less than in Cusco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tacna 73% lower, Cusco 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.89 PEN 6.42

$2.82 PEN 9.57

-32.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.87 PEN 94.8

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.41 PEN 18.39

Cappuccino

$2.48 PEN 8.44

$2.09 PEN 7.09

18.66%

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

$1.24 PEN 4.21

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

$0.74 PEN 2.50

-60.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 PEN 7.40

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 PEN 14.49

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 PEN 3.12

$1.43 PEN 4.85

-35.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 PEN 4.69

$3.03 PEN 10.31

-54.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 PEN 2.95

$1.29 PEN 4.37

-32.56%

Eggs

$1.41 PEN 4.81

$3.79 PEN 12.88

-62.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.19 PEN 14.25

$4.68 PEN 15.90

-10.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 PEN 12.07

$5.00 PEN 16.99

-29.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.36 PEN 28.41

$7.05 PEN 23.97

18.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 PEN 7.96

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PEN 2.66

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 PEN 4.51

Tomato (1kg)

$0.97 PEN 3.28

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 PEN 1.84

$1.05 PEN 3.57

-48.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.44 PEN 1.50

$0.92 PEN 3.14

-52.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 PEN 1.00

$0.66 PEN 2.25

-56.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 PEN 2.46

$0.68 PEN 2.33

5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 PEN 14.34

$4.90 PEN 16.65

-13.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.59 PEN 22.40

$6.05 PEN 20.58

8.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 PEN 8.29

$1.95 PEN 6.63

25.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 PEN 10.71

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

$0.29 PEN 1.00

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.37 PEN 4.67

$1.66 PEN 5.64

-17.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 PEN 5.56

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.83 PEN 9.61

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 PEN 5.01

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

$18.6K PEN 63.4K

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

$22.5K PEN 76.5K

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

$32.97 PEN 112

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

$19.64 PEN 66.8

$14.10 PEN 47.95

39.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.84 PEN 84.5

$30.44 PEN 104

-18.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.28 PEN 96.2

$30.12 PEN 102

-6.11%

Cinema Ticket

$2.46 PEN 8.37

$4.91 PEN 16.70

-49.90%

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

$56.3 PEN 191

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.09 PEN 64.9

$36.79 PEN 125

-48.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.62 PEN 66.7

$28.16 PEN 95.8

-30.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.1 PEN 211

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.17 PEN 85.6

$70.4 PEN 239

-64.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$300 PEN 1,022

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.8 PEN 224

$253 PEN 861

-74.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$589 PEN 2,004

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$415 PEN 1,411

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,956 PEN 13.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,793 PEN 6,097

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$462 PEN 1,570

$424 PEN 1,442

8.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Tacna: July 27, 2026

Last update for Cusco: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Tacna pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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

Tacna vs Cusco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tacna is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear. The 113% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 9% higher in Tacna, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 56% higher in Cusco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $353 per month in Tacna versus $750 in Cusco – a 113% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Tacna 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, Tacna 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 Tacna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 113% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.