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: $354 in Tacna versus $762 in Cusco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $465 in Tacna versus $1,171 in Cusco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $576 in Tacna versus $1,579 in Cusco.

Living in Tacna costs roughly 54% less than in Cusco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tacna 74% lower, Cusco 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.99 PEN 6.75

$2.79 PEN 9.49

-28.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.84 PEN 94.7

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.50 PEN 18.70

Cappuccino

$2.51 PEN 8.54

$2.02 PEN 6.87

24.26%

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

$1.21 PEN 4.12

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 PEN 0.91

$0.78 PEN 2.66

-65.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 PEN 7.45

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 PEN 13.92

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 PEN 2.95

$1.44 PEN 4.90

-39.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 PEN 4.59

$2.89 PEN 9.83

-53.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 PEN 2.97

$1.28 PEN 4.35

-32.03%

Eggs

$1.42 PEN 4.82

$3.93 PEN 13.37

-63.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.27 PEN 14.51

$4.60 PEN 15.64

-7.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.64 PEN 12.38

$4.96 PEN 16.87

-26.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.49 PEN 28.87

$6.91 PEN 23.49

22.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 PEN 7.95

Banana (1kg)

$0.73 PEN 2.47

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 PEN 4.38

Tomato (1kg)

$0.97 PEN 3.28

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 PEN 1.94

$1.05 PEN 3.56

-45.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 PEN 1.36

$0.99 PEN 3.37

-59.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 PEN 0.91

$0.69 PEN 2.36

-60.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 PEN 2.41

$0.70 PEN 2.38

1.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 PEN 14.52

$4.97 PEN 16.90

-14.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.29 PEN 21.37

$5.82 PEN 19.78

8.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 PEN 8.55

$1.99 PEN 6.77

26.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 PEN 10.82

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.99

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 PEN 4.81

$1.70 PEN 5.78

-16.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 PEN 5.64

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 PEN 9.30

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 PEN 5.10

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

$18.8K PEN 64.0K

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

$22.3K PEN 75.8K

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

$33.90 PEN 115

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

$19.20 PEN 65.3

$13.93 PEN 47.35

37.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.89 PEN 84.6

$30.38 PEN 103

-18.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.24 PEN 96.0

$30.36 PEN 103

-6.98%

Cinema Ticket

$2.53 PEN 8.59

$4.79 PEN 16.30

-47.18%

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

$55.7 PEN 189

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.54 PEN 66.4

$35.64 PEN 121

-45.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.17 PEN 65.2

$28.22 PEN 95.9

-32.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.1 PEN 214

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.10 PEN 85.4

$70.9 PEN 241

-64.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$311 PEN 1,057

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.4 PEN 222

$247 PEN 841

-73.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 PEN 1,985

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$419 PEN 1,426

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,773 PEN 12.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,760 PEN 5,985

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$466 PEN 1,586

$426 PEN 1,447

9.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Tacna: June 8, 2026

Last update for Cusco: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Tacna pays 10% 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 115% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Tacna pays 10% more on average, 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 55% higher in Cusco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $354 per month in Tacna versus $762 in Cusco – a 115% 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 115% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.