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: $449 in Tacna versus $692 in Cusco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $639 in Tacna versus $1,046 in Cusco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $830 in Tacna versus $1,400 in Cusco.

Living in Tacna costs roughly 35% less than in Cusco, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tacna 67% lower, Cusco 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.93 PEN 9.81

$2.60 PEN 8.73

12.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.13 PEN 50.7

$21.14 PEN 70.9

-28.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.12 PEN 17.17

$6.59 PEN 22.08

-22.31%

Cappuccino

$3.64 PEN 12.19

$2.24 PEN 7.50

62.50%

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

$1.16 PEN 3.90

$0.75 PEN 2.51

54.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 PEN 1.56

$0.34 PEN 1.13

38.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 PEN 9.88

$2.12 PEN 7.11

39.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 PEN 11.68

$4.39 PEN 14.70

-20.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 PEN 4.08

$1.29 PEN 4.34

-5.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 PEN 5.05

$2.36 PEN 7.90

-36.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 PEN 2.90

$1.36 PEN 4.55

-36.03%

Eggs

$1.76 PEN 5.92

$3.71 PEN 12.45

-52.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.45 PEN 14.92

$5.01 PEN 16.81

-11.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.68 PEN 15.68

$4.52 PEN 15.14

3.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.93 PEN 29.92

$7.49 PEN 25.11

19.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 PEN 8.77

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 PEN 5.04

$0.85 PEN 2.86

76.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 PEN 2.88

$1.45 PEN 4.86

-40.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 PEN 3.04

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 PEN 2.42

$1.06 PEN 3.56

-32.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.70

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 PEN 1.67

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 PEN 2.41

$0.78 PEN 2.63

-7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 PEN 15.41

Wine (Bottle)

$6.46 PEN 21.66

$5.82 PEN 19.50

11.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 PEN 8.94

$1.91 PEN 6.39

39.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 PEN 14.78

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.96

$0.31 PEN 1.05

-6.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.91 PEN 6.39

$1.75 PEN 5.87

9.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 PEN 6.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 PEN 10.18

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 PEN 5.20

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

$29.68 PEN 99.5

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

$19.30 PEN 64.7

$14.70 PEN 49.29

31.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.91 PEN 90.2

$45.60 PEN 153

-40.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.30 PEN 102

$35.58 PEN 119

-14.84%

Cinema Ticket

$2.65 PEN 8.87

$4.38 PEN 14.69

-39.50%

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

$60.2 PEN 202

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.47 PEN 68.6

$39.30 PEN 132

-47.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.46 PEN 68.6

$34.46 PEN 116

-40.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.4 PEN 186

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.72 PEN 89.6

$73.4 PEN 246

-63.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 PEN 501

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$71.6 PEN 240

$177 PEN 592

-59.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$358 PEN 1,199

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$271 PEN 910

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,931 PEN 13.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,777 PEN 5,958

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 PEN 1,600

$447 PEN 1,497

6.86%

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

Last update for Tacna: September 6, 2026

Last update for Cusco: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Tacna pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $15.00 in Tacna vs $21.00 in Cusco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $151 vs $192 per month, with Tacna 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

Tacna vs Cusco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tacna is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 7% 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 27% higher in Cusco. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Tacna – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $21.00 in Cusco. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 54% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.