Cost of Living Comparison Between Tarapoto and Cusco Cost of Living Comparison Between Tarapoto and Cusco

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $31.71 in Tarapoto versus $765 in Cusco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $48.00 in Tarapoto versus $1,172 in Cusco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $65.2 in Tarapoto versus $1,579 in Cusco.

Living in Tarapoto costs roughly 96% less than in Cusco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tarapoto 98% lower, Cusco 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.70 PEN 9.48

$2.86 PEN 10.04

-5.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.88 PEN 97.9

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 PEN 19.76

Cappuccino

$2.06 PEN 7.24

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

$0.80 PEN 2.82

$1.23 PEN 4.32

-34.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 PEN 2.77

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 PEN 7.67

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 PEN 9.67

$4.07 PEN 14.28

-32.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 PEN 5.26

White Bread (500g)

$2.94 PEN 10.31

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.46

Eggs

$3.83 PEN 13.43

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.59 PEN 16.10

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.97 PEN 17.46

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.72 PEN 23.59

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 PEN 8.51

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 PEN 2.72

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.47

Tomato (1kg)

$0.95 PEN 3.32

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.68

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 PEN 3.57

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 PEN 2.28

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 PEN 2.61

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.89 PEN 17.17

Wine (Bottle)

$6.50 PEN 22.80

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 PEN 6.94

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 PEN 10.85

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 PEN 0.94

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 PEN 5.74

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 PEN 5.85

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 PEN 9.95

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 PEN 5.23

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

$18.4K PEN 64.7K

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

$21.8K PEN 76.4K

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

$33.97 PEN 119

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

$13.86 PEN 48.66

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.58 PEN 107

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.62 PEN 107

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 PEN 17.19

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.47 PEN 128

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.97 PEN 102

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.4 PEN 216

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 PEN 249

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$309 PEN 1,086

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 PEN 883

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$585 PEN 2,054

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 PEN 1,442

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,824 PEN 13.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,755 PEN 6,161

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$477 PEN 1,674

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Tarapoto: April 28, 2026

Last update for Cusco: April 27, 2026

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

Tarapoto vs Cusco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tarapoto is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 2311% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $47.57 in Tarapoto and $1,147 in Cusco to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Tarapoto gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Tarapoto 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, Tarapoto 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 Tarapoto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2311% less than in Cusco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.