Cost of Living Comparison Between Trujillo and Cusco Cost of Living Comparison Between Trujillo and Cusco

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $784 in Trujillo versus $747 in Cusco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,170 in Trujillo versus $1,171 in Cusco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,557 in Trujillo versus $1,596 in Cusco.

Living in Trujillo is roughly 5% more expensive than Cusco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Trujillo 41% lower, Cusco 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.21 PEN 10.91

$2.81 PEN 9.56

14.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.85 PEN 47.14

$27.73 PEN 94.3

-50.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.75 PEN 22.96

$5.64 PEN 19.20

19.68%

Cappuccino

$2.88 PEN 9.81

$2.02 PEN 6.86

42.57%

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

$0.89 PEN 3.04

$1.23 PEN 4.17

-27.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 PEN 1.95

$0.74 PEN 2.50

-22.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PEN 6.77

$2.19 PEN 7.44

-9.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 PEN 11.37

$4.23 PEN 14.39

-21.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 PEN 3.42

$1.46 PEN 4.95

-30.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 PEN 6.24

$3.01 PEN 10.24

-39.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 PEN 3.88

$1.33 PEN 4.53

-14.29%

Eggs

$3.85 PEN 13.11

$3.87 PEN 13.15

-0.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.76 PEN 16.20

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 PEN 22.22

$4.89 PEN 16.62

33.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.62 PEN 25.94

$6.88 PEN 23.41

10.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 PEN 3.85

$2.37 PEN 8.06

-52.32%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PEN 1.96

$0.72 PEN 2.45

-19.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.58 PEN 1.96

$1.27 PEN 4.32

-54.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 PEN 2.58

$0.90 PEN 3.05

-15.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 PEN 3.18

$1.00 PEN 3.39

-7.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 PEN 2.74

$0.96 PEN 3.26

-15.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 PEN 3.03

$0.70 PEN 2.37

27.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 PEN 2.94

$0.68 PEN 2.31

26.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.05 PEN 13.77

$4.83 PEN 16.42

-16.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.77 PEN 19.63

$5.86 PEN 19.93

-1.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 PEN 4.83

$1.98 PEN 6.74

-28.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 PEN 5.80

$3.06 PEN 10.42

-44.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 PEN 2.00

$0.27 PEN 0.91

118.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.72 PEN 56.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 PEN 9.35

$1.69 PEN 5.74

62.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 PEN 6.97

$1.61 PEN 5.48

27.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.52 PEN 18.79

$2.79 PEN 9.49

97.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 PEN 4.62

$1.51 PEN 5.13

-9.93%

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

$16.9K PEN 57.7K

$18.8K PEN 63.9K

-9.80%

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

$26.6K PEN 90.4K

$22.1K PEN 75.2K

20.13%

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

$74.4 PEN 253

$33.09 PEN 113

124.72%

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

$8.19 PEN 27.85

$14.07 PEN 47.86

-41.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.99 PEN 71.4

$30.14 PEN 103

-30.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.41 PEN 120

$30.93 PEN 105

14.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.65 PEN 19.21

Cinema Ticket

$4.07 PEN 13.84

$4.76 PEN 16.19

-14.50%

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

$106 PEN 360

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,029 PEN 6,902

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.7 PEN 237

$36.52 PEN 124

90.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.96 PEN 47.48

$28.63 PEN 97.4

-51.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$33.78 PEN 115

$61.6 PEN 210

-45.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.69 PEN 111

$70.4 PEN 239

-53.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 PEN 1,246

$304 PEN 1,033

20.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$254 PEN 865

$250 PEN 850

1.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$602 PEN 2,047

$582 PEN 1,979

3.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 PEN 1,624

$410 PEN 1,395

16.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,138 PEN 3,872

$3,889 PEN 13.2K

-70.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$834 PEN 2,837

$1,754 PEN 5,968

-52.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$539 PEN 1,834

$432 PEN 1,471

24.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.7

15.45%

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

Last update for Trujillo: May 31, 2026

Last update for Cusco: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $366 in Trujillo and $304 in Cusco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Trujillo pays 25% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $14.00 in Trujillo vs $28.00 in Cusco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $160 vs $194 per month, with Trujillo 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

Trujillo vs Cusco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cusco is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Trujillo pays 25% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $366 in Trujillo versus $304 in Cusco. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Trujillo pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Cusco – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $14.00 in Trujillo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

For families, Cusco is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Trujillo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Cusco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Trujillo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.