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: $779 in Trujillo versus $739 in Cusco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,173 in Trujillo versus $1,164 in Cusco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,567 in Trujillo versus $1,589 in Cusco.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Trujillo 42% lower, Cusco 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.24 PEN 11.00

$2.73 PEN 9.25

18.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.70 PEN 46.48

$28.05 PEN 95.2

-51.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.73 PEN 22.82

$5.64 PEN 19.12

19.33%

Cappuccino

$2.98 PEN 10.10

$2.00 PEN 6.79

49.00%

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

$0.89 PEN 3.02

$1.23 PEN 4.17

-27.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 PEN 2.00

$0.73 PEN 2.49

-19.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 PEN 6.52

$2.23 PEN 7.58

-13.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 PEN 11.19

$4.29 PEN 14.57

-23.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 PEN 3.56

$1.45 PEN 4.90

-27.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.77 PEN 6.02

$2.88 PEN 9.78

-38.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PEN 3.82

$1.27 PEN 4.32

-11.02%

Eggs

$3.88 PEN 13.15

$3.80 PEN 12.90

2.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.64 PEN 15.75

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 PEN 21.96

$4.82 PEN 16.34

34.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.52 PEN 25.50

$6.78 PEN 22.99

10.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 PEN 3.98

$2.45 PEN 8.31

-52.24%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PEN 1.96

$0.72 PEN 2.45

-19.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.58 PEN 1.95

$1.32 PEN 4.49

-56.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 PEN 2.40

$0.88 PEN 3.00

-19.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 PEN 3.13

$1.00 PEN 3.38

-8.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.82 PEN 2.78

$0.99 PEN 3.34

-17.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 PEN 3.09

$0.65 PEN 2.20

40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PEN 3.11

$0.70 PEN 2.36

31.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 PEN 14.49

$4.75 PEN 16.10

-10.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.79 PEN 19.63

$5.83 PEN 19.77

-0.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 PEN 4.77

$1.90 PEN 6.45

-25.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 PEN 5.59

$3.16 PEN 10.72

-47.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 PEN 2.16

$0.29 PEN 0.99

120.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.38 PEN 55.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 PEN 9.49

$1.64 PEN 5.56

70.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.99 PEN 6.75

$1.66 PEN 5.65

19.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.66 PEN 19.22

$2.79 PEN 9.47

102.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 PEN 4.62

$1.49 PEN 5.06

-8.72%

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

$16.9K PEN 57.3K

$19.1K PEN 64.9K

-11.64%

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

$26.2K PEN 88.9K

$21.9K PEN 74.2K

19.70%

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

$76.6 PEN 260

$33.89 PEN 115

125.91%

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

$8.48 PEN 28.78

$14.14 PEN 47.96

-40.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.22 PEN 72.0

$31.07 PEN 105

-31.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.00 PEN 122

$30.62 PEN 104

17.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.39 PEN 18.30

Cinema Ticket

$4.16 PEN 14.11

$5.00 PEN 16.95

-16.80%

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

$102 PEN 346

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,963 PEN 6,660

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 PEN 240

$36.06 PEN 122

96.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.00 PEN 47.48

$29.00 PEN 98.4

-51.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$32.71 PEN 111

$61.9 PEN 210

-47.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.74 PEN 111

$72.3 PEN 245

-54.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$365 PEN 1,238

$303 PEN 1,029

20.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$257 PEN 871

$247 PEN 839

3.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$602 PEN 2,043

$588 PEN 1,995

2.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$489 PEN 1,659

$424 PEN 1,437

15.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,138 PEN 3,860

$3,891 PEN 13.2K

-70.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$821 PEN 2,786

$1,798 PEN 6,101

-54.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 PEN 1,779

$427 PEN 1,449

22.76%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Cusco: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $365 in Trujillo and $303 in Cusco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Trujillo pays 23% 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 $159 vs $192 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.

Average pay runs 23% higher in Trujillo, 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: $365 in Trujillo versus $303 in Cusco. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Trujillo pay roughly 20% 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.