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: $881 in Trujillo versus $692 in Cusco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Trujillo versus $1,046 in Cusco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,820 in Trujillo versus $1,400 in Cusco.

Living in Trujillo is roughly 27% more expensive than in Cusco, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Trujillo 36% lower, Cusco 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 PEN 12.20

$2.60 PEN 8.73

40.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.92 PEN 80.2

$21.14 PEN 70.9

13.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.30 PEN 24.47

$6.59 PEN 22.08

10.77%

Cappuccino

$3.41 PEN 11.45

$2.24 PEN 7.50

52.23%

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

$0.97 PEN 3.26

$0.75 PEN 2.51

29.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 PEN 2.10

$0.34 PEN 1.13

85.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.08 PEN 6.97

$2.12 PEN 7.11

-1.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 PEN 12.32

$4.39 PEN 14.70

-16.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 PEN 4.78

$1.29 PEN 4.34

10.85%

White Bread (500g)

$2.03 PEN 6.80

$2.36 PEN 7.90

-13.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PEN 3.92

$1.36 PEN 4.55

-13.97%

Eggs

$4.12 PEN 13.80

$3.71 PEN 12.45

11.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.10 PEN 27.15

$5.01 PEN 16.81

61.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.70 PEN 22.46

$4.52 PEN 15.14

48.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.19 PEN 30.79

$7.49 PEN 25.11

22.70%

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 PEN 5.57

$2.62 PEN 8.77

-36.64%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PEN 1.95

$0.85 PEN 2.86

-31.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.58 PEN 1.96

$1.45 PEN 4.86

-60.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.93 PEN 3.11

$0.91 PEN 3.04

2.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.35

$1.06 PEN 3.56

-5.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 PEN 4.02

$1.11 PEN 3.70

8.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 PEN 4.23

$0.50 PEN 1.67

152.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 PEN 3.72

$0.78 PEN 2.63

42.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 PEN 14.89

Wine (Bottle)

$6.13 PEN 20.54

$5.82 PEN 19.50

5.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 PEN 5.91

$1.91 PEN 6.39

-7.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 PEN 5.56

$4.41 PEN 14.78

-62.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 PEN 1.92

$0.31 PEN 1.05

83.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.56 PEN 58.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 PEN 8.28

$1.75 PEN 5.87

41.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 PEN 7.35

$1.97 PEN 6.61

11.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.84 PEN 19.59

$3.04 PEN 10.18

92.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.67 PEN 5.61

$1.55 PEN 5.20

7.74%

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

$17.7K PEN 59.2K

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

$28.8K PEN 96.7K

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

$97.4 PEN 327

$29.68 PEN 99.5

228.20%

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

$13.61 PEN 45.62

$14.70 PEN 49.29

-7.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.49 PEN 95.5

$45.60 PEN 153

-37.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.38 PEN 135

$35.58 PEN 119

13.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.98 PEN 20.04

Cinema Ticket

$4.38 PEN 14.68

$4.38 PEN 14.69

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

$112 PEN 377

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,130 PEN 7,140

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.6 PEN 254

$39.30 PEN 132

92.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.76 PEN 49.47

$34.46 PEN 116

-57.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.62 PEN 160

$55.4 PEN 186

-14.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.25 PEN 152

$73.4 PEN 246

-38.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$400 PEN 1,340

$149 PEN 501

167.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$258 PEN 863

$177 PEN 592

45.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$754 PEN 2,528

$358 PEN 1,199

110.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$508 PEN 1,704

$271 PEN 910

87.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,172 PEN 3,930

$3,931 PEN 13.2K

-70.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,777 PEN 5,958

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$532 PEN 1,783

$447 PEN 1,497

19.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.7

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

Last update for Trujillo: September 6, 2026

Last update for Cusco: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $400 in Trujillo and $149 in Cusco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Trujillo pays 19% 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: $24.00 in Trujillo vs $21.00 in Cusco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $192 per month, with Cusco 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 Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 19% 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: $400 in Trujillo versus $149 in Cusco. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Trujillo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Cusco – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $24.00 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 27% less than in Trujillo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.