Cost of Living

Cusco, Peru

Live cost-of-living data for Cusco — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
18/ 10082% cheaper than New York
+51% rent since Jul 2026
$600/mo
Median Income
60/100
Safety
17%
Income Tax
alpine tundra
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
28/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$650/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$400/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,400/month
Food & Groceries
18/100
Milk (1 liter)$1/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.2/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.2/kg
Transportation
12/100
Monthly Transit Pass$20/month
One-Way Ticket$0.4/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.7/km
Utilities
20/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$85/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$35/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$25/month
Healthcare
40/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$50/visit
Dentist Visit$60/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$10/course
Education
35/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$400/month
International Primary School (yearly)$8,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$300/course
Entertainment
25/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$8/ticket
Theater Ticket$25/ticket
Museum Entry$12/ticket
Clothing
30/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$45/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$28/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$65/pair
Personal Care
22/100
Haircut (Men)$12/cut
Haircut (Women)$25/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$3.5/bottle
Dining Out
20/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$4/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$30/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$6/meal
Childcare
35/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$550/month
Babysitter (per hour)$10/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$14/pack
Fitness & Sports
25/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$35/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$15/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$5/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

50 Mbps
Internet Speed
$150
Coworking/Month
fair
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
72/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: San Blas, Centro Histórico, San Sebastián

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cusco cheap to live in?

Cusco has a cost of living index of 18/100, where New York = 100. It is 82% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $640–$896 per month.

How much does rent cost in Cusco?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Cusco costs approximately $650/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $400/month.

Is Cusco good for digital nomads?

Cusco has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 50 Mbps, café wifi reliability is fair, and coworking spaces run about $150/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Cusco?

The median net monthly salary in Cusco is approximately $600 USD. The income tax rate is around 17%.

How does Cusco compare to New York for cost of living?

Cusco (cost index 18) is 82% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $2,050/month by moving from New York to Cusco.

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