Cuenca vs Cusco: cost of living for digital nomads
Cuenca, Ecuador and Cusco, Peru, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Cusco is about 1% cheaper than Cuenca for a month of nomad living ($1,085 vs $1,100).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $420 in Cusco against $480 in Cuenca.
- Cuenca scores higher on safety (7/10 vs 6/10).
- Internet is faster in Cusco: 80 Mbps typical against 60 Mbps.
- Both have a temperate climate.
Cuenca wins 1 of the measured lines; Cusco wins 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Cuenca or Cusco?
Cusco is cheaper: about $1,085/month against $1,100/month in Cuenca, roughly 1% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Cuenca or Cusco?
Cuenca scores higher on safety: 7/10 against 6/10 for Cusco.
Which has faster internet, Cuenca or Cusco?
Cusco has faster typical internet: 80 Mbps against 60 Mbps in Cuenca.
| Line | Cuenca | Cusco |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,100 | $1,085 |
| Rent | $480 | $420 |
| Food | $320 | $300 |
| Transport | $35 | $35 |
| Coworking | $90 | $85 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 60 | 80 |
| Climate | temperate | temperate |
| City size | mid | mid |
| Setting | mountain | mountain |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 7/10 |
Compare Cuenca with
Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Cuenca October 31, 2026, Cusco September 11, 2026.