Valparaíso vs Cusco
In short
Calculated from the figures below, with no overall “who wins” score.
Family budget
✓in Cusco cheaper — −31%
Internet
✓in Valparaíso cheaper — −23%
In numbers
Exchange rate as of the date each figure was checked.
Family groceries
per monthValparaíso≈ $374CLP 369,308✓Cusco≈ $273S/ 940cheaper by 27%Family budget
per monthValparaíso≈ $679CLP 671,031✓Cusco≈ $470S/ 1,620cheaper by 31%Internet
per month✓Valparaíso≈ $13–27CLP 12,990–26,990cheaper by 23%Cusco≈ $26S/ 89.9Winter
averageValparaíso12 °C12 °CCusco0–19 °C0–19 °CPrecipitation
per yearValparaíso523.9 mm523.9 mmCusco708 mm708 mm
By topic
A quick look at each city. Details and sources are on the city page.
Daily life
Valparaíso
The 2024 census counted 284,938 people in the commune of Valparaíso and 334,871 in neighbouring Viña del Mar. With Quilpué and Villa Alemana it is one metro area.
OfficialINE: first results of the 2024 census for the Valparaíso region · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cusco
Nothing yet
Housing
Valparaíso
A two-bedroom apartment in listings costs 430–550 thousand pesos a month, median 480 thousand (about 495 dollars). A one-bedroom is about 395 thousand.
SpecialistChilepropiedades: apartments for long-term rent in the commune of Valparaíso, first eight pages of results (80 listings out of 197) · checked 6 Oct 2026
A 2–4 bedroom house in listings costs 80–185 million pesos, median 170 million (about 175 thousand dollars). By deals, a square metre is a third of Viña's price.
SpecialistChilepropiedades: houses for sale in the commune of Valparaíso, first five pages of results (50 listings out of 331) · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cusco
Nothing yet
Money and prices
Valparaíso
The minimum food basket costs 92,327 pesos per person a month, about 369 thousand for four (380 dollars). The figure is national.
OfficialChile's Ministry of Social Development: cost of the basic food basket and poverty lines, August 2026 report · checked 6 Oct 2026
Poverty line for a family of four without rent: 671,031 pesos a month. With a two-bedroom flat, food, power, water and internet, about 0.95–1.1 million.
OfficialChile's Ministry of Social Development: cost of the basic food basket and poverty lines, August 2026 report · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cusco
A family of four in highland cities counts as poor with spending below 1,620 soles a month (INEI line, 2025). In the Cusco department 18.8% are poor.
OfficialINEI: Peru, evolution of monetary poverty 2016-2025 · checked 6 Oct 2026
The INEI minimum food basket for highland cities is 235 soles per person a month, 940 soles for a family of four. Figures for 2025.
OfficialINEI: Peru, evolution of monetary poverty 2016-2025 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Family and kids
Valparaíso
The German School of Valparaíso (located in neighbouring Viña) charges 14.28 UF a month, about 587 thousand pesos (600 dollars), plus a 30 UF entrance fee.
OfficialColegio Alemán de Valparaíso (located in Viña del Mar): contract for the 2026 school year · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cusco
In the Cusco department about 18% of children attend private schools: 27 thousand of 152 thousand in primary school and 22 of 122 thousand in secondary (2024).
OfficialINEI: Cusco, statistical compendium 2025 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Healthcare
Valparaíso
Valparaíso itself has three accredited high-complexity hospitals: Van Buren and Eduardo Pereira hospitals and Clínica Valparaíso. Neighbouring Viña has seven more.
OfficialSuperintendencia de Salud: register of accredited healthcare providers in the Valparaíso region · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cusco
The Cusco department has 24 hospitals, including private clinics, and 2,504 hospital beds (2024). The social insurer EsSalud has 5 hospitals in the region.
OfficialINEI: Cusco, statistical compendium 2025 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Transport
Valparaíso
Santiago is 97 km away, 1 h 40 min to 2 h by bus. About 369 departures a day, the first at 06:10, the last at 22:25; a regular ticket costs 4–6 thousand pesos.
SpecialistCheckMyBus: buses Santiago – Valparaíso, timetable and prices · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cusco
In 2025 Cusco airport handled 4.57 million domestic passengers and only 203 thousand international ones, 22 times fewer.
OfficialCORPAC: passenger movement at network airports, domestic flights, 2025 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Climate
Valparaíso
The 1991–2020 normal is 524 mm a year, almost all from May to September, 162 mm in June. Summer is nearly dry: January–February about 1 mm. 2025 had 444 mm.
OfficialChilean Meteorological Office: 2025 rainfall and the 1991–2020 normal, Rodelillo station (Valparaíso), code 330007 · checked 6 Oct 2026
The mean temperature in July 2026 at the Rodelillo station (Valparaíso) was 12.0 °C: about 16 by day, about 9 at night. The coldest night of the month was 2.6 °C.
OfficialChilean Meteorological Office: July 2026 temperature, Rodelillo station (Valparaíso), code 330007 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cusco
About 710 mm a year, almost three quarters of it from December to March. From May to August it is dry: 1.5-9 mm a month.
OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals of Cusco · checked 6 Oct 2026
In June-July it averages about 0 degrees at night and 19-20 during the day. Daytime temperature is almost the same all year, but winter nights are 6 degrees colder than summer ones.
OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals of Cusco · checked 6 Oct 2026
Safety
Valparaíso
In 2025 the commune of Valparaíso had 24 homicides, neighbouring Viña 15. That is about 8.4 per 100 thousand residents, above the national average (5.4).
OfficialReport on homicide victims in Chile for 2025, with figures by region and commune (published on the Fiscalía website) · checked 6 Oct 2026
The lower city by the sea is in the potential tsunami zone: SENAPRED publishes separate evacuation plans for the Almendral and Puerto sectors.
OfficialSENAPRED: evacuation plans for the Valparaíso region, including for tsunamis · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cusco
The city stands at 3,414 m above sea level. Even in winter SENAMHI forecasts an ultraviolet index of 8-12 for Cusco, from "very high" to "extremely high".
OfficialINEI: Cusco, statistical compendium 2025 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Internet and phone
Valparaíso
Fibre from 12,990 pesos a month on promotion; the median price after the promotion is 26,990 (about 28 dollars). Tariffs are national; availability is checked by address.
SpecialistRedify: catalogue of home fibre internet plans in Chile, October 2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cusco
Movistar sells home fibre at 400 Mbit/s for 89.90 soles a month, 79.90 for the first two months. The Cusco department is on the list of fibre coverage areas.
SpecialistMovistar Perú: "Solo internet" plans and fibre coverage areas · checked 6 Oct 2026
Services
Valparaíso
Chilquinta: about 292.5 pesos per kWh plus 1,245 a month, IVA not mentioned. 300 kWh is about 89 thousand, with 19% IVA about 106 thousand pesos (109 dollars).
OfficialChilquinta: electricity tariffs for residential customers, table by commune, September 2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026
ESVAL: the average bill for 13 m³ a month in Greater Valparaíso is 30,314 pesos. At the decree's base rates, 15 m³ with sewerage is about 28 thousand pesos with IVA.
OfficialDiario Oficial, 2 May 2026: Ministry of Economy Decree No. 4/2026, ESVAL tariff formulas for 2025–2030 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Gasvalpo piped gas: 1,665 pesos per m³ in the 60–100 m³ band, IVA included. A winter month with gas heating (100 m³) is about 176 thousand, 30 m³ about 58 thousand.
OfficialGasvalpo: list of services and natural gas tariffs, updated 1 September 2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cusco
For consumption above 140 kWh, electricity costs 0.82 soles per kWh plus 4 soles a month, without IGV. 300 kWh comes to about 250 soles before tax, about 295 with IGV.
OfficialElectro Sur Este: tariff schedule for end users from 4 August 2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026

