Cusco Supermarket Prices at a Typical Grocery Store in 2020

Because of the touristy nature of the city, Cusco supermarket prices can be a little more expensive than in other cities in Peru. That’s not to say it’s super expensive. It’s not. For most of you, prices in Cusco for just about everything – especially food – will probably be substantially cheaper than where you’re visiting from.

One of the ways we try to save money on the road is by cooking our own meals when we can. We stayed in an apartment in Cusco for a month. Perhaps you’re doing something similar or maybe you’re staying in a hostel that allows you to cook.

For those of you looking to do a bit of shopping for groceries, we’ve compiled a list of supermarket prices in Cusco for you that are fairly current. We got most of these prices at a grocery store in Cusco called Orion.

Orion supermarket has multiple locations in the city and is the most popular place to get groceries in Cusco. It seemed to be the most logical place to compile a list of supermarket prices in Cusco. We hope this helps you to plan and budget for your trip to Cusco.

Cusco food prices vs. other cities

We compared Cusco grocery store prices to those at supermarkets in places like Lima, Trujillo, and Huaraz. While our comparisons are nowhere near comprehensive or scientific, we found that the prices in Cusco supermarkets seemed to be around 5% higher than in these other cities.

Some things were more expensive. Some were cheaper. But we feel like Cusco averages about 5% higher on the whole.

Cusco Supermarket prices

We split this list into what we feel is logical – departments similar to what you might see at a typical American or Canadian supermarket (because that’s what we’re used to and probably you are as well)

Note: One Peruvian Sol is about 30 cents U.S. Just divide the prices you see below by 3 to get a rough price in U.S. dollars. Not exact, but close enough. We use XE.com to convert currency.

Fruit and vegetable prices in Cusco

In Cusco grocery stores, many of the loose fruits and veggies must get weighed before you go to the cashier in most cases. Checkout lines don’t generally have scales. There is usually someone in the department to weigh your food for you.

The Cusco fruit and vegetable prices here are in Soles and per kilogram:

• Bananas: 3.90
• Mandarin oranges: 4.00
• Kiwi fruit: 6.70
• Apricots: 7.70
• Cantaloupe: 4.20
• Passion fruit: 7.40
• Tangelos: 5.20
• Red Grapes: 7.00
• White grapes: 10.80
• Granny Smith apples: 7.90
• Golden Delicious apples: 4.90
• Limes: 3.90
• Spinach: 4.40
• Potatoes: 2.10-3.00
• Carrots: 2.00
• Onion: 2.70
• Ginger: 5.80
• Garlic: 9.10
• Beets: 2.80
• Tomatoes: 3.00
• Red bell peppers: 5.50
• Cucumber: 2.20
• Yucca: 3.10
• Purple corn: 2.80

Bread, Cereal, Pasta, Rice, Quinoa

When fresh bread comes out of the oven anywhere in Peru, people line up for it. If you see a line at a store in Peru, it’s probably for fresh bread. That’s because the bread here dries out fast. You have to eat it fast and it’s really quite good.

If you see a line of people buying bread – whether at a grocery store or on the street. Get in the line. You’ll be glad you did.

• Bakery rolls: 0.5-2.5 each, depending on ingredients
• White or wheat sliced bread: 6.00-13.00
• Kellogg’s Corn Flakes 500g: 13.50 
• Kellogg’s Special K 500g: 18.00 
• Zucaritas (generic Frosted Flakes) 300g: 11.00
• Chocodrill (generic Count Chocula) 300g: 8.00
• Ramen noodles (Maruchan): 1.20
• Ramen noodles (Thai Choice): 5.80
• Pasta (local: various styles) 250g: 0.80-2.00
• Barilla pasta (various styles) 500g: 9.00-12.00
• Rice – 1kg: 3.70-4.50
• Quinoa – 250g – 6.00-9.00

Dairy and egg prices

One thing you won’t find in Cusco – at least we could not – is half & half for coffee. Personally, it’s the one thing I miss a lot. But I found a decent substitute for half and half. Gloria Evaporated Milk in the red can. It’s not perfect, but it’s what I’ve been using for two months.

Also, eggs here are not refrigerated. You can safely buy them and leave them on your counter for a few days until you cook them. Weirdly, you can buy bags of eggs here!

• Milk – 900ml: 4
• Condensed Milk – 170ml: 2.00
• Condensed Milk – 400ml: 3.80
• Processed cheese slices (like Kraft Singles), 8 slices: 5.00
• Mozzarella cheese: 31.70kg
• Gouda cheese: 35.80kg
• Shredded mozzarella, 100g: 3.20
• Small margarine tub: 11.00
• Greek Yogurt cup: 2.10
• Regular yogurt cup: 1.00
• Eggs – Package of 15: 6.20
• Eggs – Bulk: 5.80kg
• Quail Eggs – 24 pack: 6.10 Soy milk – 1l: 5.20

I know they’re not dairy, but:

• Almond milk – 1l: 10.00
• Coconut Milk – 1l: 10.00

Meat

We don’t generally buy meat, so I can’t tell you if Cusco supermarket prices for meats are cheap or not. One thing I can tell you is that, in Peru, like in much of the rest of the world, they don’t waste any part of the animal. They sell it all.

All prices are per kilogram.

Beef: To be honest, I’m learning Spanish, but I didn’t understand a lot of what I was reading here. Here’s what I recognized in the beef section:

• Rump roast: 25.00
• Chopped Veal: 24.50
• Tripe: 10.20
• Beef tenderloin: 30.00
• Ground beef: 16.00-22.00
• Hamburger patties: 18.50

Chicken: In Peru, as in most of the world, people eat every part of the chicken. Included here is just a sample of the most common cuts I’m used to seeing. There’s far more selection in the store.

• Breast bone-in: 13.90
• Quarter: 10.70
• Wings: 9.30
• Legs: 10.70
• Feet: 7.20
• Chicken burger patties: 18.50

Other: Just going to lump a few other things in the meat section here. We were surprised at the lack of fish options here, but we’re including what we did find.

• Bacon: 30.00
• Tilapia: 12.00
• Mackerel: 5.90
• Various deli meat slices: 350g: approximately 4.00
• Canned tuna/chicken: 17.00

Condiments, Sauces, Oil, Seasoning

I visited a friend of mine in Antigua, Guatemala earlier this year and noticed that the condiments in his fridge were in bags with spouts on them. I’ve never seen this before, but now I see that it’s popular in Cusco, too. Must be a South America thing.

You can get things in bottles, too, but they are generally more expensive. Heinz ketchup is much more expensive than local brands.

• Vegetable Oil 500ml: 3.80
• Olive Oil Extra Virgin – 500ml: 16.00-35.00
• Mayonnaise 190g: 5.50
• Ketchup – 425g: 4.90
• Mustard (Yellow) 100g: 1.30
• Tabasco 60ml: 13.50
• Tabasco 150ml: 31.00
• Vinegar white 625ml: 2.80
• Salt 1kg: 1.20
• Sugar 1kg: 4.10
• Spaghetti sauce – 390g: 3.00

Snacks and junk food

You won’t find nearly the variety of junk food in Peru that you’ll find in America. Of course, that goes for a lot of other things too. No matter what you’re looking for, you won’t find 20 different kinds of it.

• Lays potato chips – Large: 4.50
• Chizitos (basically Cheetos) 200g: 5.30
• Nature Valley Granola Bars (6): 12.00
• Chocolate wafers: 4.00
• Chocolate chip cookies (6 packs of 2): 6.00
• Oreos (6 packs of 4): 2.00
• M&Ms: 8.30
• Nutella 350g: 26.00
• Peanut butter 500g: 20.00-26.00 
• Pringles – Large: 7.90

Non-alcoholic drinks

A note on coffee in Cusco: In a Cusco coffee shop, you’ll pay about S/. 8 for a cafe latte. At Starbucks, you’ll pay about S/. 9-10 for a drip coffee or an Americano.

If all you want is a regular black coffee, we suggest investing in a bottle of Altomayo instant coffee. We’re not fans of instant coffee, but this stuff is really very good!

• Instant Coffee – Altomayo 190g: 24.00
• Instant Coffee – Nescafe Gold 200g: 41.00
• Tea – 25 bags: 1.60-2.40 (up to 4.80 for premium)
• Fruit juice boxes 1L: 3.90-4.50
• Bottled Water 2.5L: 3.60
• Bottled Water 1L: 2.40
• Coca-Cola products 500ml: 2.30
• Coca-Cola products 1L: 4.30
• Oro (generic Inca Cola) 1L: 2.00

Instead of buying bottled water, I use a Lifestraw Go water bottle (affiliate link). I just fill it up in any sink anywhere I go.

Alcohol prices in Cusco

Beer:

• Cusquena 6 pack (negra, wheat, ale): 23.00-26.00
• Budweiser 6 pack: 25.00
• Corona 6 pack: 28.00
• Stella Artois 6 pack: 28.00
• Craft beer 320ml: 9.00-12.00 per bottle

Hard liquor/spirits. Prices are for 750ml bottles:

• Wild Turkey Bourbon: 103.00
• Ballentine’s Scotch: 86.00
• Tanqueray Gin: 77.00
• Tanqueray #10: 161.00
• Jack Daniels: 107.00
• Pisco: 22.00-31.00
• Appleton Jamaica Rum: 32.00
• Cirroc Vodka: 150.00

Wine: You can get an OK bottle of red wine for 15.00 soles, but the price for wine varies widely, obviously

Personal Hygiene items

• Toilet paper – 8 rolls: 20.00-25.00
• Toothpaste: 4.50 for basic. 10.00+ for premium brands
• Bar soap: 2-3.00
• Shampoo (90-100ml): 3.80
• Menstrual pads – Always (8): 4.50-5.80
• Menstrual pads – Kotex (8): 3.80
• Deodorant: 9.50
• Gillette disposable razors (4): 16.50

Prefer to just watch us shop?

Grocery store vs. market prices

Cusco supermarket prices of fruits and vegetables, breads, cheeses, meats, and a few more things were quite a bit lower than at local markets like San Pedro. And they seem to be of similar quality and taste – at least as far as bread and fruits & veggies went.

So there’s a bit of a trade-off. You’ll have to decide between giving less of your money to a large corporation, or more of your money to a local seller at the market.

Further reading: We’ve put together a list of Cusco travel tips that we believe will can really help you plan your trip a little better. Well, most of them anyway!

Looking for things to do here?: Check out our list of the top things to do in Cusco.

Two ways to save money

Ok, so you’ve used this list to help you save money at the grocery store. Good. Now, you want to save money outside the store. Here are two ways to save money in Cusco

Try Peruvian food at the market

You’re in Peru and the food here is some of the most diverse in the world.

We spent a month in Cusco. After a week of making our own meals, we decided it was more economical in terms of money and time to eat out a couple of times a day. This is especially true at places like San Blas and San Pedro Markets, where you can honestly get a full meal for about 5-6 soles – that’s just over $1.50 US!

Cusco food prices at grocery stores might be low, but cooking at home doesn’t make up for having a great meal made by a local.

Take local transportation

Taxis and Ubers are fairly inexpensive here. You can usually get a trip for less than 10 soles if it’s fairly close. Maybe a little more if it’s farther away. But if those guys have to travel much farther than the historical district, they get annoyed and want to charge you more – especially Uber.

Learn to use the local transit system in Cusco. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be paying S/. 1 each way for the rest of your time here.

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