Cuenca vs Cusco
📶
Cusco has 2x faster internet
🛂
Ecuador offers a digital nomad visa
💰 Cost of Living Breakdown
Monthly expenses comparison in USD
Expense
Cuenca
Cusco
Total Budget
$1,100/mo
$1,000/mo ✓
Rent (1BR)
$400/mo ✓
$500/mo
Coworking
$100/mo
$100/mo
Meal Out
$3 ✓
$4
Coffee
$2.5 ✓
$3
Cusco is $100/mo cheaper (10% savings)
💻 Remote Work Essentials
Internet, timezone, and language comparison
🇪🇨 Cuenca
📶 Internet30 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC-5
🗣️ Englishlow
🛂 Nomad VisaAvailable
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West8h
🇺🇸 US East8h
🇬🇧 London6h
🇩🇪 Berlin5h
🇵🇪 Cusco
📶 Internet60 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC-5
🗣️ Englishmedium
🛂 Nomad VisaNot available
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West8h
🇺🇸 US East8h
🇬🇧 London6h
🇩🇪 Berlin5h
🌡️ Climate Comparison
Weather patterns and best times to visit
Cuenca
ClimateOceanic
Avg Temp14°C
Rainy Days292/year
Cusco
ClimateOceanic
Avg Temp12°C
Rainy Days199/year
Best months: July, June
Quarterly Temperatures
Jan
14°12°
Apr
14°12°
Jul
13°11°
Oct
14°13°
CuencaCusco
📊 Full Comparison
Category
🇪🇨Cuenca
🇵🇪Cusco
💰
Monthly Budget
$1,100
$1,000
📶
Internet Speed
30 Mbps
60 Mbps
Winner🛡️
Safety
4.2/5
Winner3.7/5
⭐
Nomad Score
4/10
3.8/10
🍽️
Food Scene
8/10
9/10
🎉
Nightlife
4/10
6/10
Winner🚶
Walkability
8/10
8/10
👥
Community
medium
medium
1
Cuenca wins
vs
2
Cusco wins
Which City is Right for You?
Recommendations based on your nomad style
💵Budget Nomad
Either works
Similar costs - choose based on other factors
💻Developer
Either works
Both have adequate internet for development work
🦋Social Butterfly
Either works
Similar social opportunities
🛡️Safety-First
Cuenca
Significantly higher safety rating
🍜Foodie
Either works
Both have great food scenes
🎉Party Person
Cusco
World-famous nightlife scene
🇪🇨Cuenca
Pros
- +Extremely affordable cost of living with USD currency
- +UNESCO World Heritage historic center
- +Spring-like weather year-round (no heating/AC needed)
- +Safest major city in Ecuador
Cons
- −Internet can be inconsistent in some areas
- −Nightlife is quiet and limited
- −High altitude (2,500m) requires acclimatization
- −English is not widely spoken
🇵🇪Cusco
Pros
- +Gateway to Machu Picchu world wonder
- +Incredible Inca history and ruins
- +Very affordable cost of living
- +World-class Peruvian cuisine
Cons
- −High altitude 3400m causes sickness
- −Variable inconsistent WiFi speeds
- −Cold nights require heating costs
- −Limited coworking space options