The currency here in Peru is the sole.  The exchange rate from U.S. dollars to Peruvian soles is roughly $1.00 = s/ 2.60.  With that said, 3 soles here in Peru, is roughly about a dollar.  To give you an idea of what all you can buy here with roughly a dollar (s/ 3.00), we made a list of common things that we purchase and that you can find on the streets of Cuzco.

Food:

– Set menu for lunch that includes soup and a drink (s/ 3.00)
– Various sorts of ice cream (s/ 1.00 – 3.00)
– Soft-serve ice cream on a cone (s/ 0.50 – 1.50)
– Various sorts of pastries or baked goods (s/ 1.50 – 3.00)
– Various sorts of local candy bars (s/ 1.00 – 3.00)
– Glass of fresh squeezed juice in the street or market (s/ 1.00 – 2.00)

Groceries:

– Large pack of cookies/oreos (s/ 2.50 – 3.00)
– 1.5 L of coca cola in glass returnable bottle (s/ 1.50)
– 2 L bottle of water (s/ 2.50 – 3.00)
– 1 kg of assorted fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, mandarins (s/ 1.00 – 3.00)
– Avocados (2 for s/ 3.00)
– Eggs (s/ 1.00 for 3)

Services:

– Taxi cab ride to anywhere in Cusco (s/ 3.00)
– Bus ride (s/ 0.60)
– Hair cut, includes a shave of your neck with a straight blade (s/ 3.00)
– Shoe shine (s/ 1.00)
– Use of an oven to bake goods (s/ 1.00)
– Internet service (s/1.00 per hour)
– Printing/Photocopying (s/ 0.20 per page)
– Laundry (s/ 3.00 per kilogram)
– Cellular telephone minutes (s/ 0.50 per minute)

Typical Internet Cafe

Entertainment:

– DVD movies, all pirated, there is no such thing as “originals” here (s/ 2.00 – 3.00)
– 25 Balloons (s/ 3.00)
– Video games (s/ 1.00 per 1 hour)

Video Game Cafe

Personal:

– Bar of soap (s/ 1.50)
– Tube of toothpaste (s/ 2.50)
– Roll of toilet paper (s/ 0.60 – 1.00)
– Notebook (s/ 3.00)
– Extension cord (s/ 3.00)
– Ball-point pen (s/ 1.00)

Typical hair salon

Other Random Stuff:

– Box of matches (s/ 0.20)
– Newspapers (s/ 0.50 – 1.50)
– School lottery ticket for random goods such as balls, blenders, games, appliances (s/ 3.00)

Janie showing off her ridiculous raffle ("tombola") prizes