Last update: Oct 2026 Peru 218.7K

Cost of Living in Cajamarca

Name: Cajamarca
Address: Cajamarca, PE

For one person, living costs in Cajamarca are estimated at $714 a month, including rent and utilities – 18% below the national average. Rent and utilities take less than a third of the total.

Compare Destinations Jump to prices

Cajamarca

🇵🇪 Peru

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cajamarca

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cajamarca actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Living costs for one person come to about $714 monthly including rent, or $538 excluding housing.

$714 /mo

Estimated monthly costs for a couple: $1,196 with rent, or $918 without housing.

$1,196 /mo

Monthly costs for a family of three come to about $1,679 including rent, or $1,298 for daily expenses alone.

$1,679 /mo

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.15 PEN 10.82

$2.86 PEN 9.84

$3.44 PEN 11.80

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.16 PEN 100

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.92 PEN 20.32

Cappuccino

$2.82 PEN 9.67

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 PEN 2.40

$0.56 PEN 1.91

$0.83 PEN 2.87

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 PEN 1.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 PEN 9.04

$2.34 PEN 8.04

$2.93 PEN 10.05

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 PEN 11.85

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 PEN 4.45

$0.71 PEN 2.44

$1.70 PEN 5.82

White Bread (500g)

$3.27 PEN 11.23

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PEN 4.15

$1.14 PEN 3.91

$1.29 PEN 4.42

Eggs

$2.26 PEN 7.76

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.19 PEN 24.70

$6.69 PEN 22.98

$7.69 PEN 26.42

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.63 PEN 26.20

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.12 PEN 55.4

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 PEN 3.04

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 PEN 2.93

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 PEN 3.88

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 PEN 3.12

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 PEN 3.08

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 PEN 2.57

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 PEN 2.91

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 PEN 2.47

$0.57 PEN 1.96

$0.86 PEN 2.94

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.15 PEN 24.55

$5.72 PEN 19.64

$8.57 PEN 29.45

Wine (Bottle)

$11.65 PEN 40.02

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 PEN 9.14

$2.37 PEN 8.13

$2.96 PEN 10.16

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 PEN 9.04

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 PEN 1.92

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.69 PEN 29.86

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.54 PEN 8.73

$1.70 PEN 5.82

$3.39 PEN 11.65

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 PEN 6.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.75 PEN 19.76

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 PEN 4.79

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.5K PEN 80.6K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.6K PEN 98.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$58.8 PEN 202

$29.39 PEN 101

$88.2 PEN 303

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.55 PEN 32.79

$8.81 PEN 30.25

$10.28 PEN 35.29

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.57 PEN 70.7

$14.70 PEN 50.5

$26.46 PEN 90.9

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.79 PEN 116

$23.51 PEN 80.7

$44.07 PEN 151

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.60 PEN 60.4

Cinema Ticket

$3.79 PEN 13.01

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$148 PEN 507

$118 PEN 405

$177 PEN 608

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,314 PEN 14.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.94 PEN 147

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.55 PEN 98.1

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 PEN 249

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.1 PEN 251

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$196 PEN 674

$174 PEN 599

$218 PEN 749

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 PEN 404

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$517 PEN 1,775

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 PEN 1,106

$293 PEN 1,005

$351 PEN 1,206

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$548 PEN 1,882

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Cajamarca $714

Groceries & Markets

$244 34.2%

Accommodation & Living

$118 16.5%

Eating Out

$102 14.3%

Clothing & Footwear

$98 13.7%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

$89 12.5%

Sport & Entertainment

$41 5.8%

Getting Around

$22 3.1%

Cost Breakdown

Expect to pay about $196 for a central one-bedroom, or $118 outside the center. At 36% of the average salary ($548), rent is manageable but leaves limited room for savings.

Average take-home pay sits at $548, while typical expenses reach $714. The gap means tight budgeting for locals, though expats with foreign income can live comfortably.

Expect to spend about $244 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant costs roughly $29.00 for two.

Public transport is priced at around $8.69 per month.

Cost Highlights

Cajamarca has the 3rd cheapest public transport monthly pass in South America

Cajamarca has the 5th most expensive white bread in South America

Local beer is more expensive than 97% of cities in South America

Good to know

🕒 Local time

07:37 7:37 AM

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

218,741

💱 Currency

Peruvian Sol PEN S/

📈 Exchange rate

1 PEN = 0.291 USD

1 PEN = 0.259 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

From you

Cajamarca

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

Cajamarca Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

Cost of Living in Cajamarca - Frequently Asked Questions

Compared with Lima or Cusco, Cajamarca tends to offer a slower pace and lower everyday costs for housing, markets, and meals, while still delivering essential services and a strong outdoors lifestyle. Cost of Living in Cajamarca, Peru is shaped by affordable local produce, modest rents for older apartment buildings, and a network of small cafés and coworking options for short-term stays. You’ll find value in longer-term rentals and in choosing neighborhoods away from major tourist spots. Seasonality matters for dining and entertainment, with more local flavor outside peak travel weeks. Tip: Start with a month-long stay to test neighborhoods and budget dynamics.

Daily life centers on a walkable core with markets, plazas, and compact streets. For housing search, look for longer leases in buildings managed by local landlords rather than large agencies; Centro Histórico and surrounding districts offer easy access to groceries, cafes, and buses. Food options range from vibrant mercados with fresh produce to simple, affordable meals at local eateries. Transportation relies on buses, colectivo vans, and taxis; many places are reachable on foot, and bicycles are practical in dry months. Co-working spots and cafés with reliable Wi-Fi suit remote work. Cajamarca, Peru living cost helps you set a realistic daily budget for groceries and transit. Tip: Pick a place with a reliable power supply and good internet.

Quality of life in Cajamarca blends outdoor access, cultural events, and a slower tempo that suits long stays. Build a simple budgeting framework around housing, groceries, transport, and personal expenses, then adapt with seasonal changes. Save tips include cooking at home with local produce, shopping at mercados, using public transport, and sharing apartments to reduce rent. Seasonality brings busier markets and occasional festival surges; plan ahead for peak periods by booking stays near your preferred amenities. Neighborhood fit depends on pace: Centro Histórico for walkability and nightlife, La Alameda and hillside views for space and scenery, or quieter residential blocks for focus. Tip: Map your daily routes to minimize backtracking and cut transit time.

As of 2026, monthly living costs in Cajamarca come to around $714 including rent, or roughly $538 excluding it. Numbers shift a bit by season and neighborhood, but this range works well as a planning baseline.

Compared to most cities worldwide, Cajamarca is just cheap – all-in costs average $714 monthly. Both housing and daily necessities sit below the international median, which explains its popularity with budget travelers, nomads, and locals on modest incomes.

The typical net salary in Cajamarca lands around $548 monthly. Some sectors pay significantly more, but this number gives you a realistic sense of what most full-time workers earn and how far it stretches against local costs.

Where you live in Cajamarca makes all the difference. Central one-bedrooms cost about $196; commute-friendly outer districts come in around $118. Overall, the market runs from $118 to $196 depending on size, location, and apartment condition.

A monthly transit pass in Cajamarca goes for roughly $8.69, which is one of the lighter items on a monthly budget. Coverage across residential and business areas is solid, and most residents without a car rely on it daily.

Childcare averages $148 monthly at a private kindergarten in Cajamarca. For many families, this single cost rivals rent, so it's essential to factor in before making a move.

$1,000 stretches far in Cajamarca – all-in monthly costs average only $714. The surplus means you can build savings, travel a bit, and live above the local average without much effort.

Cajamarca offers genuinely appealing day-to-day living. Residents value fast internet, low crime rates, clean air, and at around $714 per month, it's accessible to a broad range of incomes. Most people find the cost-to-quality balance sustainable long-term.

Monthly expenses in Cajamarca run around $714, so putting money aside takes more than $1,071 in income. Keeping housing costs low and avoiding lifestyle creep are the keys to building a decent savings rate here.

Budget travelers love Cajamarca – low prices across accommodation, food, and transport make it one of the most backpacker-friendly cities around. Long-stay costs come to just $714 monthly; short-term visitors can get by on even less with hostels and local food.