Cost of Living Comparison Between Ayacucho and Cajamarca Cost of Living Comparison Between Ayacucho and Cajamarca

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $110 in Ayacucho versus $649 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $191 in Ayacucho versus $1,098 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $272 in Ayacucho versus $1,547 in Cajamarca.

Living in Ayacucho costs roughly 83% less than in Cajamarca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ayacucho 92% lower, Cajamarca 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.64 PEN 5.57

$3.00 PEN 10.20

-45.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.75 PEN 46.77

$28.12 PEN 95.7

-51.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.07 PEN 13.84

$5.85 PEN 19.90

-30.43%

Cappuccino

$2.25 PEN 7.66

$2.93 PEN 9.96

-23.21%

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

$0.80 PEN 2.71

$0.75 PEN 2.56

6.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 PEN 1.00

$0.59 PEN 2.00

-50.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.89 PEN 6.42

$2.18 PEN 7.41

-13.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 PEN 7.66

$3.23 PEN 10.99

-30.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 PEN 4.22

White Bread (500g)

$3.12 PEN 10.60

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 PEN 3.71

Eggs

$2.17 PEN 7.39

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.15 PEN 20.93

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.85 PEN 19.89

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.02 PEN 40.88

Apples (1kg)

$0.93 PEN 3.15

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 PEN 2.56

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 PEN 2.83

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.58

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 PEN 2.33

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 PEN 3.20

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 PEN 2.12

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 PEN 2.45

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.23 PEN 28.00

Wine (Bottle)

$5.80 PEN 19.73

$10.20 PEN 34.69

-43.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 PEN 8.52

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PEN 7.99

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 PEN 2.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 PEN 27.58

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 PEN 5.59

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 PEN 4.14

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.90 PEN 16.68

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 PEN 5.12

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

$21.8K PEN 74.1K

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

$23.8K PEN 81.0K

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

$46.05 PEN 157

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

$9.02 PEN 30.68

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.75 PEN 91.0

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.55 PEN 83.5

$28.61 PEN 97.4

-14.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.22 PEN 65.4

Cinema Ticket

$4.68 PEN 15.92

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

$128 PEN 435

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,117 PEN 14.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.44 PEN 165

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.69 PEN 94.2

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.4 PEN 256

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.0 PEN 262

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 PEN 687

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$97.3 PEN 331

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$502 PEN 1,707

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$292 PEN 992

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,944 PEN 6,615

$2,356 PEN 8,017

-17.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,747 PEN 5,942

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 PEN 1,675

$707 PEN 2,407

-30.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.5

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

Last update for Ayacucho: June 1, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Cajamarca pays 44% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $14.00 in Ayacucho vs $28.00 in Cajamarca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $12.00 vs $211 per month, with Ayacucho cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Ayacucho vs Cajamarca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ayacucho wins on cost – living expenses run 492% lower than in Cajamarca. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ayacucho the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Cajamarca earns 44% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

All in, you'll spend $110 per month in Ayacucho versus $649 in Cajamarca – a 492% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1717% higher in Cajamarca. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Ayacucho gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Ayacucho and Cajamarca are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ayacucho gentler on the wallet – expenses run 492% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.