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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $706 in Cajamarca versus $491 in Ayacucho.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,178 in Cajamarca versus $793 in Ayacucho.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,649 in Cajamarca versus $1,095 in Ayacucho.

Living in Cajamarca is roughly 44% more expensive than in Ayacucho, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 49% lower, Ayacucho 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.47 PEN 11.63

$1.76 PEN 5.90

97.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.10 PEN 101

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.04 PEN 20.25

Cappuccino

$2.74 PEN 9.20

$1.76 PEN 5.89

55.68%

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

$0.82 PEN 2.75

$0.86 PEN 2.89

-4.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 PEN 2.03

$0.31 PEN 1.05

96.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 PEN 8.05

$1.50 PEN 5.04

60.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 PEN 11.76

$4.39 PEN 14.72

-20.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 PEN 4.62

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 PEN 10.79

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PEN 4.34

$0.61 PEN 2.06

113.11%

Eggs

$2.23 PEN 7.47

$1.73 PEN 5.81

28.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.80 PEN 26.16

$2.92 PEN 9.78

167.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 PEN 21.28

$4.41 PEN 14.78

43.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 PEN 43.42

$5.91 PEN 19.80

119.12%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 PEN 3.78

$1.22 PEN 4.08

-7.38%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PEN 2.63

$0.61 PEN 2.05

27.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 PEN 4.31

$0.60 PEN 2.02

115.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.72

$0.56 PEN 1.88

98.21%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 PEN 2.51

$0.29 PEN 0.97

158.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 PEN 3.49

$0.31 PEN 1.04

235.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 PEN 2.54

$0.31 PEN 1.06

145.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.56

$0.85 PEN 2.86

-10.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.76 PEN 29.37

Wine (Bottle)

$10.28 PEN 34.45

$5.77 PEN 19.36

78.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 PEN 8.75

$2.98 PEN 10.01

-12.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 PEN 8.41

$4.45 PEN 14.91

-43.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 PEN 2.01

$0.60 PEN 2.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.74 PEN 29.29

$36.11 PEN 121

-75.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PEN 6.11

$2.32 PEN 7.80

-21.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 PEN 4.46

$1.21 PEN 4.06

9.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.32 PEN 17.83

$4.58 PEN 15.35

16.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 PEN 5.11

$1.79 PEN 6.01

-14.53%

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

$24.2K PEN 81.1K

$10.5K PEN 35.1K

131.29%

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

$25.8K PEN 86.5K

$12.6K PEN 42.1K

105.29%

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

$49.37 PEN 166

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

$9.79 PEN 32.84

$11.94 PEN 40.05

-18.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.16 PEN 97.8

$17.97 PEN 60.3

62.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.10 PEN 101

$15.11 PEN 50.7

99.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.17 PEN 71.0

$30.03 PEN 101

-29.50%

Cinema Ticket

$4.76 PEN 15.97

$4.35 PEN 14.57

9.43%

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

$137 PEN 460

$73.7 PEN 247

85.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,411 PEN 14.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 PEN 177

$17.68 PEN 59.3

198.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.83 PEN 100

$26.24 PEN 88.0

13.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 PEN 272

$103 PEN 344

-20.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.5 PEN 273

$105 PEN 354

-22.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$206 PEN 689

$353 PEN 1,184

-41.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 PEN 353

$89.4 PEN 300

17.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$542 PEN 1,816

$880 PEN 2,951

-38.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 PEN 1,050

$234 PEN 784

33.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,339 PEN 7,842

$1,981 PEN 6,644

18.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,755 PEN 5,885

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$740 PEN 2,480

$490 PEN 1,643

50.91%

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 Cajamarca: August 29, 2026

Last update for Ayacucho: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $206 in Cajamarca and $353 in Ayacucho. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 51% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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

Cajamarca vs Ayacucho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ayacucho wins on cost – living expenses run 44% 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.

Average pay runs 51% higher in Cajamarca, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $206 in Cajamarca versus $353 in Ayacucho. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $137 in Cajamarca versus $73.7 in Ayacucho. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

A monthly transit pass in Ayacucho runs roughly 313% less than in Cajamarca. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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, Cajamarca and Ayacucho 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 44% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.