Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Cerro de Pasco Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Cerro de Pasco

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $651 in Cajamarca versus $517 in Cerro de Pasco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,099 in Cajamarca versus $842 in Cerro de Pasco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,546 in Cajamarca versus $1,166 in Cerro de Pasco.

Living in Cajamarca is roughly 26% more expensive than in Cerro de Pasco, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 51% lower, Cerro de Pasco 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.98 PEN 10.07

$2.86 PEN 9.66

4.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.04 PEN 94.8

$28.10 PEN 95.0

-0.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.72 PEN 19.34

$6.76 PEN 22.85

-15.38%

Cappuccino

$2.95 PEN 9.96

$1.96 PEN 6.64

50.51%

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

$0.81 PEN 2.75

$0.68 PEN 2.29

19.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 PEN 1.95

$0.44 PEN 1.48

31.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 PEN 7.65

$2.17 PEN 7.32

4.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 PEN 11.59

$3.77 PEN 12.76

-9.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 PEN 4.24

$1.42 PEN 4.81

-11.97%

White Bread (500g)

$2.97 PEN 10.04

$2.25 PEN 7.60

32.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 PEN 3.50

$1.25 PEN 4.23

-16.80%

Eggs

$2.15 PEN 7.26

$2.37 PEN 8.01

-9.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.14 PEN 20.77

$7.79 PEN 26.34

-21.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.94 PEN 20.09

$5.52 PEN 18.65

7.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.32 PEN 41.66

$7.86 PEN 26.59

56.74%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 PEN 3.35

$1.96 PEN 6.63

-49.49%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 PEN 2.53

$0.67 PEN 2.26

11.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PEN 3.04

$0.43 PEN 1.46

109.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.42

$1.13 PEN 3.82

-10.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 PEN 2.52

$0.71 PEN 2.40

5.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 PEN 3.20

$0.49 PEN 1.64

93.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 PEN 2.26

$0.82 PEN 2.77

-18.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 PEN 2.42

$0.80 PEN 2.70

-10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.49 PEN 28.70

$5.68 PEN 19.22

49.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.27 PEN 34.73

$7.27 PEN 24.57

41.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 PEN 8.23

$1.77 PEN 5.99

37.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 PEN 8.19

$2.45 PEN 8.27

-1.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 PEN 1.84

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.18 PEN 27.65

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.68 PEN 5.70

$3.27 PEN 11.07

-48.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 PEN 4.27

$2.13 PEN 7.19

-40.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.99 PEN 16.87

$8.13 PEN 27.50

-38.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 PEN 4.91

$1.36 PEN 4.61

6.62%

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

$22.5K PEN 76.1K

$19.3K PEN 65.4K

16.45%

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

$24.2K PEN 81.9K

$24.6K PEN 83.3K

-1.72%

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

$46.05 PEN 156

$56.2 PEN 190

-18.02%

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

$9.12 PEN 30.84

$12.81 PEN 43.31

-28.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.46 PEN 89.5

$24.12 PEN 81.6

9.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.69 PEN 97.0

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.48 PEN 65.9

Cinema Ticket

$4.56 PEN 15.42

$6.84 PEN 23.11

-33.33%

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

$129 PEN 435

$218 PEN 736

-40.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,108 PEN 13.9K

$7,847 PEN 26.5K

-47.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.50 PEN 164

$50.1 PEN 170

-3.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.79 PEN 94.0

$35.67 PEN 121

-22.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.3 PEN 261

$89.6 PEN 303

-13.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.0 PEN 260

$89.5 PEN 303

-13.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 PEN 677

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$96.9 PEN 328

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$496 PEN 1,677

$382 PEN 1,293

29.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 PEN 1,008

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,366 PEN 8,001

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$710 PEN 2,402

$472 PEN 1,598

50.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.5

10.11

3.86%

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

Last update for Cajamarca: June 14, 2026

Last update for Cerro de Pasco: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Cajamarca pays 50% 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: $28.00 in Cajamarca vs $28.00 in Cerro de Pasco. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $191, with Cerro de Pasco cheaper for home cooking.

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 Cerro de Pasco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cerro de Pasco is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 50% higher in Cajamarca, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $129 in Cajamarca versus $218 in Cerro de Pasco. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Cerro de Pasco – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $28.00 in Cajamarca. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Cerro de Pasco 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 Cerro de Pasco 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 Cerro de Pasco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.