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: $654 in Cajamarca versus $517 in Cerro de Pasco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,105 in Cajamarca versus $845 in Cerro de Pasco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,555 in Cajamarca versus $1,173 in Cerro de Pasco.

Living in Cajamarca is roughly 27% 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

$3.14 PEN 10.66

$2.75 PEN 9.34

14.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.99 PEN 95.0

$27.91 PEN 94.8

0.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.99 PEN 20.33

$6.80 PEN 23.10

-11.91%

Cappuccino

$2.84 PEN 9.64

$1.91 PEN 6.49

48.69%

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

$0.82 PEN 2.79

$0.68 PEN 2.31

20.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 PEN 1.83

$0.40 PEN 1.36

35.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 PEN 7.76

$2.21 PEN 7.50

3.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PEN 11.54

$3.95 PEN 13.42

-13.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 PEN 4.28

$1.40 PEN 4.77

-10.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 PEN 10.56

$2.28 PEN 7.76

36.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 PEN 3.54

$1.19 PEN 4.05

-12.61%

Eggs

$2.05 PEN 6.97

$2.36 PEN 8.03

-13.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.10 PEN 20.72

$8.09 PEN 27.47

-24.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.66 PEN 19.23

$5.57 PEN 18.91

1.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.17 PEN 41.31

$7.66 PEN 26.02

58.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.42

$1.96 PEN 6.65

-48.47%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 PEN 2.54

$0.70 PEN 2.38

7.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 PEN 3.01

$0.40 PEN 1.36

122.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.39

$1.08 PEN 3.68

-7.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 PEN 2.40

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 PEN 3.32

$0.51 PEN 1.73

92.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 PEN 2.29

$0.87 PEN 2.94

-22.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 PEN 2.60

$0.82 PEN 2.77

-6.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.12 PEN 27.55

$5.61 PEN 19.06

44.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.25 PEN 34.79

$7.30 PEN 24.78

40.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 PEN 8.29

$1.75 PEN 5.94

39.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 PEN 7.78

$2.57 PEN 8.71

-10.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 PEN 1.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.12 PEN 27.56

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 PEN 5.75

$3.37 PEN 11.45

-49.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 PEN 4.08

$2.21 PEN 7.51

-45.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.73 PEN 16.05

$8.21 PEN 27.87

-42.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 PEN 4.93

$1.30 PEN 4.41

11.54%

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

$22.3K PEN 75.6K

$19.4K PEN 65.9K

14.77%

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

$23.9K PEN 81.0K

$24.8K PEN 84.1K

-3.67%

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

$45.45 PEN 154

$56.7 PEN 192

-19.78%

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

$9.08 PEN 30.83

$12.80 PEN 43.46

-29.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.76 PEN 90.8

$23.55 PEN 80.0

13.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.45 PEN 96.6

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 PEN 65.2

Cinema Ticket

$4.64 PEN 15.74

$6.78 PEN 23.01

-31.56%

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

$130 PEN 442

$220 PEN 748

-40.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,123 PEN 14.0K

$8,048 PEN 27.3K

-48.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.73 PEN 165

$49.80 PEN 169

-2.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.67 PEN 93.9

$35.60 PEN 121

-22.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 PEN 262

$91.2 PEN 310

-15.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.7 PEN 264

$88.0 PEN 299

-11.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PEN 682

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.8 PEN 335

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 PEN 1,720

$389 PEN 1,321

30.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 PEN 995

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,310 PEN 7,842

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$721 PEN 2,449

$472 PEN 1,604

52.65%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Cerro de Pasco: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Cajamarca pays 53% 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 $192, 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 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 53% 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 $130 in Cajamarca versus $220 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 27% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.