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: $636 in Cajamarca versus $515 in Cerro de Pasco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,084 in Cajamarca versus $852 in Cerro de Pasco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,532 in Cajamarca versus $1,189 in Cerro de Pasco.

Living in Cajamarca is roughly 24% more expensive than Cerro de Pasco, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 52% lower, Cerro de Pasco 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.03 PEN 10.67

$2.76 PEN 9.73

9.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.29 PEN 99.6

$27.58 PEN 97.1

2.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 PEN 19.95

$7.12 PEN 25.07

-20.37%

Cappuccino

$2.91 PEN 10.24

$1.92 PEN 6.76

51.56%

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

$0.75 PEN 2.65

$0.71 PEN 2.50

5.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 PEN 2.02

$0.40 PEN 1.41

42.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 PEN 7.89

$2.25 PEN 7.92

-0.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 PEN 11.53

$3.88 PEN 13.66

-15.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 PEN 4.38

$1.42 PEN 5.01

-12.68%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 PEN 10.82

$2.19 PEN 7.71

40.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 PEN 3.77

$1.24 PEN 4.36

-13.71%

Eggs

$2.16 PEN 7.59

$2.30 PEN 8.08

-6.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.17 PEN 21.73

$7.81 PEN 27.50

-21.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.71 PEN 20.09

$5.68 PEN 19.99

0.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.10 PEN 42.60

$7.76 PEN 27.31

55.93%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 PEN 3.45

$2.07 PEN 7.28

-52.66%

Banana (1kg)

$0.74 PEN 2.59

$0.67 PEN 2.36

10.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PEN 3.15

$0.40 PEN 1.42

125.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.54

$1.14 PEN 4.02

-11.40%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 PEN 2.65

$0.71 PEN 2.51

5.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 PEN 3.43

$0.51 PEN 1.80

90.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 PEN 2.38

$0.81 PEN 2.85

-16.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 PEN 2.51

$0.84 PEN 2.96

-15.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.41 PEN 29.60

$5.65 PEN 19.89

48.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.21 PEN 35.94

$7.08 PEN 24.92

44.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 PEN 8.89

$1.76 PEN 6.21

43.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 PEN 8.35

$2.47 PEN 8.71

-4.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 PEN 2.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.49 PEN 29.87

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 PEN 5.79

$3.42 PEN 12.05

-52.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 PEN 4.23

$2.11 PEN 7.44

-43.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.81 PEN 16.95

$8.08 PEN 28.46

-40.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 PEN 5.22

$1.36 PEN 4.78

8.82%

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

$22.5K PEN 79.4K

$19.7K PEN 69.4K

14.41%

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

$24.2K PEN 85.2K

$24.5K PEN 86.3K

-1.30%

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

$45.55 PEN 160

$56.8 PEN 200

-19.81%

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

$9.22 PEN 32.45

$12.63 PEN 44.47

-27.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.93 PEN 94.8

$23.62 PEN 83.2

14.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.66 PEN 101

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 PEN 67.6

Cinema Ticket

$4.52 PEN 15.91

$6.83 PEN 24.04

-33.82%

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

$128 PEN 450

$216 PEN 762

-40.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,180 PEN 14.7K

$7,926 PEN 27.9K

-47.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.88 PEN 169

$49.94 PEN 176

-4.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.30 PEN 96.1

$36.38 PEN 128

-24.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.3 PEN 272

$89.8 PEN 316

-13.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.0 PEN 271

$89.9 PEN 316

-14.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PEN 696

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.3 PEN 336

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 PEN 1,755

$391 PEN 1,375

27.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PEN 1,042

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,264 PEN 7,971

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$708 PEN 2,491

$460 PEN 1,617

54.02%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Cerro de Pasco: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Cajamarca pays 54% 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 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Cajamarca pays 54% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $128 in Cajamarca versus $216 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 24% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.