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: $701 in Cajamarca versus $565 in Cerro de Pasco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,192 in Cajamarca versus $899 in Cerro de Pasco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,683 in Cajamarca versus $1,233 in Cerro de Pasco.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 49% lower, Cerro de Pasco 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.66 PEN 12.34

$2.96 PEN 9.98

23.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.95 PEN 101

$29.49 PEN 99.5

1.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.01 PEN 20.27

$7.05 PEN 23.77

-14.75%

Cappuccino

$2.63 PEN 8.86

$2.10 PEN 7.08

25.24%

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

$0.81 PEN 2.74

$0.75 PEN 2.54

8.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 PEN 1.93

$0.46 PEN 1.56

23.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 PEN 8.12

$2.64 PEN 8.91

-8.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 PEN 12.39

$4.53 PEN 15.30

-18.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.55

$1.58 PEN 5.34

-14.56%

White Bread (500g)

$3.31 PEN 11.18

$2.44 PEN 8.22

35.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.27

$1.27 PEN 4.29

Eggs

$2.31 PEN 7.78

$2.42 PEN 8.16

-4.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.89 PEN 26.61

$9.50 PEN 32.06

-16.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.12 PEN 20.64

$6.19 PEN 20.87

-1.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.01 PEN 43.88

$8.39 PEN 28.30

55.07%

Apples (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.76

$2.01 PEN 6.78

-44.78%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 PEN 2.65

$0.75 PEN 2.53

5.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.21 PEN 4.09

$0.47 PEN 1.57

157.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 PEN 3.77

$1.18 PEN 3.98

-5.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 PEN 2.72

$0.72 PEN 2.43

12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.40

$0.53 PEN 1.79

90.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 PEN 2.56

$0.90 PEN 3.05

-15.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.57

$0.91 PEN 3.07

-16.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.02 PEN 30.42

$5.92 PEN 19.98

52.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.53 PEN 35.51

$7.28 PEN 24.57

44.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 PEN 8.76

$1.92 PEN 6.47

35.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 PEN 8.57

$2.73 PEN 9.22

-6.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 PEN 1.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.86 PEN 29.89

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PEN 6.16

$4.04 PEN 13.62

-54.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 PEN 4.44

$2.12 PEN 7.16

-37.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.12 PEN 17.29

$7.51 PEN 25.35

-31.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 PEN 5.41

$1.73 PEN 5.85

-7.51%

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

$23.6K PEN 79.7K

$22.1K PEN 74.6K

6.80%

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

$25.8K PEN 87.0K

$26.1K PEN 87.9K

-1.09%

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

$49.68 PEN 168

$70.7 PEN 239

-29.73%

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

$9.48 PEN 32.00

$17.03 PEN 57.5

-44.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.30 PEN 98.9

$28.25 PEN 95.3

3.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.19 PEN 105

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.98 PEN 70.8

Cinema Ticket

$4.82 PEN 16.25

$7.55 PEN 25.48

-36.16%

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

$140 PEN 472

$181 PEN 609

-22.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,389 PEN 14.8K

$13.6K PEN 45.8K

-67.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.3 PEN 176

$53.8 PEN 181

-2.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.27 PEN 102

$36.34 PEN 123

-16.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 PEN 280

$85.5 PEN 289

-2.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.9 PEN 276

$81.5 PEN 275

0.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 PEN 684

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PEN 358

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$538 PEN 1,813

$421 PEN 1,422

27.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 PEN 1,090

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,337 PEN 7,884

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$728 PEN 2,455

$483 PEN 1,631

50.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.5

8.94

17.45%

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

Last update for Cajamarca: September 14, 2026

Last update for Cerro de Pasco: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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.

Dining out: $30.00 in Cajamarca vs $29.00 in Cerro de Pasco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $209 per month, with Cerro de Pasco 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

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.

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.

Childcare runs $140 in Cajamarca versus $181 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 $29.00 versus $30.00 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.