Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Chiclayo Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Chiclayo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $654 in Cajamarca versus $747 in Chiclayo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,105 in Cajamarca versus $1,252 in Chiclayo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,555 in Cajamarca versus $1,758 in Chiclayo.

Living in Cajamarca costs roughly 12% less than in Chiclayo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 51% lower, Chiclayo 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 PEN 10.68

$4.88 PEN 16.60

-35.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.99 PEN 95.2

$32.82 PEN 112

-14.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.99 PEN 20.36

$8.26 PEN 28.10

-27.48%

Cappuccino

$2.84 PEN 9.66

$4.26 PEN 14.50

-33.33%

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

$0.82 PEN 2.79

$0.81 PEN 2.75

1.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 PEN 1.83

$0.48 PEN 1.62

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 PEN 7.77

$2.59 PEN 8.82

-11.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PEN 11.56

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 PEN 4.29

$1.38 PEN 4.70

-8.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 PEN 10.58

$1.64 PEN 5.58

89.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 PEN 3.54

$1.65 PEN 5.60

-36.97%

Eggs

$2.05 PEN 6.99

$3.02 PEN 10.28

-32.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.10 PEN 20.75

$6.19 PEN 21.06

-1.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.66 PEN 19.26

$6.07 PEN 20.63

-6.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.17 PEN 41.38

$8.77 PEN 29.81

38.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.42

$1.91 PEN 6.49

-47.12%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 PEN 2.54

$1.64 PEN 5.59

-54.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 PEN 3.02

$1.12 PEN 3.83

-20.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.40

$1.58 PEN 5.37

-36.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 PEN 2.41

$0.93 PEN 3.16

-23.66%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 PEN 3.32

$1.36 PEN 4.63

-27.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 PEN 2.29

$0.72 PEN 2.46

-6.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 PEN 2.60

$0.71 PEN 2.41

8.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.12 PEN 27.60

$4.40 PEN 14.98

84.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.25 PEN 34.85

$14.82 PEN 50.4

-30.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 PEN 8.30

$1.34 PEN 4.55

82.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 PEN 7.79

$1.53 PEN 5.21

49.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 PEN 1.86

$0.48 PEN 1.64

14.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.12 PEN 27.60

$27.52 PEN 93.6

-70.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 PEN 5.76

$2.62 PEN 8.90

-35.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 PEN 4.08

$1.12 PEN 3.82

7.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.73 PEN 16.08

$4.98 PEN 16.92

-5.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 PEN 4.93

$1.24 PEN 4.21

16.94%

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

$22.3K PEN 75.8K

$23.8K PEN 80.9K

-6.38%

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

$23.9K PEN 81.2K

$23.0K PEN 78.2K

3.77%

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

$45.45 PEN 155

$38.11 PEN 130

19.26%

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

$9.08 PEN 30.88

$15.06 PEN 51.2

-39.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.76 PEN 91.0

$34.95 PEN 119

-23.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.45 PEN 96.8

$32.84 PEN 112

-13.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 PEN 65.3

$33.08 PEN 113

-41.99%

Cinema Ticket

$4.64 PEN 15.77

$5.41 PEN 18.41

-14.23%

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

$130 PEN 443

$219 PEN 745

-40.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,123 PEN 14.0K

$3,387 PEN 11.5K

21.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.73 PEN 166

$44.26 PEN 151

10.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.67 PEN 94.1

$36.66 PEN 125

-24.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 PEN 263

$82.6 PEN 281

-6.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.7 PEN 264

$39.62 PEN 135

96.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PEN 683

$124 PEN 423

61.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.8 PEN 336

$139 PEN 472

-28.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 PEN 1,723

$324 PEN 1,101

56.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 PEN 997

$368 PEN 1,251

-20.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,310 PEN 7,855

$1,138 PEN 3,870

102.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,110 PEN 3,774

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$721 PEN 2,453

$480 PEN 1,632

50.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.5

5.00%

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

Last update for Cajamarca: July 27, 2026

Last update for Chiclayo: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $201 in Cajamarca and $124 in Chiclayo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 50% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $28.00 in Cajamarca vs $33.00 in Chiclayo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $212 per month, with Cajamarca 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 Chiclayo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cajamarca is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 14% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $201 in Cajamarca versus $124 in Chiclayo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Cajamarca runs roughly 239% less than in Chiclayo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $130 in Cajamarca versus $219 in Chiclayo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Cajamarca 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 Chiclayo 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 Cajamarca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Chiclayo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.