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: $691 in Cajamarca versus $782 in Chiclayo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,181 in Cajamarca versus $1,331 in Chiclayo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,672 in Cajamarca versus $1,879 in Chiclayo.

Living in Cajamarca costs roughly 12% less than in Chiclayo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 50% lower, Chiclayo 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.63 PEN 12.16

$5.10 PEN 17.10

-28.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.68 PEN 99.5

$35.80 PEN 120

-17.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.82 PEN 19.52

$8.66 PEN 29.04

-32.79%

Cappuccino

$2.64 PEN 8.86

$4.51 PEN 15.12

-41.46%

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

$0.81 PEN 2.72

$0.90 PEN 3.02

-10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 PEN 1.92

$0.46 PEN 1.54

23.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 PEN 8.08

$8.94 PEN 29.98

-73.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 PEN 11.66

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.52

$1.95 PEN 6.53

-30.77%

White Bread (500g)

$3.24 PEN 10.87

$2.58 PEN 8.67

25.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PEN 4.19

$2.69 PEN 9.03

-53.53%

Eggs

$2.20 PEN 7.37

$1.75 PEN 5.85

25.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.84 PEN 26.28

$9.67 PEN 32.40

-18.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.30 PEN 21.10

$9.96 PEN 33.39

-36.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.12 PEN 43.96

$7.81 PEN 26.20

67.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 PEN 3.59

Banana (1kg)

$0.74 PEN 2.48

$2.00 PEN 6.71

-63.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.22 PEN 4.08

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.62

$1.94 PEN 6.49

-44.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 PEN 2.47

$1.34 PEN 4.48

-44.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.39

$1.99 PEN 6.68

-49.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 PEN 2.40

$0.91 PEN 3.06

-20.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 PEN 2.59

$0.92 PEN 3.09

-16.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.67 PEN 29.05

$4.50 PEN 15.10

92.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.54 PEN 35.34

$15.09 PEN 50.6

-30.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 PEN 8.94

$1.52 PEN 5.11

75.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 PEN 8.61

$1.21 PEN 4.05

112.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 PEN 1.88

$0.51 PEN 1.69

9.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.65 PEN 29.00

$29.83 PEN 100

-71.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PEN 6.12

$4.38 PEN 14.69

-58.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 PEN 4.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.18 PEN 17.35

$5.83 PEN 19.53

-11.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 PEN 5.35

$1.36 PEN 4.55

17.65%

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

$23.3K PEN 78.1K

$25.4K PEN 85.1K

-8.18%

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

$26.5K PEN 88.8K

$25.2K PEN 84.3K

5.28%

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

$49.21 PEN 165

$50.5 PEN 169

-2.61%

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

$9.41 PEN 31.54

$45.33 PEN 152

-79.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.56 PEN 95.7

$24.07 PEN 80.7

18.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.55 PEN 102

$45.38 PEN 152

-32.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.07 PEN 70.6

$35.41 PEN 119

-40.50%

Cinema Ticket

$4.79 PEN 16.06

$7.53 PEN 25.24

-36.39%

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

$138 PEN 463

$349 PEN 1,171

-60.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,393 PEN 14.7K

$5,294 PEN 17.7K

-17.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 PEN 173

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.19 PEN 97.9

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.3 PEN 273

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 PEN 269

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$205 PEN 687

$178 PEN 595

15.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$103 PEN 346

$148 PEN 497

-30.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$532 PEN 1,783

$447 PEN 1,497

19.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 PEN 1,074

$410 PEN 1,373

-21.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,356 PEN 7,897

$1,107 PEN 3,710

112.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,094 PEN 3,669

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$740 PEN 2,480

$472 PEN 1,582

56.75%

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: September 5, 2026

Last update for Chiclayo: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $205 in Cajamarca and $178 in Chiclayo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 57% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $30.00 in Cajamarca vs $36.00 in Chiclayo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $250 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 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 57% 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: $205 in Cajamarca versus $178 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 245% less than in Chiclayo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $138 in Cajamarca versus $349 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 13% less than in Chiclayo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.