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: $655 in Cajamarca versus $740 in Chiclayo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,101 in Cajamarca versus $1,242 in Chiclayo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,547 in Cajamarca versus $1,743 in Chiclayo.

Living in Cajamarca costs roughly 11% less than in Chiclayo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 51% lower, Chiclayo 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 PEN 10.69

$4.72 PEN 16.03

-33.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.17 PEN 95.8

$33.45 PEN 114

-15.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.98 PEN 20.34

$8.57 PEN 29.13

-30.22%

Cappuccino

$2.90 PEN 9.86

$4.16 PEN 14.14

-30.29%

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

$0.80 PEN 2.73

$0.81 PEN 2.75

-1.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 PEN 1.84

$0.47 PEN 1.61

14.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 PEN 7.66

$2.58 PEN 8.77

-12.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 PEN 11.21

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 PEN 4.22

$1.43 PEN 4.87

-13.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.98 PEN 10.13

$1.69 PEN 5.74

76.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.56

$1.64 PEN 5.57

-35.98%

Eggs

$2.10 PEN 7.13

$3.05 PEN 10.38

-31.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.14 PEN 20.89

$6.29 PEN 21.37

-2.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.78 PEN 19.64

$6.16 PEN 20.93

-6.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.07 PEN 41.03

$8.29 PEN 28.19

45.60%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 PEN 3.11

$1.96 PEN 6.66

-53.06%

Banana (1kg)

$0.71 PEN 2.41

$1.65 PEN 5.60

-56.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 PEN 2.83

$1.12 PEN 3.82

-25.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.40

$1.58 PEN 5.37

-36.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 PEN 2.53

$0.94 PEN 3.19

-21.28%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 PEN 3.12

$1.37 PEN 4.66

-32.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 PEN 2.15

$0.71 PEN 2.42

-11.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.57

$0.67 PEN 2.26

13.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.34 PEN 28.36

$4.20 PEN 14.28

98.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.22 PEN 34.75

$14.14 PEN 48.07

-27.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 PEN 8.19

$1.30 PEN 4.42

85.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 PEN 8.08

$1.58 PEN 5.39

50.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 PEN 1.81

$0.48 PEN 1.64

10.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.27 PEN 28.12

$27.53 PEN 93.6

-69.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PEN 5.62

$2.60 PEN 8.85

-36.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 PEN 4.24

$1.13 PEN 3.85

10.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.78 PEN 16.26

$4.90 PEN 16.67

-2.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 PEN 5.14

$1.22 PEN 4.15

23.77%

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

$22.5K PEN 76.4K

$23.2K PEN 78.8K

-3.05%

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

$24.0K PEN 81.6K

$22.7K PEN 77.2K

5.60%

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

$46.50 PEN 158

$38.30 PEN 130

21.41%

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

$8.94 PEN 30.38

$14.93 PEN 50.7

-40.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.56 PEN 90.3

$34.67 PEN 118

-23.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.32 PEN 96.3

$32.92 PEN 112

-13.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.41 PEN 66.0

$32.88 PEN 112

-40.97%

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 PEN 15.44

$5.71 PEN 19.41

-20.49%

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

$129 PEN 440

$226 PEN 768

-42.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,152 PEN 14.1K

$3,380 PEN 11.5K

22.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.78 PEN 162

$44.39 PEN 151

7.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.47 PEN 93.4

$36.43 PEN 124

-24.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 PEN 262

$83.0 PEN 282

-7.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.0 PEN 262

$38.88 PEN 132

98.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 PEN 678

$125 PEN 425

59.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.3 PEN 334

$140 PEN 475

-29.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$494 PEN 1,679

$315 PEN 1,072

56.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$292 PEN 993

$367 PEN 1,247

-20.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,326 PEN 7,908

$1,103 PEN 3,748

110.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,059 PEN 3,599

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$696 PEN 2,365

$457 PEN 1,555

52.05%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Chiclayo: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $200 in Cajamarca and $125 in Chiclayo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 52% 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 $208 vs $211 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.

Cajamarca pays 52% more on average, 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: $200 in Cajamarca versus $125 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 233% less than in Chiclayo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $129 in Cajamarca versus $226 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.