Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Cusco Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Cusco

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $706 in Cajamarca versus $699 in Cusco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,178 in Cajamarca versus $1,042 in Cusco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,649 in Cajamarca versus $1,385 in Cusco.

Living in Cajamarca is roughly 1% more expensive than in Cusco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 49% lower, Cusco 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.47 PEN 11.66

$2.51 PEN 8.44

38.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.10 PEN 101

$20.88 PEN 70.2

44.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.04 PEN 20.32

$6.44 PEN 21.64

-6.21%

Cappuccino

$2.74 PEN 9.22

$2.23 PEN 7.50

22.87%

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

$0.82 PEN 2.76

$0.80 PEN 2.70

2.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 PEN 2.04

$0.34 PEN 1.14

79.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 PEN 8.08

$2.03 PEN 6.82

18.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 PEN 11.80

$4.33 PEN 14.58

-18.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 PEN 4.64

$1.33 PEN 4.48

3.76%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 PEN 10.82

$2.37 PEN 7.98

35.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PEN 4.36

$1.31 PEN 4.42

-0.76%

Eggs

$2.23 PEN 7.50

$3.61 PEN 12.13

-38.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.80 PEN 26.24

$4.77 PEN 16.03

63.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 PEN 21.34

$4.36 PEN 14.68

45.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 PEN 43.55

$7.32 PEN 24.62

76.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 PEN 3.79

$2.64 PEN 8.89

-57.20%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PEN 2.64

$0.80 PEN 2.68

-2.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 PEN 4.33

$1.47 PEN 4.96

-12.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.74

$0.88 PEN 2.94

26.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 PEN 2.52

$1.06 PEN 3.56

-29.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 PEN 3.50

$1.08 PEN 3.63

-3.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 PEN 2.55

$0.54 PEN 1.83

40.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.57

$0.71 PEN 2.39

7.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.76 PEN 29.46

Wine (Bottle)

$10.28 PEN 34.56

$6.03 PEN 20.27

70.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 PEN 8.78

$1.97 PEN 6.62

32.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 PEN 8.43

$4.26 PEN 14.34

-41.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 PEN 2.02

$0.31 PEN 1.05

93.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.74 PEN 29.38

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PEN 6.13

$1.83 PEN 6.15

-0.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 PEN 4.48

$1.88 PEN 6.33

-29.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.32 PEN 17.88

$2.94 PEN 9.89

80.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 PEN 5.13

$1.56 PEN 5.24

-1.92%

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

$24.2K PEN 81.4K

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

$25.8K PEN 86.8K

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

$49.37 PEN 166

$29.75 PEN 100

65.95%

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

$9.79 PEN 32.94

$14.73 PEN 49.56

-33.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.16 PEN 98.1

$44.70 PEN 150

-34.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.10 PEN 101

$35.37 PEN 119

-14.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.17 PEN 71.2

Cinema Ticket

$4.76 PEN 16.02

$4.39 PEN 14.78

8.43%

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

$137 PEN 461

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,411 PEN 14.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 PEN 177

$39.00 PEN 131

35.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.83 PEN 100

$33.68 PEN 113

-11.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 PEN 273

$54.7 PEN 184

48.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.5 PEN 274

$75.0 PEN 252

8.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$206 PEN 691

$151 PEN 509

35.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 PEN 354

$180 PEN 605

-41.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$542 PEN 1,822

$363 PEN 1,221

49.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 PEN 1,053

$267 PEN 898

17.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,339 PEN 7,866

$3,955 PEN 13.3K

-40.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,776 PEN 5,972

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$740 PEN 2,487

$433 PEN 1,455

70.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.5

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

Last update for Cajamarca: August 29, 2026

Last update for Cusco: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $206 in Cajamarca and $151 in Cusco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 71% 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 $21.00 in Cusco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $190 per month, with Cusco 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 Cusco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cusco is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 71% 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: $206 in Cajamarca versus $151 in Cusco. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Cajamarca. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Cusco – a meal for two runs $21.00 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 Cusco gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Cusco is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cajamarca, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Cajamarca and Cusco 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 Cusco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.