Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Huancayo Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Huancayo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $654 in Cajamarca versus $469 in Huancayo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,105 in Cajamarca versus $789 in Huancayo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,555 in Cajamarca versus $1,109 in Huancayo.

Living in Cajamarca is roughly 39% more expensive than in Huancayo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 51% lower, Huancayo 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 PEN 10.66

$2.15 PEN 7.31

46.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.99 PEN 95.0

$33.78 PEN 115

-17.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.99 PEN 20.33

$6.84 PEN 23.21

-12.43%

Cappuccino

$2.84 PEN 9.64

$2.56 PEN 8.70

10.94%

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

$0.82 PEN 2.79

$0.96 PEN 3.28

-14.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 PEN 1.83

$0.61 PEN 2.09

-11.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 PEN 7.76

$2.16 PEN 7.34

6.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PEN 11.54

$3.98 PEN 13.53

-14.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 PEN 4.28

$1.14 PEN 3.87

10.53%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 PEN 10.56

$0.93 PEN 3.14

234.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 PEN 3.54

$1.29 PEN 4.40

-19.38%

Eggs

$2.05 PEN 6.97

$2.40 PEN 8.14

-14.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.10 PEN 20.72

$5.10 PEN 17.32

19.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.66 PEN 19.23

$5.46 PEN 18.53

3.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.17 PEN 41.31

$5.04 PEN 17.11

141.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.42

$1.42 PEN 4.82

-28.87%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 PEN 2.54

$1.11 PEN 3.78

-32.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 PEN 3.01

$0.55 PEN 1.85

61.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.39

$1.09 PEN 3.69

-8.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 PEN 2.40

$0.87 PEN 2.94

-18.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 PEN 3.32

$0.87 PEN 2.94

12.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 PEN 2.29

$0.58 PEN 1.96

15.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 PEN 2.60

$0.82 PEN 2.77

-6.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.12 PEN 27.55

$5.64 PEN 19.15

43.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.25 PEN 34.79

$5.19 PEN 17.61

97.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 PEN 8.29

$1.77 PEN 6.01

37.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 PEN 7.78

$3.06 PEN 10.40

-25.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 PEN 1.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.12 PEN 27.56

$16.47 PEN 55.9

-50.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 PEN 5.75

$1.83 PEN 6.20

-7.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 PEN 4.08

$2.16 PEN 7.32

-44.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.73 PEN 16.05

$8.10 PEN 27.50

-41.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 PEN 4.93

$1.35 PEN 4.57

7.41%

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

$22.3K PEN 75.6K

$19.7K PEN 66.8K

13.22%

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

$23.9K PEN 81.0K

$24.4K PEN 82.9K

-2.29%

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

$45.45 PEN 154

$33.87 PEN 115

34.19%

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

$9.08 PEN 30.83

$11.27 PEN 38.25

-19.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.76 PEN 90.8

$11.16 PEN 37.87

139.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.45 PEN 96.6

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 PEN 65.2

Cinema Ticket

$4.64 PEN 15.74

$7.03 PEN 23.88

-34.00%

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

$130 PEN 442

$217 PEN 738

-40.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,123 PEN 14.0K

$7,902 PEN 26.8K

-47.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.73 PEN 165

$50.8 PEN 172

-3.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.67 PEN 93.9

$35.56 PEN 121

-22.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 PEN 262

$89.7 PEN 305

-13.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.7 PEN 264

$88.5 PEN 301

-12.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PEN 682

$300 PEN 1,018

-33.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.8 PEN 335

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 PEN 1,720

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 PEN 995

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,310 PEN 7,842

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$721 PEN 2,449

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.5

10.11

3.86%

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

Last update for Cajamarca: July 27, 2026

Last update for Huancayo: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $201 in Cajamarca and $300 in Huancayo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $28.00 in Cajamarca vs $34.00 in Huancayo. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $156, with Huancayo cheaper for home cooking.

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 Huancayo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Huancayo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $982 in Cajamarca and $704 in Huancayo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $201 in Cajamarca versus $300 in Huancayo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Huancayo runs roughly 103% less than in Cajamarca. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $130 in Cajamarca versus $217 in Huancayo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Huancayo 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 Huancayo 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 Huancayo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.