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: $701 in Cajamarca versus $501 in Huancayo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,192 in Cajamarca versus $850 in Huancayo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,683 in Cajamarca versus $1,199 in Huancayo.

Living in Cajamarca is roughly 40% more expensive than in Huancayo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 49% lower, Huancayo 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.66 PEN 12.34

$2.40 PEN 8.10

52.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.95 PEN 101

$35.30 PEN 119

-15.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.01 PEN 20.27

$7.09 PEN 23.92

-15.23%

Cappuccino

$2.63 PEN 8.86

$3.31 PEN 11.15

-20.54%

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

$0.81 PEN 2.74

$1.14 PEN 3.86

-28.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 PEN 1.93

$0.63 PEN 2.14

-9.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 PEN 8.12

$2.65 PEN 8.92

-9.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 PEN 12.39

$4.43 PEN 14.95

-17.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.55

$1.21 PEN 4.08

11.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.31 PEN 11.18

$1.05 PEN 3.56

215.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.27

$1.33 PEN 4.49

-4.51%

Eggs

$2.31 PEN 7.78

$2.52 PEN 8.49

-8.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.89 PEN 26.61

$5.23 PEN 17.63

50.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.12 PEN 20.64

$6.06 PEN 20.45

0.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.01 PEN 43.88

$5.22 PEN 17.61

149.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.76

$1.50 PEN 5.07

-26.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 PEN 2.65

$1.06 PEN 3.59

-25.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.21 PEN 4.09

$0.59 PEN 1.99

105.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 PEN 3.77

$1.16 PEN 3.90

-3.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 PEN 2.72

$0.86 PEN 2.92

-5.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.40

$0.86 PEN 2.90

17.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 PEN 2.56

$0.57 PEN 1.93

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.57

$0.86 PEN 2.90

-11.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.02 PEN 30.42

$6.02 PEN 20.31

49.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.53 PEN 35.51

$5.40 PEN 18.22

95.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 PEN 8.76

$1.94 PEN 6.53

34.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 PEN 8.57

$3.33 PEN 11.24

-23.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 PEN 1.99

$0.62 PEN 2.08

-4.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.86 PEN 29.89

$17.78 PEN 60.0

-50.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PEN 6.16

$1.90 PEN 6.39

-3.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 PEN 4.44

$2.11 PEN 7.13

-37.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.12 PEN 17.29

$7.38 PEN 24.88

-30.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 PEN 5.41

$1.47 PEN 4.95

8.84%

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

$23.6K PEN 79.7K

$22.1K PEN 74.7K

6.74%

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

$25.8K PEN 87.0K

$26.3K PEN 88.6K

-1.83%

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

$49.68 PEN 168

$35.07 PEN 118

41.66%

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

$9.48 PEN 32.00

$11.94 PEN 40.29

-20.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.30 PEN 98.9

$11.97 PEN 40.37

144.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.19 PEN 105

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.98 PEN 70.8

Cinema Ticket

$4.82 PEN 16.25

$7.32 PEN 24.69

-34.15%

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

$140 PEN 472

$180 PEN 607

-22.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,389 PEN 14.8K

$13.2K PEN 44.7K

-66.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.3 PEN 176

$53.9 PEN 182

-2.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.27 PEN 102

$36.45 PEN 123

-16.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 PEN 280

$87.0 PEN 294

-4.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.9 PEN 276

$81.6 PEN 275

0.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 PEN 684

$332 PEN 1,119

-38.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PEN 358

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$538 PEN 1,813

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 PEN 1,090

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,337 PEN 7,884

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$728 PEN 2,455

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.5

8.94

17.45%

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

Last update for Cajamarca: September 14, 2026

Last update for Huancayo: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $203 in Cajamarca and $332 in Huancayo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $30.00 in Cajamarca vs $35.00 in Huancayo. Groceries flip the comparison at $231 vs $166, 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, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,052 in Cajamarca and $752 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: $203 in Cajamarca versus $332 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 101% less than in Cajamarca. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $140 in Cajamarca versus $180 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 40% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.