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: $636 in Cajamarca versus $464 in Huancayo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,084 in Cajamarca versus $798 in Huancayo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,532 in Cajamarca versus $1,132 in Huancayo.

Living in Cajamarca is roughly 37% more expensive than Huancayo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 52% lower, Huancayo 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.03 PEN 10.67

$2.19 PEN 7.69

38.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.29 PEN 99.6

$33.34 PEN 117

-15.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 PEN 19.95

$7.00 PEN 24.63

-19.00%

Cappuccino

$2.91 PEN 10.24

$2.59 PEN 9.10

12.36%

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

$0.75 PEN 2.65

$0.93 PEN 3.29

-19.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 PEN 2.02

$0.60 PEN 2.13

-5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 PEN 7.89

$2.20 PEN 7.74

1.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 PEN 11.53

$3.78 PEN 13.31

-13.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 PEN 4.38

$1.13 PEN 3.98

9.73%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 PEN 10.82

$0.94 PEN 3.30

226.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 PEN 3.77

$1.30 PEN 4.57

-17.69%

Eggs

$2.16 PEN 7.59

$2.31 PEN 8.14

-6.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.17 PEN 21.73

$5.04 PEN 17.75

22.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.71 PEN 20.09

$5.40 PEN 19.01

5.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.10 PEN 42.60

$5.07 PEN 17.85

138.66%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 PEN 3.45

$1.42 PEN 4.99

-30.99%

Banana (1kg)

$0.74 PEN 2.59

$1.13 PEN 3.96

-34.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PEN 3.15

$0.53 PEN 1.88

69.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.54

$1.09 PEN 3.83

-7.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 PEN 2.65

$0.80 PEN 2.80

-6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 PEN 3.43

$0.81 PEN 2.84

19.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 PEN 2.38

$0.58 PEN 2.05

17.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 PEN 2.51

$0.80 PEN 2.81

-11.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.41 PEN 29.60

$5.71 PEN 20.09

47.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.21 PEN 35.94

$5.25 PEN 18.50

94.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 PEN 8.89

$1.72 PEN 6.04

46.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 PEN 8.35

$3.03 PEN 10.68

-21.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 PEN 2.01

$0.58 PEN 2.05

-1.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.49 PEN 29.87

$16.80 PEN 59.1

-49.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 PEN 5.79

$1.80 PEN 6.33

-8.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 PEN 4.23

$2.19 PEN 7.72

-45.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.81 PEN 16.95

$8.25 PEN 29.05

-41.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 PEN 5.22

$1.30 PEN 4.58

13.85%

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

$22.5K PEN 79.4K

$19.5K PEN 68.8K

15.31%

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

$24.2K PEN 85.2K

$24.2K PEN 85.1K

0.09%

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

$45.55 PEN 160

$33.11 PEN 117

37.57%

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

$9.22 PEN 32.45

$10.93 PEN 38.48

-15.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.93 PEN 94.8

$11.01 PEN 38.76

144.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.66 PEN 101

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 PEN 67.6

Cinema Ticket

$4.52 PEN 15.91

$7.01 PEN 24.68

-35.52%

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

$128 PEN 450

$217 PEN 764

-41.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,180 PEN 14.7K

$8,091 PEN 28.5K

-48.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.88 PEN 169

$50.9 PEN 179

-5.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.30 PEN 96.1

$35.46 PEN 125

-23.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.3 PEN 272

$88.9 PEN 313

-13.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.0 PEN 271

$90.6 PEN 319

-14.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PEN 696

$309 PEN 1,089

-36.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.3 PEN 336

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 PEN 1,755

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PEN 1,042

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,264 PEN 7,971

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$708 PEN 2,491

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Huancayo: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $198 in Cajamarca and $309 in Huancayo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $28.00 in Cajamarca vs $33.00 in Huancayo. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $155, 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 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $954 in Cajamarca and $696 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: $198 in Cajamarca versus $309 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 98% less than in Cajamarca. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $128 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 37% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.