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: $655 in Cajamarca versus $464 in Huancayo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,101 in Cajamarca versus $805 in Huancayo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,547 in Cajamarca versus $1,147 in Huancayo.

Living in Cajamarca is roughly 41% more expensive than Huancayo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 51% lower, Huancayo 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 PEN 10.69

$2.20 PEN 7.49

42.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.17 PEN 95.8

$33.19 PEN 113

-15.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.98 PEN 20.34

$6.95 PEN 23.63

-13.96%

Cappuccino

$2.90 PEN 9.86

$2.68 PEN 9.09

8.21%

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

$0.80 PEN 2.73

$0.96 PEN 3.27

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 PEN 1.84

$0.62 PEN 2.10

-12.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 PEN 7.66

$2.29 PEN 7.77

-1.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 PEN 11.21

$3.86 PEN 13.11

-14.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 PEN 4.22

$1.08 PEN 3.68

14.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.98 PEN 10.13

$0.96 PEN 3.26

210.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.56

$1.35 PEN 4.60

-22.22%

Eggs

$2.10 PEN 7.13

$2.29 PEN 7.80

-8.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.14 PEN 20.89

$4.96 PEN 16.85

23.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.78 PEN 19.64

$5.61 PEN 19.08

3.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.07 PEN 41.03

$4.92 PEN 16.73

145.33%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 PEN 3.11

$1.38 PEN 4.68

-33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$0.71 PEN 2.41

$1.08 PEN 3.68

-34.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 PEN 2.83

$0.55 PEN 1.87

50.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.40

$1.13 PEN 3.84

-11.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 PEN 2.53

$0.80 PEN 2.72

-7.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 PEN 3.12

$0.81 PEN 2.76

13.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 PEN 2.15

$0.53 PEN 1.82

18.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.57

$0.85 PEN 2.88

-10.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.34 PEN 28.36

$5.65 PEN 19.22

47.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.22 PEN 34.75

$5.26 PEN 17.87

94.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 PEN 8.19

$1.70 PEN 5.79

41.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 PEN 8.08

$2.99 PEN 10.18

-20.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 PEN 1.81

$0.55 PEN 1.85

-3.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.27 PEN 28.12

$16.41 PEN 55.8

-49.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PEN 5.62

$1.78 PEN 6.04

-7.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 PEN 4.24

$2.12 PEN 7.21

-41.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.78 PEN 16.26

$8.14 PEN 27.68

-41.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 PEN 5.14

$1.31 PEN 4.44

15.27%

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

$22.5K PEN 76.4K

$19.2K PEN 65.4K

16.71%

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

$24.0K PEN 81.6K

$24.2K PEN 82.2K

-0.78%

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

$46.50 PEN 158

$32.96 PEN 112

41.08%

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

$8.94 PEN 30.38

$11.28 PEN 38.34

-20.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.56 PEN 90.3

$11.14 PEN 37.89

138.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.32 PEN 96.3

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.41 PEN 66.0

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 PEN 15.44

$6.83 PEN 23.22

-33.53%

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

$129 PEN 440

$223 PEN 757

-41.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,152 PEN 14.1K

$7,924 PEN 26.9K

-47.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.78 PEN 162

$49.24 PEN 167

-2.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.47 PEN 93.4

$36.00 PEN 122

-23.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 PEN 262

$88.9 PEN 302

-13.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.0 PEN 262

$89.4 PEN 304

-13.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 PEN 678

$310 PEN 1,055

-35.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.3 PEN 334

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$494 PEN 1,679

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$292 PEN 993

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,326 PEN 7,908

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$696 PEN 2,365

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Huancayo: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $200 in Cajamarca and $310 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 $208 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 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $983 in Cajamarca and $695 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: $200 in Cajamarca versus $310 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 $129 in Cajamarca versus $223 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 41% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.