Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Huánuco Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Huánuco

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $649 in Cajamarca versus $109 in Huánuco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,101 in Cajamarca versus $197 in Huánuco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,552 in Cajamarca versus $284 in Huánuco.

Living in Cajamarca is roughly 494% more expensive than in Huánuco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 51% lower, Huánuco 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 PEN 10.62

$3.53 PEN 11.98

-11.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.42 PEN 93.0

$18.02 PEN 61.1

52.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 PEN 19.36

Cappuccino

$2.82 PEN 9.56

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

$0.81 PEN 2.74

$0.79 PEN 2.68

2.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 PEN 1.99

$0.54 PEN 1.84

9.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 PEN 7.34

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 PEN 11.21

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 PEN 4.22

White Bread (500g)

$3.01 PEN 10.20

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 PEN 3.70

Eggs

$2.17 PEN 7.36

$1.57 PEN 5.33

38.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.16 PEN 20.89

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.96 PEN 20.22

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.10 PEN 41.05

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.38

$2.32 PEN 7.86

-56.90%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 PEN 2.35

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PEN 3.05

$0.57 PEN 1.95

57.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.56

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 PEN 2.34

$0.57 PEN 1.94

21.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 PEN 3.22

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 PEN 2.10

$0.29 PEN 0.99

113.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 PEN 2.39

$0.54 PEN 1.85

31.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.10 PEN 27.48

Wine (Bottle)

$10.31 PEN 34.97

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 PEN 8.22

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 PEN 8.12

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 PEN 1.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 PEN 27.71

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.71 PEN 5.80

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 PEN 4.09

$0.56 PEN 1.91

116.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.99 PEN 16.92

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 PEN 5.11

$1.36 PEN 4.61

11.03%

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

$22.5K PEN 76.4K

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

$24.8K PEN 84.1K

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

$46.02 PEN 156

$24.30 PEN 82.4

89.38%

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

$9.05 PEN 30.71

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.71 PEN 90.6

$19.54 PEN 66.3

36.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.68 PEN 97.3

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.78 PEN 67.1

Cinema Ticket

$4.48 PEN 15.20

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

$131 PEN 444

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,137 PEN 14.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.83 PEN 166

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.49 PEN 93.3

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.9 PEN 254

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.7 PEN 264

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 PEN 689

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$97.1 PEN 329

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 PEN 1,685

$193 PEN 655

157.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 PEN 999

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,358 PEN 8,000

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$704 PEN 2,390

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Huánuco: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $27.00 in Cajamarca vs $18.00 in Huánuco for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $30.00 per month, with Huánuco 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 Huánuco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Huánuco is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 494% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $973 in Cajamarca and $164 in Huánuco 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 612% higher in Cajamarca. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Huánuco – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $27.00 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 Huánuco 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 Huánuco 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 Huánuco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 494% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.