Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and La Merced Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and La Merced

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $701 in Cajamarca versus $566 in La Merced.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,192 in Cajamarca versus $926 in La Merced.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,683 in Cajamarca versus $1,286 in La Merced.

Living in Cajamarca is roughly 24% more expensive than in La Merced, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 49% lower, La Merced 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.66 PEN 12.34

$4.49 PEN 15.15

-18.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.95 PEN 101

$35.82 PEN 121

-16.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.01 PEN 20.27

$7.03 PEN 23.73

-14.51%

Cappuccino

$2.63 PEN 8.86

$3.42 PEN 11.53

-23.10%

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

$0.62 PEN 2.10

-8.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 PEN 8.12

$2.71 PEN 9.15

-11.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 PEN 12.39

$4.59 PEN 15.48

-20.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.55

$1.68 PEN 5.67

-19.64%

White Bread (500g)

$3.31 PEN 11.18

$2.06 PEN 6.94

60.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.27

$1.30 PEN 4.40

-2.31%

Eggs

$2.31 PEN 7.78

$2.42 PEN 8.16

-4.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.89 PEN 26.61

$7.50 PEN 25.31

5.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.12 PEN 20.64

$5.96 PEN 20.12

2.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.01 PEN 43.88

$9.09 PEN 30.66

43.12%

Apples (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.76

$1.00 PEN 3.38

11.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 PEN 2.65

$0.47 PEN 1.57

68.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.21 PEN 4.09

$0.31 PEN 1.05

290.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 PEN 3.77

$0.70 PEN 2.38

60.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 PEN 2.72

$0.31 PEN 1.06

161.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.40

$0.47 PEN 1.59

114.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 PEN 2.56

$0.62 PEN 2.09

22.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.57

$0.95 PEN 3.20

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.02 PEN 30.42

$5.94 PEN 20.05

51.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.53 PEN 35.51

$7.64 PEN 25.76

37.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 PEN 8.76

$1.98 PEN 6.68

31.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 PEN 8.57

$3.31 PEN 11.18

-23.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 PEN 1.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.86 PEN 29.89

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PEN 6.16

$4.12 PEN 13.91

-55.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 PEN 4.44

$2.05 PEN 6.93

-35.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.12 PEN 17.29

$7.37 PEN 24.87

-30.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 PEN 5.41

$1.72 PEN 5.81

-6.98%

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

$23.6K PEN 79.7K

$22.3K PEN 75.3K

5.81%

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

$25.8K PEN 87.0K

$25.9K PEN 87.2K

-0.27%

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

$49.68 PEN 168

$70.0 PEN 236

-29.07%

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

$9.48 PEN 32.00

$17.07 PEN 57.6

-44.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.30 PEN 98.9

$28.18 PEN 95.1

3.97%

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

$7.60 PEN 25.64

-36.58%

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

$140 PEN 472

$183 PEN 618

-23.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,389 PEN 14.8K

$13.3K PEN 44.9K

-67.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.3 PEN 176

$54.6 PEN 184

-4.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.27 PEN 102

$35.22 PEN 119

-14.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 PEN 280

$84.8 PEN 286

-2.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.9 PEN 276

$80.7 PEN 272

1.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 PEN 684

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 La Merced: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $30.00 in Cajamarca vs $36.00 in La Merced. Groceries flip the comparison at $231 vs $192, with La Merced 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 La Merced: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

La Merced is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,052 in Cajamarca and $849 in La Merced 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.

Childcare runs $140 in Cajamarca versus $183 in La Merced. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in La Merced – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $30.00 in Cajamarca. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though La Merced 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 La Merced 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 La Merced gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.