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: $649 in Cajamarca versus $525 in La Merced.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,098 in Cajamarca versus $874 in La Merced.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,547 in Cajamarca versus $1,223 in La Merced.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 52% lower, La Merced 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.00 PEN 10.20

$4.28 PEN 14.54

-29.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.12 PEN 95.7

$32.88 PEN 112

-14.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 PEN 19.90

$6.91 PEN 23.49

-15.34%

Cappuccino

$2.93 PEN 9.96

$2.65 PEN 9.00

10.57%

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

$0.75 PEN 2.56

$0.92 PEN 3.14

-18.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 PEN 2.00

$0.61 PEN 2.08

-3.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 PEN 7.41

$2.16 PEN 7.33

0.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 PEN 10.99

$3.99 PEN 13.57

-19.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 PEN 4.22

$1.43 PEN 4.86

-13.29%

White Bread (500g)

$3.12 PEN 10.60

$1.93 PEN 6.55

61.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 PEN 3.71

$1.26 PEN 4.30

-13.49%

Eggs

$2.17 PEN 7.39

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.15 PEN 20.93

$6.81 PEN 23.18

-9.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.85 PEN 19.89

$5.46 PEN 18.57

7.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.02 PEN 40.88

$8.25 PEN 28.06

45.70%

Apples (1kg)

$0.93 PEN 3.15

$0.90 PEN 3.06

3.33%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 PEN 2.56

$0.40 PEN 1.36

87.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 PEN 2.83

$0.29 PEN 0.99

186.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.58

$0.71 PEN 2.42

47.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 PEN 2.33

$0.29 PEN 1.00

134.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 PEN 3.20

$0.41 PEN 1.38

129.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 PEN 2.12

$0.58 PEN 1.97

6.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 PEN 2.45

$0.92 PEN 3.14

-21.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.23 PEN 28.00

$5.69 PEN 19.37

44.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 PEN 34.69

$7.23 PEN 24.60

41.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 PEN 8.52

$1.71 PEN 5.81

46.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PEN 7.99

$2.92 PEN 9.94

-19.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 PEN 2.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 PEN 27.58

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 PEN 5.59

$3.37 PEN 11.48

-51.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.22 PEN 4.14

$2.23 PEN 7.57

-45.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.90 PEN 16.68

$8.48 PEN 28.86

-42.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 PEN 5.12

$1.29 PEN 4.40

16.28%

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

$21.8K PEN 74.1K

$19.3K PEN 65.6K

12.97%

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

$23.8K PEN 81.0K

$24.4K PEN 83.0K

-2.34%

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

$46.05 PEN 157

$57.0 PEN 194

-19.24%

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

$9.02 PEN 30.68

$12.81 PEN 43.59

-29.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.75 PEN 91.0

$24.02 PEN 81.7

11.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.61 PEN 97.4

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.22 PEN 65.4

Cinema Ticket

$4.68 PEN 15.92

$6.78 PEN 23.08

-30.97%

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

$128 PEN 435

$217 PEN 737

-40.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,117 PEN 14.0K

$8,005 PEN 27.2K

-48.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.44 PEN 165

$49.58 PEN 169

-2.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.69 PEN 94.2

$35.87 PEN 122

-22.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.4 PEN 256

$92.1 PEN 313

-18.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.0 PEN 262

$88.6 PEN 301

-13.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 PEN 687

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$97.3 PEN 331

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$502 PEN 1,707

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$292 PEN 992

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,356 PEN 8,017

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$707 PEN 2,407

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for La Merced: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $28.00 in Cajamarca vs $33.00 in La Merced. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $175, 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 $973 in Cajamarca and $788 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 $128 in Cajamarca versus $217 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 $33.00 versus $28.00 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.