Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Moquegua Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Moquegua

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $695 in Cajamarca versus $453 in Moquegua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,177 in Cajamarca versus $751 in Moquegua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,658 in Cajamarca versus $1,050 in Moquegua.

Living in Cajamarca is roughly 53% more expensive than in Moquegua, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 48% lower, Moquegua 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 PEN 12.31

$3.46 PEN 11.93

3.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.96 PEN 99.7

$27.61 PEN 95.1

4.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.95 PEN 20.49

$5.82 PEN 20.03

2.23%

Cappuccino

$2.64 PEN 9.09

$2.56 PEN 8.82

3.13%

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

$0.79 PEN 2.72

$0.82 PEN 2.82

-3.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 PEN 2.12

$0.37 PEN 1.27

67.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 PEN 7.93

$2.16 PEN 7.44

6.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 PEN 12.52

$4.37 PEN 15.05

-16.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 PEN 4.77

$1.33 PEN 4.59

3.76%

White Bread (500g)

$3.27 PEN 11.26

$1.37 PEN 4.73

138.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PEN 4.44

$1.54 PEN 5.31

-16.23%

Eggs

$2.28 PEN 7.86

$2.33 PEN 8.01

-2.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.58 PEN 26.12

$6.24 PEN 21.50

21.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.28 PEN 21.63

$4.63 PEN 15.95

35.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.12 PEN 45.18

$7.37 PEN 25.38

78.02%

Apples (1kg)

$1.06 PEN 3.67

$1.81 PEN 6.22

-41.44%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PEN 2.69

$1.21 PEN 4.17

-35.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 PEN 4.22

$1.20 PEN 4.13

2.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.72

$1.05 PEN 3.63

2.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 PEN 2.53

$0.69 PEN 2.38

7.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.43

$0.69 PEN 2.39

44.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 PEN 2.49

$0.55 PEN 1.89

30.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 PEN 2.57

$0.74 PEN 2.56

1.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.98 PEN 30.93

$5.28 PEN 18.19

70.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.19 PEN 35.09

$5.11 PEN 17.58

99.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.59 PEN 8.93

$2.72 PEN 9.38

-4.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 PEN 8.45

$2.25 PEN 7.75

8.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 PEN 1.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.93 PEN 30.76

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.76 PEN 6.06

$2.05 PEN 7.06

-14.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 PEN 4.57

$2.02 PEN 6.97

-34.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.05 PEN 17.39

$13.02 PEN 44.83

-61.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 PEN 5.22

$1.52 PEN 5.25

-0.66%

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

$23.7K PEN 81.7K

$18.5K PEN 63.8K

28.05%

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

$25.9K PEN 89.1K

$25.2K PEN 86.9K

2.42%

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

$49.76 PEN 171

$23.82 PEN 82.0

108.90%

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

$9.79 PEN 33.73

$10.37 PEN 35.73

-5.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.01 PEN 99.9

$23.27 PEN 80.2

24.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.97 PEN 107

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.52 PEN 70.7

Cinema Ticket

$4.76 PEN 16.39

$7.33 PEN 25.26

-35.06%

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

$137 PEN 473

$74.5 PEN 257

84.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,463 PEN 15.4K

$6,749 PEN 23.2K

-33.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 PEN 178

$48.42 PEN 167

6.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.33 PEN 101

$26.56 PEN 91.5

10.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.8 PEN 278

$68.0 PEN 234

18.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 PEN 279

$58.4 PEN 201

38.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 PEN 684

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$103 PEN 355

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$527 PEN 1,814

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$317 PEN 1,090

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,338 PEN 8,053

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$727 PEN 2,503

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.5

-30.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cajamarca: October 5, 2026

Last update for Moquegua: October 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $29.00 in Cajamarca vs $28.00 in Moquegua for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $229 vs $176 per month, with Moquegua 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 Moquegua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moquegua is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,043 in Cajamarca and $680 in Moquegua 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 $137 in Cajamarca versus $74.5 in Moquegua. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Moquegua – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $29.00 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 Moquegua 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 Moquegua 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 Moquegua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.