Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Pisco Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Pisco

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $706 in Cajamarca versus $682 in Pisco.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,178 in Cajamarca versus $1,055 in Pisco.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,649 in Cajamarca versus $1,429 in Pisco.

Living in Cajamarca is roughly 4% more expensive than in Pisco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 49% lower, Pisco 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.47 PEN 11.63

$4.49 PEN 15.07

-22.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.10 PEN 101

$32.63 PEN 109

-7.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.04 PEN 20.25

$7.13 PEN 23.89

-15.29%

Cappuccino

$2.74 PEN 9.20

$3.34 PEN 11.21

-17.96%

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

$0.82 PEN 2.75

$1.12 PEN 3.77

-26.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 PEN 2.03

$0.62 PEN 2.07

-1.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 PEN 8.05

$2.75 PEN 9.21

-12.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 PEN 11.76

$4.57 PEN 15.31

-23.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 PEN 4.62

$1.68 PEN 5.62

-17.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 PEN 10.79

$2.33 PEN 7.81

38.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PEN 4.34

$1.27 PEN 4.24

2.36%

Eggs

$2.23 PEN 7.47

$1.37 PEN 4.60

62.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.80 PEN 26.16

$6.49 PEN 21.75

20.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 PEN 21.28

$4.94 PEN 16.55

28.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 PEN 43.42

$6.82 PEN 22.86

89.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 PEN 3.78

$1.37 PEN 4.58

-17.52%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PEN 2.63

$1.01 PEN 3.40

-22.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 PEN 4.31

$1.44 PEN 4.81

-10.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.72

$0.57 PEN 1.92

94.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 PEN 2.51

$0.43 PEN 1.45

74.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 PEN 3.49

$0.86 PEN 2.90

20.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 PEN 2.54

$0.85 PEN 2.83

-10.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.56

$0.87 PEN 2.91

-12.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.76 PEN 29.37

$5.80 PEN 19.45

51.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.28 PEN 34.45

$9.22 PEN 30.92

11.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 PEN 8.75

$1.90 PEN 6.36

37.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 PEN 8.41

$2.48 PEN 8.32

1.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 PEN 2.01

$0.93 PEN 3.13

-35.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.74 PEN 29.29

$35.81 PEN 120

-75.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 PEN 6.11

$3.98 PEN 13.34

-54.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 PEN 4.46

$2.14 PEN 7.17

-37.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.32 PEN 17.83

$7.29 PEN 24.43

-27.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 PEN 5.11

$1.72 PEN 5.76

-11.05%

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

$24.2K PEN 81.1K

$21.8K PEN 73.2K

10.82%

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

$25.8K PEN 86.5K

$25.9K PEN 86.9K

-0.46%

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

$49.37 PEN 166

$45.42 PEN 152

8.70%

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

$9.79 PEN 32.84

$16.85 PEN 56.5

-41.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.16 PEN 97.8

$11.93 PEN 40.00

144.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.10 PEN 101

$20.56 PEN 68.9

46.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.17 PEN 71.0

$8.99 PEN 30.14

135.48%

Cinema Ticket

$4.76 PEN 15.97

$7.32 PEN 24.56

-34.97%

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

$137 PEN 460

$181 PEN 605

-24.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,411 PEN 14.8K

$13.2K PEN 44.1K

-66.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 PEN 177

$54.2 PEN 182

-2.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.83 PEN 100

$13.39 PEN 44.90

122.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 PEN 272

$47.04 PEN 158

72.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.5 PEN 273

$36.00 PEN 121

126.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$206 PEN 689

$164 PEN 551

25.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$105 PEN 353

$132 PEN 444

-20.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$542 PEN 1,816

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 PEN 1,050

$146 PEN 488

115.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,339 PEN 7,842

$1,813 PEN 6,079

29.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,391 PEN 4,663

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$740 PEN 2,480

$584 PEN 1,957

26.71%

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: August 29, 2026

Last update for Pisco: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $206 in Cajamarca and $164 in Pisco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 27% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $30.00 in Cajamarca vs $33.00 in Pisco. Groceries flip the comparison at $230 vs $186, with Pisco 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 Pisco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pisco is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 27% higher in Cajamarca, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $206 in Cajamarca versus $164 in Pisco. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Pisco runs roughly 310% less than in Cajamarca. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $137 in Cajamarca versus $181 in Pisco. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Pisco 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 Pisco 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 Pisco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.