😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $636 in Cajamarca versus $612 in Piura.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,084 in Cajamarca versus $1,041 in Piura.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,532 in Cajamarca versus $1,470 in Piura.
😐Living in Cajamarca is roughly 4% more expensive than Piura, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca52% lower, Piura54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cajamarca
Piura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03PEN 10.67
$2.80PEN 9.85
8.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.29PEN 99.6
$11.17PEN 39.32
153.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.67PEN 19.95
$5.61PEN 19.75
1.07%
Cappuccino
$2.91PEN 10.24
$3.26PEN 11.46
-10.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75PEN 2.65
$1.69PEN 5.94
-55.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57PEN 2.02
$0.49PEN 1.71
16.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24PEN 7.89
$2.23PEN 7.86
0.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27PEN 11.53
$2.81PEN 9.88
16.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cajamarca
Piura
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24PEN 4.38
$1.09PEN 3.82
13.76%
White Bread(500g)
$3.07PEN 10.82
$3.00PEN 10.55
2.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.07PEN 3.77
$1.41PEN 4.98
-24.11%
Eggs
$2.16PEN 7.59
$2.04PEN 7.19
5.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.17PEN 21.73
$7.93PEN 27.91
-22.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.71PEN 20.09
$6.91PEN 24.33
-17.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.10PEN 42.60
$9.62PEN 33.88
25.78%
Apples(1kg)
$0.98PEN 3.45
$1.29PEN 4.54
-24.03%
Banana(1kg)
$0.74PEN 2.59
$0.87PEN 3.06
-14.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.90PEN 3.15
$0.84PEN 2.97
7.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.01PEN 3.54
$1.10PEN 3.86
-8.18%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75PEN 2.65
$1.27PEN 4.47
-40.94%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97PEN 3.43
$0.57PEN 2.02
70.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68PEN 2.38
$0.58PEN 2.05
17.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71PEN 2.51
$0.79PEN 2.79
-10.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.41PEN 29.60
$8.27PEN 29.10
1.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.21PEN 35.94
$10.69PEN 37.64
-4.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.52PEN 8.89
$1.77PEN 6.22
42.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37PEN 8.35
$2.70PEN 9.51
-12.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Cajamarca
Piura
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57PEN 2.01
$0.40PEN 1.41
42.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.49PEN 29.87
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.64PEN 5.79
$1.64PEN 5.77
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.20PEN 4.23
$1.67PEN 5.87
-28.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.81PEN 16.95
$5.48PEN 19.28
-12.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.48PEN 5.22
$1.43PEN 5.04
3.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KPEN 79.4K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2KPEN 85.2K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cajamarca
Piura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.55PEN 160
$39.50PEN 139
15.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.22PEN 32.45
$8.56PEN 30.13
7.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.93PEN 94.8
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cajamarca
Piura
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.66PEN 101
$27.98PEN 98.5
2.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.19PEN 67.6
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.52PEN 15.91
$2.27PEN 7.98
99.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cajamarca
Piura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$128PEN 450
$185PEN 651
-30.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,180PEN 14.7K
$2,190PEN 7,708
90.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cajamarca
Piura
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.88PEN 169
$41.63PEN 147
15.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.30PEN 96.1
$12.67PEN 44.58
115.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.3PEN 272
$55.0PEN 193
40.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.0PEN 271
$70.5PEN 248
9.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cajamarca
Piura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$198PEN 696
$139PEN 491
41.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$95.3PEN 336
$126PEN 445
-24.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$499PEN 1,755
$330PEN 1,162
51.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$296PEN 1,042
$389PEN 1,370
-23.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,264PEN 7,971
$3,632PEN 12.8K
-37.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cajamarca
Piura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$708PEN 2,491
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.5
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cajamarca: April 28, 2026
Last update for Piura: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $198 in Cajamarca and $139 in Piura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $28.00 in Cajamarca vs $11.00 in Piura. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $215, with Cajamarca 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 Piura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Piura cheaper than Cajamarca?
Piura is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $954 in Cajamarca and $918 in Piura 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.
What is the rent difference between Cajamarca and Piura?
Rent for a central apartment: $198 in Cajamarca versus $139 in Piura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $128 in Cajamarca versus $185 in Piura. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Cajamarca or Piura?
Dining out is cheaper in Piura – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $28.00 in Cajamarca. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,200 enough for either Cajamarca or Piura?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Piura gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Cajamarca or Piura?
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.
Which city is safer, Cajamarca or Piura?
Safety-wise, Cajamarca and Piura are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Piura 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.