Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Pucallpa Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Pucallpa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $636 in Cajamarca versus $453 in Pucallpa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,084 in Cajamarca versus $745 in Pucallpa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,532 in Cajamarca versus $1,036 in Pucallpa.

Living in Cajamarca is roughly 40% more expensive than Pucallpa, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 52% lower, Pucallpa 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.03 PEN 10.67

$2.25 PEN 7.91

34.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.29 PEN 99.6

$11.32 PEN 39.83

149.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 PEN 19.95

$5.01 PEN 17.65

13.17%

Cappuccino

$2.91 PEN 10.24

$1.98 PEN 6.96

46.97%

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

$0.75 PEN 2.65

$0.95 PEN 3.33

-21.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 PEN 2.02

$0.27 PEN 0.94

111.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 PEN 7.89

$1.72 PEN 6.05

30.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 PEN 11.53

$2.27 PEN 7.99

44.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 PEN 4.38

$0.98 PEN 3.46

26.53%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 PEN 10.82

$3.56 PEN 12.54

-13.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 PEN 3.77

$1.08 PEN 3.80

-0.93%

Eggs

$2.16 PEN 7.59

$1.65 PEN 5.81

30.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.17 PEN 21.73

$1.89 PEN 6.65

226.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.71 PEN 20.09

$3.98 PEN 14.01

43.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.10 PEN 42.60

$3.41 PEN 12.01

254.84%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 PEN 3.45

$2.18 PEN 7.66

-55.05%

Banana (1kg)

$0.74 PEN 2.59

$1.41 PEN 4.98

-47.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PEN 3.15

$1.42 PEN 5.01

-36.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.54

$2.45 PEN 8.64

-58.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 PEN 2.65

$0.95 PEN 3.34

-21.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 PEN 3.43

$1.90 PEN 6.67

-48.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 PEN 2.38

$0.76 PEN 2.67

-10.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 PEN 2.51

$0.94 PEN 3.30

-24.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.41 PEN 29.60

$4.38 PEN 15.42

92.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.21 PEN 35.94

$7.70 PEN 27.11

32.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 PEN 8.89

$2.26 PEN 7.94

11.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 PEN 8.35

$3.35 PEN 11.79

-29.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 PEN 2.01

$1.13 PEN 3.98

-49.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.49 PEN 29.87

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 PEN 5.79

$1.35 PEN 4.77

21.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 PEN 4.23

$0.52 PEN 1.82

130.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.81 PEN 16.95

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 PEN 5.22

$1.18 PEN 4.14

25.42%

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

$22.5K PEN 79.4K

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

$24.2K PEN 85.2K

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

$45.55 PEN 160

$49.63 PEN 175

-8.22%

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

$9.22 PEN 32.45

$15.10 PEN 53.2

-38.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.93 PEN 94.8

$41.63 PEN 147

-35.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.66 PEN 101

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 PEN 67.6

Cinema Ticket

$4.52 PEN 15.91

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

$128 PEN 450

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,180 PEN 14.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.88 PEN 169

$50.8 PEN 179

-5.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.30 PEN 96.1

$33.11 PEN 117

-17.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.3 PEN 272

$33.65 PEN 118

129.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.0 PEN 271

$63.7 PEN 224

20.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PEN 696

$111 PEN 392

77.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.3 PEN 336

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 PEN 1,755

$222 PEN 781

124.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PEN 1,042

$119 PEN 419

149.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,264 PEN 7,971

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$708 PEN 2,491

$405 PEN 1,426

74.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.5

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

Last update for Cajamarca: April 28, 2026

Last update for Pucallpa: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $198 in Cajamarca and $111 in Pucallpa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 75% 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: $28.00 in Cajamarca vs $11.00 in Pucallpa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $184 per month, with Pucallpa 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 Pucallpa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pucallpa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Cajamarca pays 75% more on average, 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: $198 in Cajamarca versus $111 in Pucallpa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Cajamarca. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Pucallpa – 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.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Pucallpa 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 Pucallpa 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 Pucallpa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.