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: $654 in Cajamarca versus $448 in Pucallpa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,105 in Cajamarca versus $754 in Pucallpa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,555 in Cajamarca versus $1,061 in Pucallpa.

Living in Cajamarca is roughly 46% more expensive than in Pucallpa, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 51% lower, Pucallpa 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 PEN 10.66

$2.26 PEN 7.68

38.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.99 PEN 95.0

$10.91 PEN 37.03

156.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.99 PEN 20.33

$4.98 PEN 16.89

20.28%

Cappuccino

$2.84 PEN 9.64

$1.98 PEN 6.73

43.43%

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

$0.82 PEN 2.79

$0.93 PEN 3.16

-11.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 PEN 1.83

$0.29 PEN 1.00

86.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 PEN 7.76

$1.72 PEN 5.82

33.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PEN 11.54

$2.25 PEN 7.62

51.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 PEN 4.28

$1.01 PEN 3.43

24.75%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 PEN 10.56

$3.56 PEN 12.09

-12.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 PEN 3.54

$1.09 PEN 3.68

-4.59%

Eggs

$2.05 PEN 6.97

$1.72 PEN 5.83

19.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.10 PEN 20.72

$1.99 PEN 6.74

206.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.66 PEN 19.23

$3.78 PEN 12.83

49.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.17 PEN 41.31

$3.38 PEN 11.47

260.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.42

$2.27 PEN 7.71

-55.51%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 PEN 2.54

$1.42 PEN 4.81

-47.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 PEN 3.01

$1.42 PEN 4.82

-37.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.39

$2.49 PEN 8.45

-59.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 PEN 2.40

$0.96 PEN 3.25

-26.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 PEN 3.32

$1.90 PEN 6.45

-48.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 PEN 2.29

$0.77 PEN 2.61

-12.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 PEN 2.60

$0.96 PEN 3.24

-19.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.12 PEN 27.55

$4.32 PEN 14.66

87.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.25 PEN 34.79

$7.74 PEN 26.29

32.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 PEN 8.29

$2.17 PEN 7.36

12.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 PEN 7.78

$3.41 PEN 11.58

-32.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 PEN 1.86

$1.09 PEN 3.70

-49.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.12 PEN 27.56

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 PEN 5.75

$1.35 PEN 4.59

25.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 PEN 4.08

$0.52 PEN 1.77

130.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.73 PEN 16.05

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 PEN 4.93

$1.16 PEN 3.95

25.00%

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

$22.3K PEN 75.6K

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

$23.9K PEN 81.0K

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

$45.45 PEN 154

$49.39 PEN 168

-7.98%

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

$9.08 PEN 30.83

$15.11 PEN 51.3

-39.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.76 PEN 90.8

$41.42 PEN 141

-35.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.45 PEN 96.6

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 PEN 65.2

Cinema Ticket

$4.64 PEN 15.74

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

$130 PEN 442

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,123 PEN 14.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.73 PEN 165

$49.77 PEN 169

-2.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.67 PEN 93.9

$33.26 PEN 113

-16.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 PEN 262

$33.57 PEN 114

129.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.7 PEN 264

$62.7 PEN 213

24.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PEN 682

$109 PEN 371

83.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.8 PEN 335

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 PEN 1,720

$226 PEN 769

123.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 PEN 995

$118 PEN 402

147.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,310 PEN 7,842

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$721 PEN 2,449

$419 PEN 1,422

72.19%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Pucallpa: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $201 in Cajamarca and $109 in Pucallpa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 72% 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 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 72% 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: $201 in Cajamarca versus $109 in Pucallpa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% 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 46% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.