Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Tacna Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Tacna

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $655 in Cajamarca versus $354 in Tacna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,101 in Cajamarca versus $465 in Tacna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,547 in Cajamarca versus $576 in Tacna.

Living in Cajamarca is roughly 85% more expensive than Tacna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 51% lower, Tacna 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 PEN 10.69

$1.99 PEN 6.75

57.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.17 PEN 95.8

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.98 PEN 20.34

Cappuccino

$2.90 PEN 9.86

$2.51 PEN 8.54

15.54%

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

$0.80 PEN 2.73

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 PEN 1.84

$0.27 PEN 0.91

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 PEN 7.66

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 PEN 11.21

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 PEN 4.22

$0.87 PEN 2.95

42.53%

White Bread (500g)

$2.98 PEN 10.13

$1.35 PEN 4.59

120.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.56

$0.87 PEN 2.97

20.69%

Eggs

$2.10 PEN 7.13

$1.42 PEN 4.82

47.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.14 PEN 20.89

$4.27 PEN 14.51

43.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.78 PEN 19.64

$3.64 PEN 12.38

58.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.07 PEN 41.03

$8.49 PEN 28.87

42.17%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 PEN 3.11

Banana (1kg)

$0.71 PEN 2.41

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 PEN 2.83

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.40

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 PEN 2.53

$0.57 PEN 1.94

29.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 PEN 3.12

$0.40 PEN 1.36

130.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 PEN 2.15

$0.27 PEN 0.91

133.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.57

$0.71 PEN 2.41

7.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.34 PEN 28.36

$4.27 PEN 14.52

95.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.22 PEN 34.75

$6.29 PEN 21.37

62.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 PEN 8.19

$2.51 PEN 8.55

-3.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 PEN 8.08

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 PEN 1.81

$0.29 PEN 0.99

82.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.27 PEN 28.12

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PEN 5.62

$1.42 PEN 4.81

16.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 PEN 4.24

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.78 PEN 16.26

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 PEN 5.14

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

$22.5K PEN 76.4K

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

$24.0K PEN 81.6K

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

$46.50 PEN 158

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

$8.94 PEN 30.38

$19.20 PEN 65.3

-53.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.56 PEN 90.3

$24.89 PEN 84.6

6.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.32 PEN 96.3

$28.24 PEN 96.0

0.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.41 PEN 66.0

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 PEN 15.44

$2.53 PEN 8.59

79.45%

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

$129 PEN 440

$55.7 PEN 189

132.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,152 PEN 14.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.78 PEN 162

$19.54 PEN 66.4

144.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.47 PEN 93.4

$19.17 PEN 65.2

43.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 PEN 262

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.0 PEN 262

$25.10 PEN 85.4

206.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 PEN 678

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.3 PEN 334

$65.4 PEN 222

50.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$494 PEN 1,679

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$292 PEN 993

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,326 PEN 7,908

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$696 PEN 2,365

$466 PEN 1,586

49.14%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Tacna: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Cajamarca pays 49% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Tacna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tacna is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 85% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Cajamarca pays 49% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 67% higher in Cajamarca. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Childcare runs $129 in Cajamarca versus $55.7 in Tacna. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Tacna 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 Tacna 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 Tacna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 85% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.