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: $654 in Cajamarca versus $353 in Tacna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,105 in Cajamarca versus $465 in Tacna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,555 in Cajamarca versus $577 in Tacna.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 51% lower, Tacna 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 PEN 10.66

$1.89 PEN 6.41

66.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.99 PEN 95.0

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.99 PEN 20.33

Cappuccino

$2.84 PEN 9.64

$2.48 PEN 8.43

14.52%

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

$0.82 PEN 2.79

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 PEN 1.83

$0.29 PEN 0.99

86.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 PEN 7.76

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 PEN 11.54

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 PEN 4.28

$0.92 PEN 3.12

36.96%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 PEN 10.56

$1.38 PEN 4.68

125.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 PEN 3.54

$0.87 PEN 2.94

19.54%

Eggs

$2.05 PEN 6.97

$1.41 PEN 4.80

45.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.10 PEN 20.72

$4.19 PEN 14.22

45.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.66 PEN 19.23

$3.55 PEN 12.04

59.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.17 PEN 41.31

$8.36 PEN 28.37

45.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.42

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 PEN 2.54

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 PEN 3.01

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.39

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 PEN 2.40

$0.54 PEN 1.84

31.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 PEN 3.32

$0.44 PEN 1.50

122.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 PEN 2.29

$0.29 PEN 0.99

131.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 PEN 2.60

$0.72 PEN 2.46

6.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.12 PEN 27.55

$4.22 PEN 14.32

92.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.25 PEN 34.79

$6.59 PEN 22.36

55.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 PEN 8.29

$2.44 PEN 8.28

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 PEN 7.78

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 PEN 1.86

$0.29 PEN 0.99

89.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.12 PEN 27.56

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.69 PEN 5.75

$1.37 PEN 4.66

23.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 PEN 4.08

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.73 PEN 16.05

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 PEN 4.93

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

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

$9.08 PEN 30.83

$19.64 PEN 66.7

-53.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.76 PEN 90.8

$24.84 PEN 84.3

7.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.45 PEN 96.6

$28.28 PEN 96.0

0.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 PEN 65.2

Cinema Ticket

$4.64 PEN 15.74

$2.46 PEN 8.35

88.62%

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

$130 PEN 442

$56.3 PEN 191

131.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,123 PEN 14.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.73 PEN 165

$19.09 PEN 64.8

155.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.67 PEN 93.9

$19.62 PEN 66.6

41.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 PEN 262

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.7 PEN 264

$25.17 PEN 85.5

208.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PEN 682

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.8 PEN 335

$65.8 PEN 223

50.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 PEN 1,720

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 PEN 995

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,310 PEN 7,842

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$721 PEN 2,449

$462 PEN 1,567

56.25%

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 Tacna: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Cajamarca pays 56% 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.

Average pay runs 56% higher in Cajamarca, 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 68% higher in Cajamarca. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Childcare runs $130 in Cajamarca versus $56.3 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.