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: $636 in Cajamarca versus $350 in Tacna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,084 in Cajamarca versus $458 in Tacna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,532 in Cajamarca versus $567 in Tacna.

Living in Cajamarca is roughly 82% more expensive than Tacna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 52% lower, Tacna 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.03 PEN 10.67

$1.88 PEN 6.63

61.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.29 PEN 99.6

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 PEN 19.95

Cappuccino

$2.91 PEN 10.24

$2.57 PEN 9.06

13.23%

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

$0.75 PEN 2.65

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

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 PEN 11.53

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 PEN 4.38

$0.87 PEN 3.07

42.53%

White Bread (500g)

$3.07 PEN 10.82

$1.36 PEN 4.80

125.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 PEN 3.77

$0.91 PEN 3.20

17.58%

Eggs

$2.16 PEN 7.59

$1.36 PEN 4.80

58.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.17 PEN 21.73

$4.07 PEN 14.33

51.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.71 PEN 20.09

$3.59 PEN 12.65

59.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.10 PEN 42.60

$8.55 PEN 30.10

41.52%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 PEN 3.45

Banana (1kg)

$0.74 PEN 2.59

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 PEN 3.15

Tomato (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.54

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 PEN 2.65

$0.53 PEN 1.88

41.51%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 PEN 3.43

$0.44 PEN 1.54

120.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 PEN 2.38

$0.27 PEN 0.94

151.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 PEN 2.51

$0.71 PEN 2.48

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.41 PEN 29.60

$4.14 PEN 14.58

103.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.21 PEN 35.94

$6.13 PEN 21.59

66.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 PEN 8.89

$2.43 PEN 8.55

3.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 PEN 8.35

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 PEN 2.01

$0.27 PEN 0.95

111.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.49 PEN 29.87

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 PEN 5.79

$1.43 PEN 5.03

14.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.20 PEN 4.23

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.81 PEN 16.95

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 PEN 5.22

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

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

$9.22 PEN 32.45

$19.53 PEN 68.7

-52.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.93 PEN 94.8

$24.59 PEN 86.6

9.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.66 PEN 101

$28.76 PEN 101

-0.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 PEN 67.6

Cinema Ticket

$4.52 PEN 15.91

$2.53 PEN 8.89

78.66%

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

$128 PEN 450

$54.5 PEN 192

134.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,180 PEN 14.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.88 PEN 169

$19.58 PEN 68.9

144.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.30 PEN 96.1

$19.48 PEN 68.6

40.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.3 PEN 272

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.0 PEN 271

$24.75 PEN 87.1

211.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PEN 696

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.3 PEN 336

$67.2 PEN 237

41.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 PEN 1,755

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PEN 1,042

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,264 PEN 7,971

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$708 PEN 2,491

$455 PEN 1,601

55.57%

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 Tacna: April 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 82% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Cajamarca pays 56% 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 70% higher in Cajamarca. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Childcare runs $128 in Cajamarca versus $54.5 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 82% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.