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: $701 in Cajamarca versus $453 in Tacna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,192 in Cajamarca versus $653 in Tacna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,683 in Cajamarca versus $853 in Tacna.

Living in Cajamarca is roughly 55% more expensive than in Tacna, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 49% lower, Tacna 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.66 PEN 12.27

$3.05 PEN 10.24

20.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.95 PEN 101

$14.86 PEN 49.88

101.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.01 PEN 20.16

$4.94 PEN 16.59

21.66%

Cappuccino

$2.63 PEN 8.81

$3.49 PEN 11.70

-24.64%

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

$0.81 PEN 2.72

$1.22 PEN 4.11

-33.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 PEN 1.92

$0.46 PEN 1.56

23.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 PEN 8.07

$2.90 PEN 9.74

-16.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 PEN 12.32

$3.56 PEN 11.93

3.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.53

$1.16 PEN 3.88

16.38%

White Bread (500g)

$3.31 PEN 11.12

$1.51 PEN 5.06

119.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.25

$0.87 PEN 2.90

45.98%

Eggs

$2.31 PEN 7.74

$1.75 PEN 5.88

32.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.89 PEN 26.47

$4.49 PEN 15.07

75.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.12 PEN 20.53

$4.69 PEN 15.73

30.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.01 PEN 43.64

$9.14 PEN 30.67

42.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.74

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 PEN 2.64

$1.53 PEN 5.12

-48.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.21 PEN 4.07

$0.85 PEN 2.85

42.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 PEN 3.75

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 PEN 2.71

$0.78 PEN 2.60

3.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 PEN 2.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.56

$0.77 PEN 2.58

-1.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.02 PEN 30.26

$4.56 PEN 15.29

97.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.53 PEN 35.32

$6.49 PEN 21.79

62.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.60 PEN 8.71

$2.69 PEN 9.03

-3.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 PEN 8.53

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 PEN 1.98

$0.29 PEN 0.96

103.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.86 PEN 29.73

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PEN 6.13

$1.95 PEN 6.54

-6.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 PEN 4.41

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.12 PEN 17.20

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 PEN 5.38

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

$23.6K PEN 79.3K

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

$25.8K PEN 86.5K

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

$49.68 PEN 167

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

$9.48 PEN 31.82

$18.95 PEN 63.6

-49.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.30 PEN 98.3

$26.84 PEN 90.1

9.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.19 PEN 105

$29.96 PEN 101

4.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.98 PEN 70.4

Cinema Ticket

$4.82 PEN 16.16

$2.74 PEN 9.20

75.91%

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

$140 PEN 469

$59.2 PEN 199

135.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,389 PEN 14.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.3 PEN 175

$21.06 PEN 70.7

148.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.27 PEN 102

$20.66 PEN 69.3

46.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 PEN 279

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.9 PEN 275

$26.68 PEN 89.5

206.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 PEN 680

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PEN 356

$71.5 PEN 240

48.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$538 PEN 1,804

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 PEN 1,084

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,337 PEN 7,842

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$728 PEN 2,442

$483 PEN 1,620

50.77%

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: September 14, 2026

Last update for Tacna: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Cajamarca pays 51% 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: $30.00 in Cajamarca vs $15.00 in Tacna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $152 per month, with Tacna 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 Tacna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tacna is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 51% higher in Cajamarca, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $140 in Cajamarca versus $59.2 in Tacna. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Tacna – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $30.00 in Cajamarca. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though 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 55% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.