Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Trujillo Cost of Living Comparison Between Cajamarca and Trujillo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $691 in Cajamarca versus $881 in Trujillo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,181 in Cajamarca versus $1,351 in Trujillo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,672 in Cajamarca versus $1,820 in Trujillo.

Living in Cajamarca costs roughly 22% less than in Trujillo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cajamarca 50% lower, Trujillo 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.63 PEN 12.16

$3.64 PEN 12.20

-0.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.68 PEN 99.5

$23.92 PEN 80.2

24.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.82 PEN 19.52

$7.30 PEN 24.47

-20.27%

Cappuccino

$2.64 PEN 8.86

$3.41 PEN 11.45

-22.58%

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

$0.81 PEN 2.72

$0.97 PEN 3.26

-16.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 PEN 1.92

$0.63 PEN 2.10

-9.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 PEN 8.08

$2.08 PEN 6.97

15.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 PEN 11.66

$3.67 PEN 12.32

-5.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.52

$1.43 PEN 4.78

-5.59%

White Bread (500g)

$3.24 PEN 10.87

$2.03 PEN 6.80

59.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PEN 4.19

$1.17 PEN 3.92

6.84%

Eggs

$2.20 PEN 7.37

$4.12 PEN 13.80

-46.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.84 PEN 26.28

$8.10 PEN 27.15

-3.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.30 PEN 21.10

$6.70 PEN 22.46

-5.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.12 PEN 43.96

$9.19 PEN 30.79

42.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 PEN 3.59

$1.66 PEN 5.57

-35.54%

Banana (1kg)

$0.74 PEN 2.48

$0.58 PEN 1.95

27.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.22 PEN 4.08

$0.58 PEN 1.96

110.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.62

$0.93 PEN 3.11

16.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 PEN 2.47

$1.00 PEN 3.35

-26.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.39

$1.20 PEN 4.02

-15.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 PEN 2.40

$1.26 PEN 4.23

-42.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 PEN 2.59

$1.11 PEN 3.72

-30.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.67 PEN 29.05

$4.44 PEN 14.89

95.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.54 PEN 35.34

$6.13 PEN 20.54

71.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 PEN 8.94

$1.76 PEN 5.91

51.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 PEN 8.61

$1.66 PEN 5.56

54.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 PEN 1.88

$0.57 PEN 1.92

-1.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.65 PEN 29.00

$17.56 PEN 58.9

-50.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PEN 6.12

$2.47 PEN 8.28

-25.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 PEN 4.65

$2.19 PEN 7.35

-36.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.18 PEN 17.35

$5.84 PEN 19.59

-11.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 PEN 5.35

$1.67 PEN 5.61

-4.19%

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

$23.3K PEN 78.1K

$17.7K PEN 59.2K

31.90%

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

$26.5K PEN 88.8K

$28.8K PEN 96.7K

-8.18%

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

$49.21 PEN 165

$97.4 PEN 327

-49.48%

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

$9.41 PEN 31.54

$13.61 PEN 45.62

-30.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.56 PEN 95.7

$28.49 PEN 95.5

0.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.55 PEN 102

$40.38 PEN 135

-24.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.07 PEN 70.6

$5.98 PEN 20.04

252.34%

Cinema Ticket

$4.79 PEN 16.06

$4.38 PEN 14.68

9.36%

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

$138 PEN 463

$112 PEN 377

22.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,393 PEN 14.7K

$2,130 PEN 7,140

106.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 PEN 173

$75.6 PEN 254

-31.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.19 PEN 97.9

$14.76 PEN 49.47

97.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.3 PEN 273

$47.62 PEN 160

70.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 PEN 269

$45.25 PEN 152

77.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$205 PEN 687

$400 PEN 1,340

-48.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$103 PEN 346

$258 PEN 863

-59.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$532 PEN 1,783

$754 PEN 2,528

-29.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 PEN 1,074

$508 PEN 1,704

-36.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,356 PEN 7,897

$1,172 PEN 3,930

100.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$740 PEN 2,480

$532 PEN 1,783

39.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.5

11.7

-10.26%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cajamarca: September 5, 2026

Last update for Trujillo: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $205 in Cajamarca and $400 in Trujillo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 39% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $30.00 in Cajamarca vs $24.00 in Trujillo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $208 per month, with Trujillo 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 Trujillo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cajamarca is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 39% 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: $205 in Cajamarca versus $400 in Trujillo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Cajamarca runs roughly 103% less than in Trujillo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $138 in Cajamarca versus $112 in Trujillo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Cajamarca 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 Trujillo 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 Cajamarca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Trujillo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.