Cost of Living Comparison Between Cerro de Pasco and Cajamarca Cost of Living Comparison Between Cerro de Pasco and Cajamarca

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $515 in Cerro de Pasco versus $636 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $852 in Cerro de Pasco versus $1,084 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,189 in Cerro de Pasco versus $1,532 in Cajamarca.

Living in Cerro de Pasco costs roughly 19% less than in Cajamarca, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cerro de Pasco 62% lower, Cajamarca 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.76 PEN 9.70

$3.03 PEN 10.64

-8.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.58 PEN 96.8

$28.29 PEN 99.3

-2.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.12 PEN 25.00

$5.67 PEN 19.90

25.57%

Cappuccino

$1.92 PEN 6.74

$2.91 PEN 10.21

-34.02%

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

$0.71 PEN 2.49

$0.75 PEN 2.64

-5.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 PEN 1.40

$0.57 PEN 2.01

-29.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 PEN 7.90

$2.24 PEN 7.87

0.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 PEN 13.62

$3.27 PEN 11.49

18.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 PEN 4.99

$1.24 PEN 4.36

14.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.19 PEN 7.69

$3.07 PEN 10.79

-28.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PEN 4.35

$1.07 PEN 3.76

15.89%

Eggs

$2.30 PEN 8.06

$2.16 PEN 7.57

6.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 PEN 27.42

$6.17 PEN 21.67

26.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.68 PEN 19.94

$5.71 PEN 20.04

-0.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.76 PEN 27.23

$12.10 PEN 42.48

-35.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 PEN 7.26

$0.98 PEN 3.44

111.22%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 PEN 2.35

$0.74 PEN 2.58

-9.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.40 PEN 1.41

$0.90 PEN 3.14

-55.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 PEN 4.01

$1.01 PEN 3.53

12.87%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 PEN 2.50

$0.75 PEN 2.64

-5.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PEN 1.79

$0.97 PEN 3.42

-47.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 PEN 2.84

$0.68 PEN 2.37

19.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 PEN 2.95

$0.71 PEN 2.50

18.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.65 PEN 19.84

$8.41 PEN 29.52

-32.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.08 PEN 24.85

$10.21 PEN 35.83

-30.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 PEN 6.19

$2.52 PEN 8.86

-30.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 PEN 8.69

$2.37 PEN 8.32

4.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 PEN 2.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.49 PEN 29.78

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 PEN 12.02

$1.64 PEN 5.77

108.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 PEN 7.42

$1.20 PEN 4.22

75.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.08 PEN 28.37

$4.81 PEN 16.90

67.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 PEN 4.76

$1.48 PEN 5.20

-8.11%

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

$19.7K PEN 69.2K

$22.5K PEN 79.1K

-12.59%

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

$24.5K PEN 86.1K

$24.2K PEN 85.0K

1.32%

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

$56.8 PEN 199

$45.55 PEN 160

24.70%

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

$12.63 PEN 44.34

$9.22 PEN 32.36

36.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.62 PEN 82.9

$26.93 PEN 94.5

-12.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.66 PEN 101

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 PEN 67.4

Cinema Ticket

$6.83 PEN 23.97

$4.52 PEN 15.86

51.11%

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

$216 PEN 760

$128 PEN 449

69.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,926 PEN 27.8K

$4,180 PEN 14.7K

89.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.94 PEN 175

$47.88 PEN 168

4.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 PEN 128

$27.30 PEN 95.8

33.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.8 PEN 315

$77.3 PEN 271

16.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.9 PEN 315

$77.0 PEN 270

16.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PEN 694

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.3 PEN 335

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 PEN 1,371

$499 PEN 1,750

-21.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PEN 1,039

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,264 PEN 7,948

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$460 PEN 1,613

$708 PEN 2,484

-35.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.11

10.5

-3.71%

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

Last update for Cerro de Pasco: April 26, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Cajamarca pays 54% 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: $28.00 in Cerro de Pasco vs $28.00 in Cajamarca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $211 per month, with Cerro de Pasco 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

Cerro de Pasco vs Cajamarca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cerro de Pasco is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Cajamarca earns 54% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $216 in Cerro de Pasco versus $128 in Cajamarca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Cerro de Pasco – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $28.00 in Cajamarca. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Cerro de Pasco 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, Cerro de Pasco and Cajamarca 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 Cerro de Pasco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.