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: $524 in Cerro de Pasco versus $655 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $854 in Cerro de Pasco versus $1,101 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,183 in Cerro de Pasco versus $1,547 in Cajamarca.

Living in Cerro de Pasco costs roughly 20% less than in Cajamarca, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cerro de Pasco 61% lower, Cajamarca 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.81 PEN 9.55

$3.14 PEN 10.69

-10.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.35 PEN 93.0

$28.17 PEN 95.8

-2.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 PEN 23.88

$5.98 PEN 20.34

17.39%

Cappuccino

$1.91 PEN 6.48

$2.90 PEN 9.86

-34.14%

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

$0.71 PEN 2.41

$0.80 PEN 2.73

-11.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 PEN 1.36

$0.54 PEN 1.84

-25.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 PEN 7.72

$2.25 PEN 7.66

0.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 PEN 13.44

$3.30 PEN 11.21

19.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 PEN 4.81

$1.24 PEN 4.22

14.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 PEN 7.69

$2.98 PEN 10.13

-24.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PEN 4.26

$1.05 PEN 3.56

19.05%

Eggs

$2.29 PEN 7.77

$2.10 PEN 7.13

9.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.02 PEN 27.27

$6.14 PEN 20.89

30.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.72 PEN 19.44

$5.78 PEN 19.64

-1.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.93 PEN 26.94

$12.07 PEN 41.03

-34.30%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 PEN 6.67

$0.92 PEN 3.11

113.04%

Banana (1kg)

$0.72 PEN 2.45

$0.71 PEN 2.41

1.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.44 PEN 1.48

$0.83 PEN 2.83

-46.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 PEN 3.88

$1.00 PEN 3.40

14.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 PEN 2.46

$0.74 PEN 2.53

-2.70%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 PEN 1.78

$0.92 PEN 3.12

-43.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 PEN 2.99

$0.63 PEN 2.15

39.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PEN 2.91

$0.76 PEN 2.57

11.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.42 PEN 18.41

$8.34 PEN 28.36

-35.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.04 PEN 23.94

$10.22 PEN 34.75

-31.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PEN 5.73

$2.41 PEN 8.19

-29.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 PEN 8.59

$2.38 PEN 8.08

6.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 PEN 1.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.27 PEN 28.12

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.27 PEN 11.12

$1.65 PEN 5.62

98.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 PEN 7.26

$1.25 PEN 4.24

71.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.37 PEN 28.46

$4.78 PEN 16.26

75.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.60

$1.51 PEN 5.14

-10.60%

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

$19.2K PEN 65.2K

$22.5K PEN 76.4K

-14.66%

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

$25.0K PEN 84.9K

$24.0K PEN 81.6K

4.12%

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

$55.8 PEN 190

$46.50 PEN 158

19.96%

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

$12.40 PEN 42.16

$8.94 PEN 30.38

38.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.47 PEN 79.8

$26.56 PEN 90.3

-11.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.32 PEN 96.3

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.41 PEN 66.0

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 PEN 22.92

$4.54 PEN 15.44

48.46%

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

$221 PEN 751

$129 PEN 440

70.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,138 PEN 27.7K

$4,152 PEN 14.1K

96.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.25 PEN 167

$47.78 PEN 162

3.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.69 PEN 121

$27.47 PEN 93.4

29.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.8 PEN 312

$77.1 PEN 262

18.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.9 PEN 299

$77.0 PEN 262

14.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 PEN 678

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.3 PEN 334

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 PEN 1,332

$494 PEN 1,679

-20.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$292 PEN 993

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,326 PEN 7,908

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$453 PEN 1,538

$696 PEN 2,365

-34.94%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: June 8, 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: $27.00 in Cerro de Pasco vs $28.00 in Cajamarca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $208 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 25% 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 $221 in Cerro de Pasco versus $129 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 $27.00 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 25% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.