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: $517 in Cerro de Pasco versus $654 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $845 in Cerro de Pasco versus $1,105 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,173 in Cerro de Pasco versus $1,555 in Cajamarca.

Living in Cerro de Pasco costs roughly 21% 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

$2.75 PEN 9.34

$3.14 PEN 10.66

-12.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.91 PEN 94.8

$27.99 PEN 95.0

-0.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 PEN 23.10

$5.99 PEN 20.33

13.52%

Cappuccino

$1.91 PEN 6.49

$2.84 PEN 9.64

-32.75%

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

$0.68 PEN 2.31

$0.82 PEN 2.79

-17.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 PEN 1.36

$0.54 PEN 1.83

-25.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 PEN 7.50

$2.29 PEN 7.76

-3.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 PEN 13.42

$3.40 PEN 11.54

16.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 PEN 4.77

$1.26 PEN 4.28

11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 PEN 7.76

$3.11 PEN 10.56

-26.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 PEN 4.05

$1.04 PEN 3.54

14.42%

Eggs

$2.36 PEN 8.03

$2.05 PEN 6.97

15.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.09 PEN 27.47

$6.10 PEN 20.72

32.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.57 PEN 18.91

$5.66 PEN 19.23

-1.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.66 PEN 26.02

$12.17 PEN 41.31

-37.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 PEN 6.65

$1.01 PEN 3.42

94.06%

Banana (1kg)

$0.70 PEN 2.38

$0.75 PEN 2.54

-6.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.40 PEN 1.36

$0.89 PEN 3.01

-55.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.68

$1.00 PEN 3.39

8.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 PEN 2.40

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 PEN 1.73

$0.98 PEN 3.32

-47.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 PEN 2.94

$0.67 PEN 2.29

29.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 PEN 2.77

$0.77 PEN 2.60

6.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.61 PEN 19.06

$8.12 PEN 27.55

-30.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.30 PEN 24.78

$10.25 PEN 34.79

-28.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 PEN 5.94

$2.44 PEN 8.29

-28.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 PEN 8.71

$2.29 PEN 7.78

12.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 PEN 1.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.12 PEN 27.56

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.37 PEN 11.45

$1.69 PEN 5.75

99.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 PEN 7.51

$1.20 PEN 4.08

84.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 PEN 27.87

$4.73 PEN 16.05

73.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 PEN 4.41

$1.45 PEN 4.93

-10.34%

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

$19.4K PEN 65.9K

$22.3K PEN 75.6K

-12.87%

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

$24.8K PEN 84.1K

$23.9K PEN 81.0K

3.81%

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

$56.7 PEN 192

$45.45 PEN 154

24.66%

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

$12.80 PEN 43.46

$9.08 PEN 30.83

40.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.55 PEN 80.0

$26.76 PEN 90.8

-12.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.45 PEN 96.6

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 PEN 65.2

Cinema Ticket

$6.78 PEN 23.01

$4.64 PEN 15.74

46.12%

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

$220 PEN 748

$130 PEN 442

69.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,048 PEN 27.3K

$4,123 PEN 14.0K

95.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.80 PEN 169

$48.73 PEN 165

2.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.60 PEN 121

$27.67 PEN 93.9

28.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.2 PEN 310

$77.2 PEN 262

18.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.0 PEN 299

$77.7 PEN 264

13.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PEN 682

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.8 PEN 335

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$389 PEN 1,321

$507 PEN 1,720

-23.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 PEN 995

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,310 PEN 7,842

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$472 PEN 1,604

$721 PEN 2,449

-34.49%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Cajamarca pays 53% 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 $192 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 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 53% lower in Cajamarca. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $220 in Cerro de Pasco versus $130 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 27% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.