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: $565 in Cerro de Pasco versus $701 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $899 in Cerro de Pasco versus $1,192 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,233 in Cerro de Pasco versus $1,683 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 59% lower, Cajamarca 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.96 PEN 9.98

$3.66 PEN 12.34

-19.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.49 PEN 99.5

$29.95 PEN 101

-1.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.05 PEN 23.77

$6.01 PEN 20.27

17.30%

Cappuccino

$2.10 PEN 7.08

$2.63 PEN 8.86

-20.15%

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

$0.75 PEN 2.54

$0.81 PEN 2.74

-7.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 PEN 1.56

$0.57 PEN 1.93

-19.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.64 PEN 8.91

$2.41 PEN 8.12

9.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 PEN 15.30

$3.67 PEN 12.39

23.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 PEN 5.34

$1.35 PEN 4.55

17.04%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 PEN 8.22

$3.31 PEN 11.18

-26.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 PEN 4.29

$1.27 PEN 4.27

Eggs

$2.42 PEN 8.16

$2.31 PEN 7.78

4.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.50 PEN 32.06

$7.89 PEN 26.61

20.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.19 PEN 20.87

$6.12 PEN 20.64

1.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.39 PEN 28.30

$13.01 PEN 43.88

-35.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 PEN 6.78

$1.11 PEN 3.76

81.08%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 PEN 2.53

$0.79 PEN 2.65

-5.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.47 PEN 1.57

$1.21 PEN 4.09

-61.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 PEN 3.98

$1.12 PEN 3.77

5.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 PEN 2.43

$0.81 PEN 2.72

-11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 PEN 1.79

$1.01 PEN 3.40

-47.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 PEN 3.05

$0.76 PEN 2.56

18.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 PEN 3.07

$0.76 PEN 2.57

19.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.92 PEN 19.98

$9.02 PEN 30.42

-34.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.28 PEN 24.57

$10.53 PEN 35.51

-30.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 PEN 6.47

$2.60 PEN 8.76

-26.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 PEN 9.22

$2.54 PEN 8.57

7.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 PEN 1.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.86 PEN 29.89

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.04 PEN 13.62

$1.83 PEN 6.16

120.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 PEN 7.16

$1.32 PEN 4.44

60.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.51 PEN 25.35

$5.12 PEN 17.29

46.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 PEN 5.85

$1.60 PEN 5.41

8.12%

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

$22.1K PEN 74.6K

$23.6K PEN 79.7K

-6.37%

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

$26.1K PEN 87.9K

$25.8K PEN 87.0K

1.10%

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

$70.7 PEN 239

$49.68 PEN 168

42.31%

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

$17.03 PEN 57.5

$9.48 PEN 32.00

79.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.25 PEN 95.3

$29.30 PEN 98.9

-3.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.19 PEN 105

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.98 PEN 70.8

Cinema Ticket

$7.55 PEN 25.48

$4.82 PEN 16.25

56.64%

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

$181 PEN 609

$140 PEN 472

29.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.6K PEN 45.8K

$4,389 PEN 14.8K

209.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 PEN 181

$52.3 PEN 176

2.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.34 PEN 123

$30.27 PEN 102

20.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 PEN 289

$83.1 PEN 280

2.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.5 PEN 275

$81.9 PEN 276

-0.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 PEN 684

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PEN 358

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$421 PEN 1,422

$538 PEN 1,813

-21.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 PEN 1,090

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,337 PEN 7,884

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$483 PEN 1,631

$728 PEN 2,455

-33.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.94

10.5

-14.86%

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

Last update for Cerro de Pasco: September 14, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: 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: $29.00 in Cerro de Pasco vs $30.00 in Cajamarca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $231 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 51% 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 $181 in Cerro de Pasco versus $140 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 $29.00 versus $30.00 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.