Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiclayo and Cajamarca Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiclayo and Cajamarca

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $782 in Chiclayo versus $691 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,331 in Chiclayo versus $1,181 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,879 in Chiclayo versus $1,672 in Cajamarca.

Living in Chiclayo is roughly 13% more expensive than in Cajamarca, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chiclayo 43% lower, Cajamarca 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.10 PEN 17.10

$3.63 PEN 12.16

40.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.80 PEN 120

$29.68 PEN 99.5

20.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 PEN 29.04

$5.82 PEN 19.52

48.80%

Cappuccino

$4.51 PEN 15.12

$2.64 PEN 8.86

70.83%

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

$0.90 PEN 3.02

$0.81 PEN 2.72

11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 PEN 1.54

$0.57 PEN 1.92

-19.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.94 PEN 29.98

$2.41 PEN 8.08

270.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 PEN 11.66

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 PEN 6.53

$1.35 PEN 4.52

44.44%

White Bread (500g)

$2.58 PEN 8.67

$3.24 PEN 10.87

-20.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.69 PEN 9.03

$1.25 PEN 4.19

115.20%

Eggs

$1.75 PEN 5.85

$2.20 PEN 7.37

-20.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.67 PEN 32.40

$7.84 PEN 26.28

23.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.96 PEN 33.39

$6.30 PEN 21.10

58.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 PEN 26.20

$13.12 PEN 43.96

-40.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.07 PEN 3.59

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 PEN 6.71

$0.74 PEN 2.48

170.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.22 PEN 4.08

Tomato (1kg)

$1.94 PEN 6.49

$1.08 PEN 3.62

79.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 PEN 4.48

$0.74 PEN 2.47

81.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 PEN 6.68

$1.01 PEN 3.39

97.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 PEN 3.06

$0.72 PEN 2.40

26.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PEN 3.09

$0.77 PEN 2.59

19.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.50 PEN 15.10

$8.67 PEN 29.05

-48.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.09 PEN 50.6

$10.54 PEN 35.34

43.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 PEN 5.11

$2.67 PEN 8.94

-43.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 PEN 4.05

$2.57 PEN 8.61

-52.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 PEN 1.69

$0.56 PEN 1.88

-8.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.83 PEN 100

$8.65 PEN 29.00

244.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.38 PEN 14.69

$1.83 PEN 6.12

139.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 PEN 4.65

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.83 PEN 19.53

$5.18 PEN 17.35

12.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 PEN 4.55

$1.60 PEN 5.35

-15.00%

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

$25.4K PEN 85.1K

$23.3K PEN 78.1K

8.91%

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

$25.2K PEN 84.3K

$26.5K PEN 88.8K

-5.02%

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

$50.5 PEN 169

$49.21 PEN 165

2.68%

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

$45.33 PEN 152

$9.41 PEN 31.54

381.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.07 PEN 80.7

$28.56 PEN 95.7

-15.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.38 PEN 152

$30.55 PEN 102

48.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.41 PEN 119

$21.07 PEN 70.6

68.06%

Cinema Ticket

$7.53 PEN 25.24

$4.79 PEN 16.06

57.20%

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

$349 PEN 1,171

$138 PEN 463

152.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,294 PEN 17.7K

$4,393 PEN 14.7K

20.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 PEN 173

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.19 PEN 97.9

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.3 PEN 273

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 PEN 269

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$178 PEN 595

$205 PEN 687

-13.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$148 PEN 497

$103 PEN 346

43.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 PEN 1,497

$532 PEN 1,783

-16.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 PEN 1,373

$320 PEN 1,074

27.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,107 PEN 3,710

$2,356 PEN 7,897

-53.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,094 PEN 3,669

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$472 PEN 1,582

$740 PEN 2,480

-36.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.5

-4.76%

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

Last update for Chiclayo: September 7, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $178 in Chiclayo and $205 in Cajamarca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 57% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Chiclayo vs $30.00 in Cajamarca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $230 per month, with Cajamarca 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

Chiclayo vs Cajamarca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cajamarca is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 57% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $178 in Chiclayo versus $205 in Cajamarca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Cajamarca runs roughly 245% less than in Chiclayo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $349 in Chiclayo versus $138 in Cajamarca. 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, Chiclayo 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 Cajamarca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Chiclayo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.