Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Cajamarca Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Cajamarca

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $699 in Cusco versus $706 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,042 in Cusco versus $1,178 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,385 in Cusco versus $1,649 in Cajamarca.

Living in Cusco costs roughly 1% less than in Cajamarca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cusco 49% lower, Cajamarca 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.51 PEN 8.43

$3.47 PEN 11.65

-27.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.88 PEN 70.2

$30.10 PEN 101

-30.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.44 PEN 21.62

$6.04 PEN 20.30

6.62%

Cappuccino

$2.23 PEN 7.50

$2.74 PEN 9.22

-18.61%

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

$0.80 PEN 2.70

$0.82 PEN 2.76

-2.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 PEN 1.14

$0.61 PEN 2.04

-44.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 PEN 6.81

$2.40 PEN 8.07

-15.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 PEN 14.56

$3.51 PEN 11.79

23.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 PEN 4.48

$1.38 PEN 4.63

-3.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 PEN 7.98

$3.22 PEN 10.81

-26.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.42

$1.30 PEN 4.35

0.77%

Eggs

$3.61 PEN 12.12

$2.23 PEN 7.49

61.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.77 PEN 16.02

$7.80 PEN 26.22

-38.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.36 PEN 14.67

$6.35 PEN 21.32

-31.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.32 PEN 24.60

$12.95 PEN 43.52

-43.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 PEN 8.88

$1.13 PEN 3.79

133.63%

Banana (1kg)

$0.80 PEN 2.67

$0.78 PEN 2.64

2.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 PEN 4.96

$1.29 PEN 4.32

13.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 PEN 2.94

$1.11 PEN 3.73

-20.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 PEN 3.56

$0.75 PEN 2.52

41.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.63

$1.04 PEN 3.50

3.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 PEN 1.83

$0.76 PEN 2.55

-28.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 PEN 2.38

$0.76 PEN 2.56

-6.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.76 PEN 29.44

Wine (Bottle)

$6.03 PEN 20.25

$10.28 PEN 34.53

-41.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 PEN 6.62

$2.61 PEN 8.77

-24.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 PEN 14.33

$2.51 PEN 8.43

69.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 PEN 1.05

$0.60 PEN 2.02

-48.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.74 PEN 29.36

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PEN 6.15

$1.82 PEN 6.13

0.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 PEN 6.32

$1.33 PEN 4.47

41.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 PEN 9.88

$5.32 PEN 17.87

-44.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 PEN 5.23

$1.53 PEN 5.13

1.96%

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

$24.2K PEN 81.3K

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

$25.8K PEN 86.7K

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

$29.75 PEN 100.0

$49.37 PEN 166

-39.74%

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

$14.73 PEN 49.51

$9.79 PEN 32.92

50.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.70 PEN 150

$29.16 PEN 98.0

53.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.37 PEN 119

$30.10 PEN 101

17.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.17 PEN 71.1

Cinema Ticket

$4.39 PEN 14.77

$4.76 PEN 16.01

-7.77%

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

$137 PEN 461

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,411 PEN 14.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.00 PEN 131

$52.8 PEN 177

-26.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.68 PEN 113

$29.83 PEN 100

12.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.7 PEN 184

$81.1 PEN 273

-32.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.0 PEN 252

$81.5 PEN 274

-8.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 PEN 509

$206 PEN 691

-26.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PEN 605

$105 PEN 354

70.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 PEN 1,220

$542 PEN 1,820

-33.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 PEN 897

$313 PEN 1,052

-14.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,955 PEN 13.3K

$2,339 PEN 7,860

69.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,776 PEN 5,967

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$433 PEN 1,454

$740 PEN 2,485

-41.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.5

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

Last update for Cusco: August 30, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $151 in Cusco and $206 in Cajamarca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 71% 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: $21.00 in Cusco vs $30.00 in Cajamarca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $230 per month, with Cusco 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

Cusco vs Cajamarca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cusco is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 71% 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: $151 in Cusco versus $206 in Cajamarca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Cajamarca. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Cusco – a meal for two runs $21.00 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 Cusco gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Cusco is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cajamarca, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Cusco 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 Cusco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.