Cost of Living Comparison Between Huancayo and Cajamarca Cost of Living Comparison Between Huancayo and Cajamarca

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $464 in Huancayo versus $655 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $805 in Huancayo versus $1,101 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,147 in Huancayo versus $1,547 in Cajamarca.

Living in Huancayo costs roughly 29% less than in Cajamarca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Huancayo 66% lower, Cajamarca 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PEN 7.49

$3.14 PEN 10.69

-29.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.19 PEN 113

$28.17 PEN 95.8

17.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.95 PEN 23.63

$5.98 PEN 20.34

16.22%

Cappuccino

$2.68 PEN 9.09

$2.90 PEN 9.86

-7.59%

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

$0.96 PEN 3.27

$0.80 PEN 2.73

20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 PEN 2.10

$0.54 PEN 1.84

14.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 PEN 7.77

$2.25 PEN 7.66

1.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 PEN 13.11

$3.30 PEN 11.21

16.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 PEN 3.68

$1.24 PEN 4.22

-12.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 PEN 3.26

$2.98 PEN 10.13

-67.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 PEN 4.60

$1.05 PEN 3.56

28.57%

Eggs

$2.29 PEN 7.80

$2.10 PEN 7.13

9.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.96 PEN 16.85

$6.14 PEN 20.89

-19.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.61 PEN 19.08

$5.78 PEN 19.64

-2.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.92 PEN 16.73

$12.07 PEN 41.03

-59.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.38 PEN 4.68

$0.92 PEN 3.11

50.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.68

$0.71 PEN 2.41

52.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.55 PEN 1.87

$0.83 PEN 2.83

-33.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 PEN 3.84

$1.00 PEN 3.40

13.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 PEN 2.72

$0.74 PEN 2.53

8.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 PEN 2.76

$0.92 PEN 3.12

-11.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 PEN 1.82

$0.63 PEN 2.15

-15.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 PEN 2.88

$0.76 PEN 2.57

11.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.65 PEN 19.22

$8.34 PEN 28.36

-32.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.26 PEN 17.87

$10.22 PEN 34.75

-48.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 PEN 5.79

$2.41 PEN 8.19

-29.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 PEN 10.18

$2.38 PEN 8.08

25.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 PEN 1.85

$0.53 PEN 1.81

3.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.41 PEN 55.8

$8.27 PEN 28.12

98.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 PEN 6.04

$1.65 PEN 5.62

7.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 PEN 7.21

$1.25 PEN 4.24

69.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 PEN 27.68

$4.78 PEN 16.26

70.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 PEN 4.44

$1.51 PEN 5.14

-13.25%

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

$19.2K PEN 65.4K

$22.5K PEN 76.4K

-14.32%

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

$24.2K PEN 82.2K

$24.0K PEN 81.6K

0.79%

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

$32.96 PEN 112

$46.50 PEN 158

-29.12%

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

$11.28 PEN 38.34

$8.94 PEN 30.38

26.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.14 PEN 37.89

$26.56 PEN 90.3

-58.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.32 PEN 96.3

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.41 PEN 66.0

Cinema Ticket

$6.83 PEN 23.22

$4.54 PEN 15.44

50.44%

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

$223 PEN 757

$129 PEN 440

72.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,924 PEN 26.9K

$4,152 PEN 14.1K

90.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.24 PEN 167

$47.78 PEN 162

3.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 PEN 122

$27.47 PEN 93.4

31.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.9 PEN 302

$77.1 PEN 262

15.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.4 PEN 304

$77.0 PEN 262

16.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$310 PEN 1,055

$200 PEN 678

55.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.3 PEN 334

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$494 PEN 1,679

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)

$696 PEN 2,365

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 Huancayo: June 8, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $310 in Huancayo and $200 in Cajamarca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Huancayo vs $28.00 in Cajamarca. Groceries flip the comparison at $155 vs $208, with Huancayo cheaper for home cooking.

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

Huancayo vs Cajamarca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Huancayo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $695 in Huancayo and $983 in Cajamarca to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $310 in Huancayo versus $200 in Cajamarca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Huancayo runs roughly 98% less than in Cajamarca. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $223 in Huancayo versus $129 in Cajamarca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Huancayo 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, Huancayo 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 Huancayo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.