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: $469 in Huancayo versus $654 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $789 in Huancayo versus $1,105 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,109 in Huancayo versus $1,555 in Cajamarca.

Living in Huancayo costs roughly 28% less than in Cajamarca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Huancayo 65% lower, Cajamarca 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.15 PEN 7.31

$3.14 PEN 10.66

-31.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.78 PEN 115

$27.99 PEN 95.0

20.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 PEN 23.21

$5.99 PEN 20.33

14.19%

Cappuccino

$2.56 PEN 8.70

$2.84 PEN 9.64

-9.86%

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

$0.96 PEN 3.28

$0.82 PEN 2.79

17.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 PEN 2.09

$0.54 PEN 1.83

12.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 PEN 7.34

$2.29 PEN 7.76

-5.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 PEN 13.53

$3.40 PEN 11.54

17.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 PEN 3.87

$1.26 PEN 4.28

-9.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 PEN 3.14

$3.11 PEN 10.56

-70.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 PEN 4.40

$1.04 PEN 3.54

24.04%

Eggs

$2.40 PEN 8.14

$2.05 PEN 6.97

17.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.10 PEN 17.32

$6.10 PEN 20.72

-16.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.46 PEN 18.53

$5.66 PEN 19.23

-3.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.04 PEN 17.11

$12.17 PEN 41.31

-58.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.42 PEN 4.82

$1.01 PEN 3.42

40.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.78

$0.75 PEN 2.54

48.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.55 PEN 1.85

$0.89 PEN 3.01

-38.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 PEN 3.69

$1.00 PEN 3.39

9.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 PEN 2.94

$0.71 PEN 2.40

22.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.87 PEN 2.94

$0.98 PEN 3.32

-11.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 PEN 1.96

$0.67 PEN 2.29

-13.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 PEN 2.77

$0.77 PEN 2.60

6.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.64 PEN 19.15

$8.12 PEN 27.55

-30.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.19 PEN 17.61

$10.25 PEN 34.79

-49.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 PEN 6.01

$2.44 PEN 8.29

-27.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 PEN 10.40

$2.29 PEN 7.78

33.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 PEN 1.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.47 PEN 55.9

$8.12 PEN 27.56

102.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PEN 6.20

$1.69 PEN 5.75

8.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.16 PEN 7.32

$1.20 PEN 4.08

80.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.10 PEN 27.50

$4.73 PEN 16.05

71.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 PEN 4.57

$1.45 PEN 4.93

-6.90%

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

$19.7K PEN 66.8K

$22.3K PEN 75.6K

-11.68%

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

$24.4K PEN 82.9K

$23.9K PEN 81.0K

2.35%

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

$33.87 PEN 115

$45.45 PEN 154

-25.48%

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

$11.27 PEN 38.25

$9.08 PEN 30.83

24.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.16 PEN 37.87

$26.76 PEN 90.8

-58.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.45 PEN 96.6

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 PEN 65.2

Cinema Ticket

$7.03 PEN 23.88

$4.64 PEN 15.74

51.51%

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

$217 PEN 738

$130 PEN 442

66.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,902 PEN 26.8K

$4,123 PEN 14.0K

91.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.8 PEN 172

$48.73 PEN 165

4.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.56 PEN 121

$27.67 PEN 93.9

28.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 PEN 305

$77.2 PEN 262

16.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 PEN 301

$77.7 PEN 264

13.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$300 PEN 1,018

$201 PEN 682

49.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.8 PEN 335

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 PEN 1,720

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)

$721 PEN 2,449

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $300 in Huancayo and $201 in Cajamarca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $34.00 in Huancayo vs $28.00 in Cajamarca. Groceries flip the comparison at $156 vs $211, 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 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $704 in Huancayo and $982 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: $300 in Huancayo versus $201 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 103% less than in Cajamarca. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $217 in Huancayo versus $130 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 39% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.