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: $501 in Huancayo versus $701 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $850 in Huancayo versus $1,192 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,199 in Huancayo versus $1,683 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 63% lower, Cajamarca 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.40 PEN 8.10

$3.66 PEN 12.34

-34.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.30 PEN 119

$29.95 PEN 101

17.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 PEN 23.92

$6.01 PEN 20.27

17.97%

Cappuccino

$3.31 PEN 11.15

$2.63 PEN 8.86

25.86%

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

$1.14 PEN 3.86

$0.81 PEN 2.74

40.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 PEN 2.14

$0.57 PEN 1.93

10.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.65 PEN 8.92

$2.41 PEN 8.12

9.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 PEN 14.95

$3.67 PEN 12.39

20.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 PEN 4.08

$1.35 PEN 4.55

-10.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 PEN 3.56

$3.31 PEN 11.18

-68.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 PEN 4.49

$1.27 PEN 4.27

4.72%

Eggs

$2.52 PEN 8.49

$2.31 PEN 7.78

9.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.23 PEN 17.63

$7.89 PEN 26.61

-33.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.06 PEN 20.45

$6.12 PEN 20.64

-0.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.22 PEN 17.61

$13.01 PEN 43.88

-59.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.50 PEN 5.07

$1.11 PEN 3.76

35.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 PEN 3.59

$0.79 PEN 2.65

34.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.59 PEN 1.99

$1.21 PEN 4.09

-51.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 PEN 3.90

$1.12 PEN 3.77

3.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 PEN 2.92

$0.81 PEN 2.72

6.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.86 PEN 2.90

$1.01 PEN 3.40

-14.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 PEN 1.93

$0.76 PEN 2.56

-25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 PEN 2.90

$0.76 PEN 2.57

13.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.02 PEN 20.31

$9.02 PEN 30.42

-33.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.40 PEN 18.22

$10.53 PEN 35.51

-48.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 PEN 6.53

$2.60 PEN 8.76

-25.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 PEN 11.24

$2.54 PEN 8.57

31.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 PEN 2.08

$0.59 PEN 1.99

5.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.78 PEN 60.0

$8.86 PEN 29.89

100.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.90 PEN 6.39

$1.83 PEN 6.16

3.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.11 PEN 7.13

$1.32 PEN 4.44

59.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.38 PEN 24.88

$5.12 PEN 17.29

44.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 PEN 4.95

$1.60 PEN 5.41

-8.13%

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

$22.1K PEN 74.7K

$23.6K PEN 79.7K

-6.32%

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

$26.3K PEN 88.6K

$25.8K PEN 87.0K

1.87%

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

$35.07 PEN 118

$49.68 PEN 168

-29.41%

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

$11.94 PEN 40.29

$9.48 PEN 32.00

25.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.97 PEN 40.37

$29.30 PEN 98.9

-59.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.19 PEN 105

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.98 PEN 70.8

Cinema Ticket

$7.32 PEN 24.69

$4.82 PEN 16.25

51.87%

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

$180 PEN 607

$140 PEN 472

28.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K PEN 44.7K

$4,389 PEN 14.8K

201.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 PEN 182

$52.3 PEN 176

3.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.45 PEN 123

$30.27 PEN 102

20.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.0 PEN 294

$83.1 PEN 280

4.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.6 PEN 275

$81.9 PEN 276

-0.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$332 PEN 1,119

$203 PEN 684

63.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PEN 358

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$538 PEN 1,813

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)

$728 PEN 2,455

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 Huancayo: September 14, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $332 in Huancayo and $203 in Cajamarca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35.00 in Huancayo vs $30.00 in Cajamarca. Groceries flip the comparison at $166 vs $231, 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $752 in Huancayo and $1,052 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: $332 in Huancayo versus $203 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 101% less than in Cajamarca. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $180 in Huancayo versus $140 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 40% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.