Cost of Living Comparison Between La Merced and Cajamarca Cost of Living Comparison Between La Merced and Cajamarca

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $566 in La Merced versus $701 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $926 in La Merced versus $1,192 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,286 in La Merced versus $1,683 in Cajamarca.

Living in La Merced costs roughly 19% less than in Cajamarca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: La Merced 59% lower, Cajamarca 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.49 PEN 15.15

$3.66 PEN 12.34

22.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 PEN 121

$29.95 PEN 101

19.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.03 PEN 23.73

$6.01 PEN 20.27

16.97%

Cappuccino

$3.42 PEN 11.53

$2.63 PEN 8.86

30.04%

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)

$0.62 PEN 2.10

$0.57 PEN 1.93

8.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.71 PEN 9.15

$2.41 PEN 8.12

12.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 PEN 15.48

$3.67 PEN 12.39

25.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 PEN 5.67

$1.35 PEN 4.55

24.44%

White Bread (500g)

$2.06 PEN 6.94

$3.31 PEN 11.18

-37.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PEN 4.40

$1.27 PEN 4.27

2.36%

Eggs

$2.42 PEN 8.16

$2.31 PEN 7.78

4.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 PEN 25.31

$7.89 PEN 26.61

-4.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.96 PEN 20.12

$6.12 PEN 20.64

-2.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.09 PEN 30.66

$13.01 PEN 43.88

-30.13%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.38

$1.11 PEN 3.76

-9.91%

Banana (1kg)

$0.47 PEN 1.57

$0.79 PEN 2.65

-40.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.31 PEN 1.05

$1.21 PEN 4.09

-74.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 PEN 2.38

$1.12 PEN 3.77

-37.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.31 PEN 1.06

$0.81 PEN 2.72

-61.73%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 PEN 1.59

$1.01 PEN 3.40

-53.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 PEN 2.09

$0.76 PEN 2.56

-18.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 PEN 3.20

$0.76 PEN 2.57

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.94 PEN 20.05

$9.02 PEN 30.42

-34.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.64 PEN 25.76

$10.53 PEN 35.51

-27.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 PEN 6.68

$2.60 PEN 8.76

-23.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 PEN 11.18

$2.54 PEN 8.57

30.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 PEN 1.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.86 PEN 29.89

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.12 PEN 13.91

$1.83 PEN 6.16

125.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 PEN 6.93

$1.32 PEN 4.44

55.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.37 PEN 24.87

$5.12 PEN 17.29

43.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.72 PEN 5.81

$1.60 PEN 5.41

7.50%

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

$22.3K PEN 75.3K

$23.6K PEN 79.7K

-5.49%

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

$25.9K PEN 87.2K

$25.8K PEN 87.0K

0.27%

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

$70.0 PEN 236

$49.68 PEN 168

40.98%

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

$17.07 PEN 57.6

$9.48 PEN 32.00

80.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.18 PEN 95.1

$29.30 PEN 98.9

-3.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.19 PEN 105

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.98 PEN 70.8

Cinema Ticket

$7.60 PEN 25.64

$4.82 PEN 16.25

57.68%

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

$183 PEN 618

$140 PEN 472

31.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K PEN 44.9K

$4,389 PEN 14.8K

203.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 PEN 184

$52.3 PEN 176

4.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.22 PEN 119

$30.27 PEN 102

16.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 PEN 286

$83.1 PEN 280

2.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.7 PEN 272

$81.9 PEN 276

-1.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 PEN 684

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 La Merced: September 13, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $36.00 in La Merced vs $30.00 in Cajamarca. Groceries flip the comparison at $192 vs $231, with La Merced 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

La Merced vs Cajamarca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

La Merced is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $849 in La Merced 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.

Childcare runs $183 in La Merced versus $140 in Cajamarca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in La Merced – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $30.00 in Cajamarca. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though La Merced 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, La Merced 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 La Merced gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.