Cost of Living Comparison Between Moquegua and Cajamarca Cost of Living Comparison Between Moquegua and Cajamarca

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $453 in Moquegua versus $695 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $751 in Moquegua versus $1,177 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,050 in Moquegua versus $1,658 in Cajamarca.

Living in Moquegua costs roughly 35% less than in Cajamarca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Moquegua 66% lower, Cajamarca 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.46 PEN 11.93

$3.57 PEN 12.31

-3.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.61 PEN 95.1

$28.96 PEN 99.7

-4.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.82 PEN 20.03

$5.95 PEN 20.49

-2.18%

Cappuccino

$2.56 PEN 8.82

$2.64 PEN 9.09

-3.03%

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

$0.82 PEN 2.82

$0.79 PEN 2.72

3.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 PEN 1.27

$0.62 PEN 2.12

-40.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 PEN 7.44

$2.30 PEN 7.93

-6.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 PEN 15.05

$3.64 PEN 12.52

20.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 PEN 4.59

$1.38 PEN 4.77

-3.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.37 PEN 4.73

$3.27 PEN 11.26

-58.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 PEN 5.31

$1.29 PEN 4.44

19.38%

Eggs

$2.33 PEN 8.01

$2.28 PEN 7.86

2.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.24 PEN 21.50

$7.58 PEN 26.12

-17.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.63 PEN 15.95

$6.28 PEN 21.63

-26.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.37 PEN 25.38

$13.12 PEN 45.18

-43.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 PEN 6.22

$1.06 PEN 3.67

70.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 PEN 4.17

$0.78 PEN 2.69

55.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 PEN 4.13

$1.23 PEN 4.22

-2.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.63

$1.08 PEN 3.72

-2.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 PEN 2.38

$0.74 PEN 2.53

-6.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 PEN 2.39

$1.00 PEN 3.43

-31.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 PEN 1.89

$0.72 PEN 2.49

-23.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 PEN 2.56

$0.75 PEN 2.57

-1.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.28 PEN 18.19

$8.98 PEN 30.93

-41.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.11 PEN 17.58

$10.19 PEN 35.09

-49.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 PEN 9.38

$2.59 PEN 8.93

5.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 PEN 7.75

$2.45 PEN 8.45

-8.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 PEN 1.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.93 PEN 30.76

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 PEN 7.06

$1.76 PEN 6.06

16.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 PEN 6.97

$1.33 PEN 4.57

51.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.02 PEN 44.83

$5.05 PEN 17.39

157.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 PEN 5.25

$1.51 PEN 5.22

0.66%

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

$18.5K PEN 63.8K

$23.7K PEN 81.7K

-21.91%

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

$25.2K PEN 86.9K

$25.9K PEN 89.1K

-2.36%

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

$23.82 PEN 82.0

$49.76 PEN 171

-52.13%

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

$10.37 PEN 35.73

$9.79 PEN 33.73

5.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.27 PEN 80.2

$29.01 PEN 99.9

-19.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.97 PEN 107

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.52 PEN 70.7

Cinema Ticket

$7.33 PEN 25.26

$4.76 PEN 16.39

53.99%

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

$74.5 PEN 257

$137 PEN 473

-45.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,749 PEN 23.2K

$4,463 PEN 15.4K

51.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.42 PEN 167

$51.7 PEN 178

-6.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.56 PEN 91.5

$29.33 PEN 101

-9.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.0 PEN 234

$80.8 PEN 278

-15.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.4 PEN 201

$80.9 PEN 279

-27.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 PEN 684

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$103 PEN 355

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$527 PEN 1,814

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$317 PEN 1,090

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,338 PEN 8,053

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$727 PEN 2,503

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.5

42.86%

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

Last update for Moquegua: October 5, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: October 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $28.00 in Moquegua vs $29.00 in Cajamarca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $176 vs $229 per month, with Moquegua 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

Moquegua vs Cajamarca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moquegua is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $680 in Moquegua and $1,043 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 $74.5 in Moquegua versus $137 in Cajamarca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Moquegua – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $29.00 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 Moquegua 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, Moquegua 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 Moquegua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.