Cost of Living Comparison Between Pisco and Cajamarca Cost of Living Comparison Between Pisco and Cajamarca

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $528 in Pisco versus $649 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $830 in Pisco versus $1,101 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,132 in Pisco versus $1,552 in Cajamarca.

Living in Pisco costs roughly 19% less than in Cajamarca, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pisco 60% lower, Cajamarca 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 PEN 7.45

$3.13 PEN 10.61

-29.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.05 PEN 37.44

$27.42 PEN 92.9

-59.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.38 PEN 11.46

$5.71 PEN 19.35

-40.81%

Cappuccino

$1.43 PEN 4.83

$2.82 PEN 9.56

-49.29%

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

$0.68 PEN 2.30

$0.81 PEN 2.74

-16.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 PEN 0.98

$0.59 PEN 1.99

-50.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.91 PEN 6.47

$2.16 PEN 7.33

-11.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 PEN 12.99

$3.30 PEN 11.20

16.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 PEN 4.98

$1.25 PEN 4.22

17.60%

White Bread (500g)

$2.69 PEN 9.13

$3.01 PEN 10.20

-10.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 PEN 4.42

$1.09 PEN 3.70

19.27%

Eggs

$2.83 PEN 9.61

$2.17 PEN 7.35

30.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.08 PEN 27.39

$6.16 PEN 20.88

31.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.53 PEN 18.74

$5.96 PEN 20.20

-7.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.64 PEN 36.08

$12.10 PEN 41.02

-12.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 PEN 6.87

$1.00 PEN 3.38

103.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.65

$0.69 PEN 2.35

56.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 PEN 3.90

$0.90 PEN 3.05

27.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 PEN 4.26

$1.05 PEN 3.55

20.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.38

$0.69 PEN 2.34

44.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.39

$0.95 PEN 3.22

5.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 PEN 2.97

$0.62 PEN 2.10

41.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PEN 3.12

$0.71 PEN 2.39

29.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.53 PEN 18.75

$8.10 PEN 27.46

-31.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.87 PEN 30.08

$10.31 PEN 34.95

-13.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 PEN 6.02

$2.42 PEN 8.21

-26.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 PEN 10.13

$2.39 PEN 8.12

25.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 PEN 1.86

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 PEN 27.69

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 PEN 11.55

$1.71 PEN 5.79

99.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 PEN 7.22

$1.21 PEN 4.09

76.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.17 PEN 27.68

$4.99 PEN 16.91

63.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 PEN 4.39

$1.51 PEN 5.10

-13.91%

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

$19.6K PEN 66.5K

$22.5K PEN 76.4K

-12.88%

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

$24.9K PEN 84.4K

$24.8K PEN 84.0K

0.42%

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

$55.9 PEN 190

$46.02 PEN 156

21.47%

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

$12.50 PEN 42.39

$9.05 PEN 30.69

38.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.30 PEN 79.0

$26.71 PEN 90.5

-12.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.68 PEN 97.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.78 PEN 67.1

Cinema Ticket

$7.03 PEN 23.84

$4.48 PEN 15.19

56.92%

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

$220 PEN 747

$131 PEN 444

68.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,928 PEN 26.9K

$4,137 PEN 14.0K

91.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.98 PEN 169

$48.83 PEN 166

2.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.79 PEN 125

$27.49 PEN 93.2

33.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.8 PEN 304

$74.9 PEN 254

19.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.4 PEN 300

$77.7 PEN 263

13.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 PEN 689

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$97.1 PEN 329

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 PEN 1,684

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 PEN 998

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,787 PEN 6,056

$2,358 PEN 7,994

-24.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,327 PEN 4,499

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$577 PEN 1,956

$704 PEN 2,388

-18.11%

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 Pisco: July 13, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Cajamarca pays 22% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $11.00 in Pisco vs $27.00 in Cajamarca. Groceries flip the comparison at $222 vs $211, with Cajamarca 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

Pisco vs Cajamarca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pisco is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 22% lower in Cajamarca. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $220 in Pisco versus $131 in Cajamarca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Pisco – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $27.00 in Cajamarca. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Pisco 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, Pisco 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 Pisco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.