Cost of Living Comparison Between Piura and Cajamarca Cost of Living Comparison Between Piura and Cajamarca

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $735 in Piura versus $691 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,256 in Piura versus $1,181 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,778 in Piura versus $1,672 in Cajamarca.

Living in Piura is roughly 6% more expensive than in Cajamarca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Piura 47% lower, Cajamarca 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.67 PEN 12.31

$3.63 PEN 12.16

1.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.34 PEN 85.0

$29.68 PEN 99.5

-14.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 PEN 24.36

$5.82 PEN 19.52

24.91%

Cappuccino

$3.35 PEN 11.23

$2.64 PEN 8.86

26.89%

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

$1.12 PEN 3.74

$0.81 PEN 2.72

38.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 PEN 2.41

$0.57 PEN 1.92

26.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 PEN 7.84

$2.41 PEN 8.08

-2.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 PEN 10.06

$3.48 PEN 11.66

-13.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 PEN 4.89

$1.35 PEN 4.52

8.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 PEN 8.85

$3.24 PEN 10.87

-18.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 PEN 5.43

$1.25 PEN 4.19

29.60%

Eggs

$2.87 PEN 9.61

$2.20 PEN 7.37

30.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.80 PEN 36.19

$7.84 PEN 26.28

37.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.86 PEN 29.69

$6.30 PEN 21.10

40.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 PEN 36.40

$13.12 PEN 43.96

-17.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.43 PEN 4.78

$1.07 PEN 3.59

33.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 PEN 4.36

$0.74 PEN 2.48

75.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 PEN 5.07

$1.22 PEN 4.08

23.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 PEN 4.57

$1.08 PEN 3.62

25.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 PEN 4.29

$0.74 PEN 2.47

72.97%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 PEN 2.46

$1.01 PEN 3.39

-27.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 PEN 3.04

$0.72 PEN 2.40

26.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 PEN 4.59

$0.77 PEN 2.59

77.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.05 PEN 26.99

$8.67 PEN 29.05

-7.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.37 PEN 38.13

$10.54 PEN 35.34

7.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 PEN 6.41

$2.67 PEN 8.94

-28.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 PEN 9.74

$2.57 PEN 8.61

13.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 PEN 2.34

$0.56 PEN 1.88

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.26 PEN 71.3

$8.65 PEN 29.00

145.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 PEN 10.58

$1.83 PEN 6.12

72.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.36 PEN 7.91

$1.39 PEN 4.65

69.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.58 PEN 25.42

$5.18 PEN 17.35

46.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 PEN 4.98

$1.60 PEN 5.35

-6.88%

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

$22.3K PEN 74.8K

$23.3K PEN 78.1K

-4.31%

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

$23.9K PEN 80.2K

$26.5K PEN 88.8K

-9.69%

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

$42.21 PEN 142

$49.21 PEN 165

-14.22%

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

$8.82 PEN 29.55

$9.41 PEN 31.54

-6.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.56 PEN 95.7

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.64 PEN 99.4

$30.55 PEN 102

-2.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.07 PEN 70.6

Cinema Ticket

$2.46 PEN 8.25

$4.79 PEN 16.06

-48.64%

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

$200 PEN 670

$138 PEN 463

44.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,379 PEN 7,976

$4,393 PEN 14.7K

-45.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.11 PEN 148

$51.6 PEN 173

-14.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.58 PEN 45.52

$29.19 PEN 97.9

-53.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.7 PEN 203

$81.3 PEN 273

-25.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.7 PEN 254

$80.2 PEN 269

-5.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$236 PEN 790

$205 PEN 687

15.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$132 PEN 444

$103 PEN 346

28.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$407 PEN 1,364

$532 PEN 1,783

-23.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 PEN 1,343

$320 PEN 1,074

25.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,896 PEN 13.1K

$2,356 PEN 7,897

65.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$554 PEN 1,856

$740 PEN 2,480

-25.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.5

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

Last update for Piura: September 5, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $236 in Piura and $205 in Cajamarca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 34% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $25.00 in Piura vs $30.00 in Cajamarca. Groceries flip the comparison at $259 vs $230, 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

Piura vs Cajamarca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cajamarca is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 34% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $236 in Piura versus $205 in Cajamarca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Cajamarca runs roughly 146% less than in Piura. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $200 in Piura versus $138 in Cajamarca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Cajamarca 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, Piura 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 Cajamarca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Piura. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.