Cost of Living Comparison Between Pucallpa and Cajamarca Cost of Living Comparison Between Pucallpa and Cajamarca

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $525 in Pucallpa versus $701 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $848 in Pucallpa versus $1,192 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,171 in Pucallpa versus $1,683 in Cajamarca.

Living in Pucallpa costs roughly 25% less than in Cajamarca, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pucallpa 62% lower, Cajamarca 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.44 PEN 8.23

$3.66 PEN 12.34

-33.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.79 PEN 39.76

$29.95 PEN 101

-60.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 PEN 18.05

$6.01 PEN 20.27

-10.98%

Cappuccino

$2.11 PEN 7.12

$2.63 PEN 8.86

-19.77%

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

$1.03 PEN 3.46

$0.81 PEN 2.74

27.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 PEN 0.97

$0.57 PEN 1.93

-49.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 PEN 5.95

$2.41 PEN 8.12

-26.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PEN 8.10

$3.67 PEN 12.39

-34.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 PEN 3.57

$1.35 PEN 4.55

-21.48%

White Bread (500g)

$3.74 PEN 12.61

$3.31 PEN 11.18

12.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 PEN 3.91

$1.27 PEN 4.27

-8.66%

Eggs

$1.78 PEN 6.00

$2.31 PEN 7.78

-22.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.12 PEN 7.15

$7.89 PEN 26.61

-73.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.13 PEN 13.94

$6.12 PEN 20.64

-32.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.51 PEN 11.83

$13.01 PEN 43.88

-73.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 PEN 7.88

$1.11 PEN 3.76

110.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 PEN 5.14

$0.79 PEN 2.65

92.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 PEN 5.13

$1.21 PEN 4.09

25.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.72 PEN 9.19

$1.12 PEN 3.77

142.86%

Potato (1kg)

$3.06 PEN 10.34

$0.81 PEN 2.72

277.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.11 PEN 7.12

$1.01 PEN 3.40

108.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 PEN 8.19

$0.76 PEN 2.56

219.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 PEN 3.56

$0.76 PEN 2.57

39.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.71 PEN 15.90

$9.02 PEN 30.42

-47.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.00 PEN 27.00

$10.53 PEN 35.51

-24.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 PEN 8.18

$2.60 PEN 8.76

-6.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 PEN 11.74

$2.54 PEN 8.57

37.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.21 PEN 4.07

$0.59 PEN 1.99

105.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.86 PEN 29.89

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 PEN 4.90

$1.83 PEN 6.16

-20.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 PEN 1.95

$1.32 PEN 4.44

-56.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.12 PEN 17.29

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 PEN 4.19

$1.60 PEN 5.41

-22.50%

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

$23.6K PEN 79.7K

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

$25.8K PEN 87.0K

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

$53.4 PEN 180

$49.68 PEN 168

7.39%

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

$35.28 PEN 119

$9.48 PEN 32.00

272.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.53 PEN 150

$29.30 PEN 98.9

51.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.19 PEN 105

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.98 PEN 70.8

Cinema Ticket

$4.82 PEN 16.25

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

$140 PEN 472

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,389 PEN 14.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 PEN 183

$52.3 PEN 176

4.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.73 PEN 121

$30.27 PEN 102

18.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.96 PEN 121

$83.1 PEN 280

-56.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.4 PEN 231

$81.9 PEN 276

-16.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 PEN 397

$203 PEN 684

-41.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$106 PEN 358

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 PEN 802

$538 PEN 1,813

-55.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$126 PEN 426

$323 PEN 1,090

-60.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,337 PEN 7,884

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$417 PEN 1,405

$728 PEN 2,455

-42.76%

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 Pucallpa: September 14, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Pucallpa and $203 in Cajamarca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 75% 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: $12.00 in Pucallpa vs $30.00 in Cajamarca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $231 per month, with Pucallpa 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

Pucallpa vs Cajamarca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pucallpa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 75% 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: $118 in Pucallpa versus $203 in Cajamarca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Cajamarca. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Pucallpa – a meal for two runs $12.00 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 Pucallpa 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, Pucallpa 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 Pucallpa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.