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: $448 in Pucallpa versus $654 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $754 in Pucallpa versus $1,105 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,061 in Pucallpa versus $1,555 in Cajamarca.

Living in Pucallpa costs roughly 32% less than in Cajamarca, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pucallpa 66% lower, Cajamarca 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.26 PEN 7.68

$3.14 PEN 10.66

-28.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.91 PEN 37.03

$27.99 PEN 95.0

-61.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.98 PEN 16.89

$5.99 PEN 20.33

-16.86%

Cappuccino

$1.98 PEN 6.73

$2.84 PEN 9.64

-30.28%

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

$0.93 PEN 3.16

$0.82 PEN 2.79

13.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 PEN 1.00

$0.54 PEN 1.83

-46.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PEN 5.82

$2.29 PEN 7.76

-24.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 PEN 7.62

$3.40 PEN 11.54

-33.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 PEN 3.43

$1.26 PEN 4.28

-19.84%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 PEN 12.09

$3.11 PEN 10.56

14.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 PEN 3.68

$1.04 PEN 3.54

4.81%

Eggs

$1.72 PEN 5.83

$2.05 PEN 6.97

-16.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.99 PEN 6.74

$6.10 PEN 20.72

-67.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 PEN 12.83

$5.66 PEN 19.23

-33.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.38 PEN 11.47

$12.17 PEN 41.31

-72.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 PEN 7.71

$1.01 PEN 3.42

124.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 PEN 4.81

$0.75 PEN 2.54

89.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.42 PEN 4.82

$0.89 PEN 3.01

59.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 PEN 8.45

$1.00 PEN 3.39

149.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 PEN 3.25

$0.71 PEN 2.40

35.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 PEN 6.45

$0.98 PEN 3.32

93.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 PEN 2.61

$0.67 PEN 2.29

14.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 PEN 3.24

$0.77 PEN 2.60

24.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.32 PEN 14.66

$8.12 PEN 27.55

-46.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.74 PEN 26.29

$10.25 PEN 34.79

-24.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 PEN 7.36

$2.44 PEN 8.29

-11.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 PEN 11.58

$2.29 PEN 7.78

48.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 PEN 3.70

$0.55 PEN 1.86

98.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.12 PEN 27.56

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 PEN 4.59

$1.69 PEN 5.75

-20.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 PEN 1.77

$1.20 PEN 4.08

-56.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.73 PEN 16.05

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 PEN 3.95

$1.45 PEN 4.93

-20.00%

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

$22.3K PEN 75.6K

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

$23.9K PEN 81.0K

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

$49.39 PEN 168

$45.45 PEN 154

8.67%

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

$15.11 PEN 51.3

$9.08 PEN 30.83

66.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.42 PEN 141

$26.76 PEN 90.8

54.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.45 PEN 96.6

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.19 PEN 65.2

Cinema Ticket

$4.64 PEN 15.74

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

$130 PEN 442

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,123 PEN 14.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.77 PEN 169

$48.73 PEN 165

2.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.26 PEN 113

$27.67 PEN 93.9

20.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$33.57 PEN 114

$77.2 PEN 262

-56.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.7 PEN 213

$77.7 PEN 264

-19.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$109 PEN 371

$201 PEN 682

-45.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.8 PEN 335

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 PEN 769

$507 PEN 1,720

-55.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 PEN 402

$293 PEN 995

-59.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,310 PEN 7,842

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$419 PEN 1,422

$721 PEN 2,449

-41.92%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $109 in Pucallpa and $201 in Cajamarca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 72% 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 Pucallpa vs $28.00 in Cajamarca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $211 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 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 72% 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: $109 in Pucallpa versus $201 in Cajamarca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% 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 $11.00 versus $28.00 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 46% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.