Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacna and Cajamarca Cost of Living Comparison Between Tacna and Cajamarca

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $453 in Tacna versus $701 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $653 in Tacna versus $1,192 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $853 in Tacna versus $1,683 in Cajamarca.

Living in Tacna costs roughly 35% less than in Cajamarca, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tacna 67% lower, Cajamarca 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.05 PEN 10.24

$3.66 PEN 12.27

-16.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.86 PEN 49.88

$29.95 PEN 101

-50.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.94 PEN 16.59

$6.01 PEN 20.16

-17.80%

Cappuccino

$3.49 PEN 11.70

$2.63 PEN 8.81

32.70%

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

$1.22 PEN 4.11

$0.81 PEN 2.72

50.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 PEN 1.56

$0.57 PEN 1.92

-19.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 PEN 9.74

$2.41 PEN 8.07

20.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 PEN 11.93

$3.67 PEN 12.32

-3.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 PEN 3.88

$1.35 PEN 4.53

-14.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 PEN 5.06

$3.31 PEN 11.12

-54.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 PEN 2.90

$1.27 PEN 4.25

-31.50%

Eggs

$1.75 PEN 5.88

$2.31 PEN 7.74

-24.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 PEN 15.07

$7.89 PEN 26.47

-43.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 PEN 15.73

$6.12 PEN 20.53

-23.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.14 PEN 30.67

$13.01 PEN 43.64

-29.75%

Apples (1kg)

$1.11 PEN 3.74

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 PEN 5.12

$0.79 PEN 2.64

93.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 PEN 2.85

$1.21 PEN 4.07

-29.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 PEN 3.75

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 PEN 2.60

$0.81 PEN 2.71

-3.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 PEN 3.38

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 PEN 2.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 PEN 2.58

$0.76 PEN 2.56

1.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.56 PEN 15.29

$9.02 PEN 30.26

-49.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.49 PEN 21.79

$10.53 PEN 35.32

-38.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 PEN 9.03

$2.60 PEN 8.71

3.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 PEN 8.53

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 PEN 0.96

$0.59 PEN 1.98

-50.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.86 PEN 29.73

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.95 PEN 6.54

$1.83 PEN 6.13

6.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 PEN 4.41

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.12 PEN 17.20

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 PEN 5.38

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

$23.6K PEN 79.3K

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

$25.8K PEN 86.5K

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

$49.68 PEN 167

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

$18.95 PEN 63.6

$9.48 PEN 31.82

99.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.84 PEN 90.1

$29.30 PEN 98.3

-8.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.96 PEN 101

$31.19 PEN 105

-3.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.98 PEN 70.4

Cinema Ticket

$2.74 PEN 9.20

$4.82 PEN 16.16

-43.15%

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

$59.2 PEN 199

$140 PEN 469

-57.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,389 PEN 14.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.06 PEN 70.7

$52.3 PEN 175

-59.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.66 PEN 69.3

$30.27 PEN 102

-31.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 PEN 279

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.68 PEN 89.5

$81.9 PEN 275

-67.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 PEN 680

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$71.5 PEN 240

$106 PEN 356

-32.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$538 PEN 1,804

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 PEN 1,084

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,337 PEN 7,842

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$483 PEN 1,620

$728 PEN 2,442

-33.68%

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 Tacna: September 14, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Cajamarca pays 51% 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: $15.00 in Tacna vs $30.00 in Cajamarca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $152 vs $231 per month, with Tacna 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

Tacna vs Cajamarca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tacna is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 51% 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 $59.2 in Tacna versus $140 in Cajamarca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Tacna – a meal for two runs $15.00 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 Tacna 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, Tacna 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 Tacna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.