Cost of Living Comparison Between Tarapoto and Cajamarca Cost of Living Comparison Between Tarapoto and Cajamarca

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $30.88 in Tarapoto versus $655 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $49.00 in Tarapoto versus $1,101 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $67.4 in Tarapoto versus $1,547 in Cajamarca.

Living in Tarapoto costs roughly 95% less than in Cajamarca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tarapoto 98% lower, Cajamarca 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 PEN 9.31

$3.14 PEN 10.69

-12.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.17 PEN 95.8

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.98 PEN 20.34

Cappuccino

$2.90 PEN 9.86

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

$0.79 PEN 2.69

$0.80 PEN 2.73

-1.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 PEN 1.84

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 PEN 7.66

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 PEN 9.25

$3.30 PEN 11.21

-17.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 PEN 4.22

White Bread (500g)

$2.98 PEN 10.13

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 PEN 3.56

Eggs

$2.10 PEN 7.13

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.14 PEN 20.89

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.78 PEN 19.64

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.07 PEN 41.03

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 PEN 3.11

Banana (1kg)

$0.71 PEN 2.41

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 PEN 2.83

Tomato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.40

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 PEN 2.53

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 PEN 3.12

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 PEN 2.15

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 PEN 2.57

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.34 PEN 28.36

Wine (Bottle)

$10.22 PEN 34.75

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 PEN 8.19

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 PEN 8.08

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 PEN 1.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.27 PEN 28.12

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 PEN 5.62

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 PEN 4.24

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.78 PEN 16.26

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 PEN 5.14

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

$22.5K PEN 76.4K

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

$24.0K PEN 81.6K

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

$46.50 PEN 158

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

$8.94 PEN 30.38

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.56 PEN 90.3

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.32 PEN 96.3

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.41 PEN 66.0

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 PEN 15.44

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

$129 PEN 440

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,152 PEN 14.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.78 PEN 162

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.47 PEN 93.4

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 PEN 262

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.0 PEN 262

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 PEN 678

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.3 PEN 334

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$494 PEN 1,679

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$292 PEN 993

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,326 PEN 7,908

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$696 PEN 2,365

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 Tarapoto: June 8, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: June 8, 2026

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

Tarapoto vs Cajamarca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tarapoto is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 2022% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $46.32 in Tarapoto and $983 in Cajamarca to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Tarapoto 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, Tarapoto 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 Tarapoto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2022% less than in Cajamarca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.