Cost of Living Comparison Between Trujillo and Cajamarca Cost of Living Comparison Between Trujillo and Cajamarca

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $881 in Trujillo versus $691 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,351 in Trujillo versus $1,181 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,820 in Trujillo versus $1,672 in Cajamarca.

Living in Trujillo is roughly 28% more expensive than in Cajamarca, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Trujillo 36% lower, Cajamarca 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 PEN 12.20

$3.63 PEN 12.16

0.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.92 PEN 80.2

$29.68 PEN 99.5

-19.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.30 PEN 24.47

$5.82 PEN 19.52

25.43%

Cappuccino

$3.41 PEN 11.45

$2.64 PEN 8.86

29.17%

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

$0.97 PEN 3.26

$0.81 PEN 2.72

19.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 PEN 2.10

$0.57 PEN 1.92

10.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.08 PEN 6.97

$2.41 PEN 8.08

-13.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 PEN 12.32

$3.48 PEN 11.66

5.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 PEN 4.78

$1.35 PEN 4.52

5.93%

White Bread (500g)

$2.03 PEN 6.80

$3.24 PEN 10.87

-37.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 PEN 3.92

$1.25 PEN 4.19

-6.40%

Eggs

$4.12 PEN 13.80

$2.20 PEN 7.37

87.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.10 PEN 27.15

$7.84 PEN 26.28

3.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.70 PEN 22.46

$6.30 PEN 21.10

6.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.19 PEN 30.79

$13.12 PEN 43.96

-29.95%

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 PEN 5.57

$1.07 PEN 3.59

55.14%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PEN 1.95

$0.74 PEN 2.48

-21.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.58 PEN 1.96

$1.22 PEN 4.08

-52.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.93 PEN 3.11

$1.08 PEN 3.62

-13.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 PEN 3.35

$0.74 PEN 2.47

35.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 PEN 4.02

$1.01 PEN 3.39

18.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 PEN 4.23

$0.72 PEN 2.40

75.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 PEN 3.72

$0.77 PEN 2.59

44.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 PEN 14.89

$8.67 PEN 29.05

-48.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.13 PEN 20.54

$10.54 PEN 35.34

-41.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 PEN 5.91

$2.67 PEN 8.94

-34.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 PEN 5.56

$2.57 PEN 8.61

-35.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 PEN 1.92

$0.56 PEN 1.88

1.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.56 PEN 58.9

$8.65 PEN 29.00

103.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 PEN 8.28

$1.83 PEN 6.12

34.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 PEN 7.35

$1.39 PEN 4.65

57.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.84 PEN 19.59

$5.18 PEN 17.35

12.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.67 PEN 5.61

$1.60 PEN 5.35

4.37%

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

$17.7K PEN 59.2K

$23.3K PEN 78.1K

-24.18%

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

$28.8K PEN 96.7K

$26.5K PEN 88.8K

8.91%

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

$97.4 PEN 327

$49.21 PEN 165

97.95%

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

$13.61 PEN 45.62

$9.41 PEN 31.54

44.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.49 PEN 95.5

$28.56 PEN 95.7

-0.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.38 PEN 135

$30.55 PEN 102

32.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.98 PEN 20.04

$21.07 PEN 70.6

-71.62%

Cinema Ticket

$4.38 PEN 14.68

$4.79 PEN 16.06

-8.56%

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

$112 PEN 377

$138 PEN 463

-18.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,130 PEN 7,140

$4,393 PEN 14.7K

-51.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.6 PEN 254

$51.6 PEN 173

46.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.76 PEN 49.47

$29.19 PEN 97.9

-49.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.62 PEN 160

$81.3 PEN 273

-41.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.25 PEN 152

$80.2 PEN 269

-43.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$400 PEN 1,340

$205 PEN 687

94.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$258 PEN 863

$103 PEN 346

149.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$754 PEN 2,528

$532 PEN 1,783

41.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$508 PEN 1,704

$320 PEN 1,074

58.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,172 PEN 3,930

$2,356 PEN 7,897

-50.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$532 PEN 1,783

$740 PEN 2,480

-28.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.7

10.5

11.43%

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

Last update for Trujillo: September 6, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $400 in Trujillo and $205 in Cajamarca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 39% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $24.00 in Trujillo vs $30.00 in Cajamarca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $230 per month, with Trujillo 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

Trujillo vs Cajamarca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cajamarca is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 39% 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: $400 in Trujillo 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 103% less than in Trujillo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $112 in Trujillo 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, Trujillo 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 28% less than in Trujillo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.