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: $779 in Trujillo versus $649 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,173 in Trujillo versus $1,101 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,567 in Trujillo versus $1,552 in Cajamarca.

Living in Trujillo is roughly 20% more expensive than in Cajamarca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Trujillo 42% lower, Cajamarca 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.24 PEN 11.00

$3.13 PEN 10.62

3.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.70 PEN 46.48

$27.42 PEN 93.0

-50.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.73 PEN 22.82

$5.71 PEN 19.36

17.86%

Cappuccino

$2.98 PEN 10.10

$2.82 PEN 9.56

5.67%

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

$0.89 PEN 3.02

$0.81 PEN 2.74

9.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 PEN 2.00

$0.59 PEN 1.99

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 PEN 6.52

$2.16 PEN 7.34

-11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 PEN 11.19

$3.30 PEN 11.21

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 PEN 3.56

$1.25 PEN 4.22

-16.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.77 PEN 6.02

$3.01 PEN 10.20

-41.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 PEN 3.82

$1.09 PEN 3.70

3.67%

Eggs

$3.88 PEN 13.15

$2.17 PEN 7.36

78.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.16 PEN 20.89

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 PEN 21.96

$5.96 PEN 20.22

8.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.52 PEN 25.50

$12.10 PEN 41.05

-37.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 PEN 3.98

$1.00 PEN 3.38

17.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PEN 1.96

$0.69 PEN 2.35

-15.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.58 PEN 1.95

$0.90 PEN 3.05

-35.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 PEN 2.40

$1.05 PEN 3.56

-32.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 PEN 3.13

$0.69 PEN 2.34

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.82 PEN 2.78

$0.95 PEN 3.22

-13.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 PEN 3.09

$0.62 PEN 2.10

46.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 PEN 3.11

$0.71 PEN 2.39

29.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 PEN 14.49

$8.10 PEN 27.48

-47.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.79 PEN 19.63

$10.31 PEN 34.97

-43.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 PEN 4.77

$2.42 PEN 8.22

-41.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 PEN 5.59

$2.39 PEN 8.12

-30.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 PEN 2.16

$0.55 PEN 1.86

16.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.38 PEN 55.6

$8.17 PEN 27.71

100.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 PEN 9.49

$1.71 PEN 5.80

63.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.99 PEN 6.75

$1.21 PEN 4.09

64.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.66 PEN 19.22

$4.99 PEN 16.92

13.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 PEN 4.62

$1.51 PEN 5.11

-9.93%

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

$16.9K PEN 57.3K

$22.5K PEN 76.4K

-25.01%

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

$26.2K PEN 88.9K

$24.8K PEN 84.1K

5.69%

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

$76.6 PEN 260

$46.02 PEN 156

66.36%

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

$8.48 PEN 28.78

$9.05 PEN 30.71

-6.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.22 PEN 72.0

$26.71 PEN 90.6

-20.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.00 PEN 122

$28.68 PEN 97.3

25.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.39 PEN 18.30

$19.78 PEN 67.1

-72.75%

Cinema Ticket

$4.16 PEN 14.11

$4.48 PEN 15.20

-7.14%

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

$102 PEN 346

$131 PEN 444

-21.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,963 PEN 6,660

$4,137 PEN 14.0K

-52.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.8 PEN 240

$48.83 PEN 166

45.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.00 PEN 47.48

$27.49 PEN 93.3

-49.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$32.71 PEN 111

$74.9 PEN 254

-56.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.74 PEN 111

$77.7 PEN 264

-57.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$365 PEN 1,238

$203 PEN 689

79.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$257 PEN 871

$97.1 PEN 329

164.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$602 PEN 2,043

$497 PEN 1,685

21.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$489 PEN 1,659

$294 PEN 999

66.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,138 PEN 3,860

$2,358 PEN 8,000

-51.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$821 PEN 2,786

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 PEN 1,779

$704 PEN 2,390

-25.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.7

10.5

20.95%

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

Last update for Trujillo: July 13, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $365 in Trujillo and $203 in Cajamarca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 34% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $14.00 in Trujillo vs $27.00 in Cajamarca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $159 vs $211 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, Getting Around. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 34% 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: $365 in Trujillo versus $203 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 100% less than in Trujillo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $102 in Trujillo versus $131 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 20% less than in Trujillo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.