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: $784 in Trujillo versus $649 in Cajamarca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,170 in Trujillo versus $1,098 in Cajamarca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,557 in Trujillo versus $1,547 in Cajamarca.

Living in Trujillo is roughly 21% more expensive than Cajamarca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Trujillo 41% lower, Cajamarca 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.21 PEN 10.91

$3.00 PEN 10.20

7.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.85 PEN 47.14

$28.12 PEN 95.7

-50.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.75 PEN 22.96

$5.85 PEN 19.90

15.38%

Cappuccino

$2.88 PEN 9.81

$2.93 PEN 9.96

-1.71%

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

$0.89 PEN 3.04

$0.75 PEN 2.56

18.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 PEN 1.95

$0.59 PEN 2.00

-3.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PEN 6.77

$2.18 PEN 7.41

-8.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 PEN 11.37

$3.23 PEN 10.99

3.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 PEN 3.42

$1.24 PEN 4.22

-18.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 PEN 6.24

$3.12 PEN 10.60

-41.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 PEN 3.88

$1.09 PEN 3.71

4.59%

Eggs

$3.85 PEN 13.11

$2.17 PEN 7.39

77.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.15 PEN 20.93

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 PEN 22.22

$5.85 PEN 19.89

11.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.62 PEN 25.94

$12.02 PEN 40.88

-36.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 PEN 3.85

$0.93 PEN 3.15

21.51%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 PEN 1.96

$0.75 PEN 2.56

-22.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.58 PEN 1.96

$0.83 PEN 2.83

-30.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.76 PEN 2.58

$1.05 PEN 3.58

-27.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 PEN 3.18

$0.68 PEN 2.33

36.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 PEN 2.74

$0.94 PEN 3.20

-13.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 PEN 3.03

$0.62 PEN 2.12

43.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 PEN 2.94

$0.72 PEN 2.45

19.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.05 PEN 13.77

$8.23 PEN 28.00

-50.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.77 PEN 19.63

$10.20 PEN 34.69

-43.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 PEN 4.83

$2.50 PEN 8.52

-43.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 PEN 5.80

$2.35 PEN 7.99

-27.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 PEN 2.00

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.72 PEN 56.9

$8.11 PEN 27.58

106.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 PEN 9.35

$1.64 PEN 5.59

67.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 PEN 6.97

$1.22 PEN 4.14

68.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.52 PEN 18.79

$4.90 PEN 16.68

12.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 PEN 4.62

$1.50 PEN 5.12

-9.33%

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

$16.9K PEN 57.7K

$21.8K PEN 74.1K

-22.21%

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

$26.6K PEN 90.4K

$23.8K PEN 81.0K

11.50%

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

$74.4 PEN 253

$46.05 PEN 157

61.48%

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

$8.19 PEN 27.85

$9.02 PEN 30.68

-9.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.99 PEN 71.4

$26.75 PEN 91.0

-21.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.41 PEN 120

$28.61 PEN 97.4

23.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.65 PEN 19.21

$19.22 PEN 65.4

-70.60%

Cinema Ticket

$4.07 PEN 13.84

$4.68 PEN 15.92

-13.03%

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

$106 PEN 360

$128 PEN 435

-17.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,029 PEN 6,902

$4,117 PEN 14.0K

-50.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.7 PEN 237

$48.44 PEN 165

43.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.96 PEN 47.48

$27.69 PEN 94.2

-49.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$33.78 PEN 115

$75.4 PEN 256

-55.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.69 PEN 111

$77.0 PEN 262

-57.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 PEN 1,246

$202 PEN 687

81.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$254 PEN 865

$97.3 PEN 331

161.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$602 PEN 2,047

$502 PEN 1,707

19.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 PEN 1,624

$292 PEN 992

63.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,138 PEN 3,872

$2,356 PEN 8,017

-51.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$834 PEN 2,837

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$539 PEN 1,834

$707 PEN 2,407

-23.78%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Cajamarca: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $366 in Trujillo and $202 in Cajamarca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cajamarca pays 31% 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 $28.00 in Cajamarca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $160 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 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Cajamarca earns 31% less. 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: $366 in Trujillo versus $202 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 106% less than in Trujillo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $106 in Trujillo versus $128 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 21% less than in Trujillo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.