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Countries / Peru
Peru
Lima's food scene, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and a very low cost of living; a Rentista visa that welcomes retirees, but healthcare and safety need planning.
RegionSouth America
CapitalLima
CurrencyPeruvian sol
LanguageSpanish, Quechua
Expat saturationLow (2% foreign born)
Living cost · Mid-rangefrom $1,600/mo
Drone reel · 4K · muted loop
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🇵🇪 Peru from abovePeru in 60 secondsAerials of Lima, Arequipa, Cusco. Replace this slot with the video element; the text stays overlaid.
Ad
BBluewater Insurance
Health, home and travel in one policy.
Built for expats in Peru. Cancel any time. Claims paid in 5 days on average.
Get covered →From $62/month
Sample creative · fictional advertiserAd
HHarbor & Vale Health
Cover that follows you to Peru.
International health insurance from $89/month. Pre-existing conditions considered.
See plans →Rated 4.8 · 12,000 reviews
Sample creative · fictional advertiserAd
AAtlas Language School
Speak Spanish before you land.
Live online classes with native teachers. 30-minute placement, then a plan built for your move.
Free trial lesson →Classes from $14
Sample creative · fictional advertiserYour moveSets your plan and the listings on flights, hotels, rentals, furnishings, moving and retirement.
Your plan for Peru checklist · timeline · cost breakdown
Affordable move$8,300estimated first-year setup · about 33 weeksMid-range move$16,350estimated first-year setup · about 28 weeksLuxury move$46,950estimated first-year setup · about 20 weeksRetirement move$23,800estimated setup incl. visa, insurance and advice · about 48 weeks
Estimates for one adult before ongoing rent and living costs; couples and families scale up. Tap a plan for the full breakdown.
Peru by the numbers editorial estimates in US dollars
Worth of the dollar$1 ≈ S/3.551 Peruvian sol ≈ $0.282 · snapshot, changes daily · Current rate ↗
Utilities · 85 m² flat$70/moElectric, water, sewer & garbage
Home internet$25/moBroadband, typical plan
Wi-Fi & connectivity score66/100Median fixed broadband ≈ 110 Mbps
Internet reliability66/100Usually fine; keep a mobile-data backup
English day-to-dayBasicHow far English gets you
Remote-work time zoneExcellent US overlapExcellent US overlap, hard for EU
Phone & eSIM$10/moLocal plan · travel eSIM ≈ $15/10 GB
Walkability of cities52/100Mixed; a car or rides for most trips
Air quality46/100Lima moderate to unhealthy from traffic and its grey coastal haze; Arequipa and Cusco cleaner
Healthy food & food safety70/100DIGESA follows Codex; black-octagon warning labels; extraordinary produce and cuisine
Severe weather & hazards60/100 riskEarthquakes, El Niño flooding, landslides, altitude sickness above 3,000 m
Drive on theRightLeft-hand-drive cars · Licence & vehicles →
Time zonePET (UTC−5)PET (UTC−5), no DST; same as New York in winter
Literacy95%Adult literacy rate
Cost to give birth(SIS) low-costPublic (SIS) low-cost / private $2,000–4,000
Rural land$1,000–5,000per acre · $1,000–5,000 rural; Sacred Valley higher
Beauty of cities82/100Architecture, setting, upkeep and green space
Petrol / fuel$1.25/L≈ $4.73 per US gallon
Doctor visit$25Basic clinic visit, paid privately
Emergency room$150Uninsured visit, before treatment
Dentist$25 / $40Check-up & cleaning / one filling
Life expectancy76 yrsAt birth
Unemployment6%National rate
Remote work & digital nomadsWelcomedDigital Nomad visa (2024) on ~$3,000/mo for one year renewable
🌤️ Climate
Coast dry and grey (Lima never rains but is cloudy May–Nov), Andes cool with a Nov–Mar wet season, Amazon hot and wet.
Winter · Jan23°C73°F
Spring · Apr21°C70°F
Summer · Jul16°C61°F
Autumn · Oct18°C64°F
Mean temperatures for Lima.
🌧️ Rain & snow
Rainfall about 15 mm (1 in) a year.
Snow Andes only.
⚖️ The law
Official legislationSPIJ (Ministry of Justice legal information) ↗
OverviewLaw of Peru on Wikipedia ↗
Driving On the right. Licence rules →
🏛️ Taxes
Property tax Impuesto predial 0.2–1% of assessed value; low.
Local & regional income tax None regional; national 8–30%.
🎓 University
Public universities free (competitive entry); private $3–8k/yr.
📱 Phone & eSIM
Carriers Movistar, Claro, Entel, Bitel.
Average cost Local SIM or eSIM with generous data about $10/month; a 30-day travel eSIM (Airalo, Holafly, Saily and similar) around $15 for 10 GB.
🎁 Schemes to attract expats
- Rentista visa with tax-free foreign pension income on ~$1,000/mo
- Digital Nomad visa
- Very low cost of living
- Investor visa from ~$150k
Figures are national averages for planning, not quotes; big cities run higher. Tax schemes change often and carry conditions. Verify before you rely on them.
Official sources for Peru embassies, warnings, law and reference
US Embassy in Peru↗All embassies and consulates in Peru↗US State Department travel advisory↗UK FCDO travel advice↗SPIJ (Ministry of Justice legal information)↗Law of Peru (Wikipedia)↗Peru on Wikipedia↗Peru Travel (PromPerú) (official tourism board)↗World Health Organization country profile↗Numbeo cost-of-living data↗
Government, intergovernmental and reference sites only; no reviews or opinion. Links open in a new tab.
Ratings & warnings independent
Visa informationTypes, step-by-step application, where to applyPassport renewalOfficial renewal links and timingLiveability scoreThe rating and what drives itSafety ratingCrime, stability and what the number meansTravel warningsState Department and UN advisories, liveRegional information & cuisineWhere to live and what you'll eatCommunity & meetupsFinding your people
Follows your Mid-range tier partner listings match your budget
FlightsGateways, routes and fares for your research tripHotels & accommodationWhere to stay while you scout, with videoRental propertiesNeighbourhoods, prices and how renting worksFurnishings & home setupFurniture, appliances, utilities and internetMoving & shippingGetting your life across the oceanRetirementVisas, costs and where retirees settle
Services & daily life one labelled partner per page
Airport taxis & transfersOfficial cabs, apps, rail links and faresTransportationGetting around, driving and licencesTrains, buses & ticketsIntercity travel and where to bookSchoolsInternational, bilingual and local optionsChild care & nanniesNurseries, nannies, au pairs and costsUniversitiesDegrees, fees and student visasPets: vets, boarding & relocationBringing animals, finding a vet and careLanguage classesLearning before and after you landBest restaurantsWhere locals and expats actually eatHospitals & healthcare accessHow to see a doctor, hospitals, insuranceBanking & money transferAccounts, transfers and currencyTax & legal helpResidency, treaties and who to hireJobs boardRoles open to foreigners, updated weeklyCoworking & remote workWork rights, spaces and freelancing
Rated & officialPartners in three tiersOne labelled partner
Life in Peru faith, wellbeing, shopping and play
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Interested in where astrology says you should live?Click here for more info on astrocartography and Peru.
Click here →🕊️ Religious servicesChurches, mosques, synagogues, temples and more🧘 Wellness & spiritualityYoga, retreats, meditation, spas and practitioners🛍️ Retail recommendationsWhere to shop for clothes, tech, homeware and gifts🧺 Groceries & marketsSupermarkets, local markets and what things cost🥾 Recreation & tour guidesOutdoors, sport, day trips and licensed guides📱 Phone & eSIMCarriers, eSIMs, plans and what they cost⛴️ Boats & ferriesFerry routes, marinas, boat rental and ownership🏖️ Beaches, lakes & riversSwimming, water quality and the best spots🚗 Vehicles & driving licenceRent or buy a car, and how to get a local licence🖼️ Art galleries, museums & librariesWhat's free, what costs, and where to start Holidays & festivalsNational holidays, closures and the festivals worth planning around
Holidays & festivalsNational holidays, closures and the festivals worth planning aroundJobs board · Peru
Search for jobs for free, or post a job for $100 USD.
Roles open to foreigners in Peru: remote work you can do from Lima, and in-person jobs with employers who hire from abroad. Free for job seekers, always. Employers pay a flat $100 per listing, live for 60 days.
Latest listings. Example listings shown until the first real posts go live.
Example · Senior Software Engineer (React / Node)Northwind Labs · Remote, US or EU hours
$95,000–130,000USD
Example · English Teacher (adults & business)International Language Centre · Lima · in person
S/7,800–S/11,000/moPEN