Moving to Peru from Iowa
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iowa to Peru? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iowa to Peru, you would find that Peru is 45.6% cheaper than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly PEN141,883 in Peru to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Aymara, Quechua and Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lima averages 72°F vs 60°F in Des Moines, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Iowa and Peru.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → PEN141,883
To maintain the same standard of living in Peru
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 61.8% less
Groceries
pay 39.1% less
Transportation
pay 1.9% more
Housing
pay 67.2% less
Childcare
pay 79.6% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 48.4% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Iowa to Peru.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Peru compared to Iowa.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Peru performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa performs better than Peru across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Iowa performs better than Peru across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa performs better than Peru across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Des Moines | Lima |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 79°/67°F (26°/19°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 66°/58°F (19°/15°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Lima |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 78°/66°F (25.8°/19.1°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.4°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 79°/67°F (26.0°/19.2°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 76°/64°F (24.3°/17.6°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 71°/61°F (21.7°/16.1°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 67°/60°F (19.7°/15.3°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 66°/59°F (18.7°/15.0°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 65°/58°F (18.4°/14.6°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 68°/59°F (19.9°/15.2°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 71°/62°F (21.9°/16.4°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) | 75°/64°F (23.9°/17.7°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología del Perú
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Peru. To live, work, or study long-term in Peru, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Peru's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Peru
Visa Free
Peru passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Peru than Iowa?
On average Peru is about 44% less expensive than Iowa, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Peru?
Budget about PEN35,471 for 3 months in Peru (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Peru?
From major Peru cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Iowa and Peru are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Peru compared to Iowa?
Peru performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Peru compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Lima is 72°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Lima receives around 0.5 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Peru?
The official languages in Peru are Aymara, Quechua and Spanish. In Iowa, the official language is English.
