Moving to Peru from New Zealand
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from New Zealand to Peru — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from New Zealand to Peru, you would find that Peru is 46.9% cheaper than New Zealand overall. A NZ$128,326 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly PEN136,400 in Peru to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Aymara, Quechua and Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lima averages 72°F vs 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from New Zealand to Peru.
What does your salary buy?
NZ$128,326 → PEN136,400
To maintain the same standard of living in Peru
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 58.1% less
Groceries
pay 37.3% less
Transportation
pay 27.3% less
Housing
pay 60.2% less
Childcare
pay 68.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 45.2% 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?
Real numbers on people moving from New Zealand to Peru, and how the trend has changed.
Key Indicator Comparison
How New Zealand and Peru stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand performs better than Peru across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Peru generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
New Zealand generally does better on environment, though Peru leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
New Zealand generally does better on infrastructure, though Peru leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
New Zealand generally does better on employment & economy, though Peru leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
New Zealand performs better than Peru across all family life metrics.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Wellington | Lima |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 79°/67°F (26°/19°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 66°/58°F (19°/15°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Lima |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 78°/66°F (25.8°/19.1°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.4°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 79°/67°F (26.0°/19.2°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 76°/64°F (24.3°/17.6°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 71°/61°F (21.7°/16.1°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 67°/60°F (19.7°/15.3°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 66°/59°F (18.7°/15.0°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 65°/58°F (18.4°/14.6°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 68°/59°F (19.9°/15.2°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 71°/62°F (21.9°/16.4°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 75°/64°F (23.9°/17.7°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología del Perú
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Peru
Visa Free
Peru passport holder visiting New Zealand
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 New Zealand?
Generally yes: Peru runs about 46% cheaper than New Zealand on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Peru?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a NZ$128,326 comparable salary, that's around PEN34,100 in Peru for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Peru?
With 9.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Peru can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in New Zealand and Peru.
Is Peru safe for expats?
New Zealand performs better than Peru across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Peru is 5.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Peru compared to New Zealand?
Peru generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 16.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Peru, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Peru scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Peru compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Lima is 72°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Lima receives around 0.5 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Peru?
The official languages in Peru are Aymara, Quechua and Spanish. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
