Moving to Peru from Panama
What to Expect
Considering a move from Panama to Peru? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Panama to Peru, you would find that Peru is 39.5% cheaper than Panama overall. A PAB75,000 salary in Panama would need to be roughly PEN156,000 in Peru to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lima averages 72°F vs 93°F in Panama City, making it significantly cooler.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Panama and Peru.
What does your salary buy?
PAB75,000 → PEN156,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Peru
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 47.0% less
Groceries
pay 44.5% less
Transportation
pay 5.4% more
Housing
pay 53.1% less
Childcare
pay 49.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 17.8% 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 Panama to Peru.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Peru compared to Panama.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Peru generally does better on safety, though Panama leads in road traffic deaths.
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 Panama leads in health coverage index.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Panama 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
Panama generally does better on infrastructure, though Peru leads in internet access.
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
share of people below the poverty line
Panama generally does better on employment & economy, though Peru leads in unemployment 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Panama generally does better on family life, though Peru leads in infant mortality.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2016–2022), World Health Organization (2024), General Directorate of Revenues, Panama (2016), Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas y de Administración Tributaria (2016). How we calculate this
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Panama City | Lima |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) | 79°/67°F (26°/19°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) | 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) | 66°/58°F (19°/15°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) | 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) |
View all months
| Month | Panama City | Lima |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) | 78°/66°F (25.8°/19.1°C) |
| Feb | 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) | 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.4°C) |
| Mar | 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) | 79°/67°F (26.0°/19.2°C) |
| Apr | 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) | 76°/64°F (24.3°/17.6°C) |
| May | 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) | 71°/61°F (21.7°/16.1°C) |
| Jun | 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) | 67°/60°F (19.7°/15.3°C) |
| Jul | 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) | 66°/59°F (18.7°/15.0°C) |
| Aug | 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) | 65°/58°F (18.4°/14.6°C) |
| Sep | 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) |
| Oct | 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) | 68°/59°F (19.9°/15.2°C) |
| Nov | 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) | 71°/62°F (21.9°/16.4°C) |
| Dec | 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) | 75°/64°F (23.9°/17.7°C) |
Data:
IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá,
Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología del Perú
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Panama 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.
Panama passport holder visiting Peru
Visa Free
Peru passport holder visiting Panama
Visa FreeData: 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 Panama?
On average Peru is about 39% less expensive than Panama, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Peru?
Budget about PEN39,000 for 3 months in Peru (based on a PAB75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Peru?
Connectivity is usually fine (Peru: 11.7 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Peru offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Peru safe for expats?
Peru generally does better on safety, though Panama leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Peru is 8.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 11.7 in Panama. About 39% of people in Peru feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Peru compared to Panama?
Peru generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in health coverage index. There are 16.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Peru, compared to 16.2 in Panama. Peru scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Panama: 78).
What's the weather like in Peru compared to Panama?
The average high temperature in Lima is 72°F, compared to 93°F in Panama City. Lima receives around 0.5 in of rainfall per year, while Panama City gets 75.1 in.
What language do they speak in Peru?
The official languages in Peru are Aymara, Quechua and Spanish. In Panama, the official language is Spanish.
