Moving to Peru from South Carolina

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What to Expect

Considering a move from South Carolina to Peru? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from South Carolina to Peru, you would find that Peru is 47.2% cheaper than South Carolina. A $75,000 salary in South Carolina would need to be roughly PEN120,297 in Peru to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Aymara, Quechua and Spanish.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between South Carolina and Peru.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 PEN120,297

To maintain the same standard of living in Peru

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 65.5% less

Groceries

pay 48.6% less

Transportation

pay 2.1% less

Housing

pay 73.3% less

Childcare

pay 80.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 38.3% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 3.38 PEN (June 2026)

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 South Carolina to Peru.

Living there in 2020
41,292 ↑ 118% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Peru · UN DESA

Who's moving to Peru?

Top countries of origin for Peru's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Peru compared to South Carolina.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

SC
35.4%
PE
19.7%

Peru performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

SC
87.0%
PE
71.0%

South Carolina performs better than Peru across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

SC
4.9%
PE
4.8%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

SC
$49,914
PE
$15,100

South Carolina generally does better on employment & economy, though Peru leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

SC
74.8 yrs
PE
68.9 yrs

South Carolina 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.

Columbia Rain: 46.3 in/yr (1175 mm)
66° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Lima Rain: 0.5 in/yr (13 mm)
72° / 62°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Columbia Lima
Jan–Mar 47°/28°F (8°/-2°C) 79°/67°F (26°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) 71°/62°F (22°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/65°F (30°/18°C) 66°/58°F (19°/15°C)
Oct–Dec 55°/36°F (13°/2°C) 71°/62°F (22°/16°C)
View all months
Month Columbia Lima
Jan 40°/22°F (4.3°/-5.3°C) 78°/66°F (25.8°/19.1°C)
Feb 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.3°C) 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.4°C)
Mar 56°/35°F (13.3°/1.7°C) 79°/67°F (26.0°/19.2°C)
Apr 67°/46°F (19.3°/7.6°C) 76°/64°F (24.3°/17.6°C)
May 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C) 71°/61°F (21.7°/16.1°C)
Jun 85°/65°F (29.2°/18.1°C) 67°/60°F (19.7°/15.3°C)
Jul 90°/69°F (32.0°/20.4°C) 66°/59°F (18.7°/15.0°C)
Aug 88°/67°F (31.3°/19.6°C) 65°/58°F (18.4°/14.6°C)
Sep 80°/58°F (26.6°/14.5°C) 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C)
Oct 68°/47°F (20.0°/8.1°C) 68°/59°F (19.9°/15.2°C)
Nov 55°/37°F (12.7°/2.6°C) 71°/62°F (21.9°/16.4°C)
Dec 42°/25°F (5.6°/-3.8°C) 75°/64°F (23.9°/17.7°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología del Perú 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

United States passport holder visiting Peru

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Peru without a visa.
Peru passport

Peru passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Peru passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: 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 South Carolina?

On average Peru is about 53% less expensive than South Carolina, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Peru?

Budget about PEN30,074 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 South Carolina and Peru are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Peru compared to South Carolina?

Peru performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Peru compared to South Carolina?

The average high temperature in Lima is 72°F, compared to 66°F in Columbia. Lima receives around 0.5 in of rainfall per year, while Columbia gets 46.3 in.

What language do they speak in Peru?

The official languages in Peru are Aymara, Quechua and Spanish. In South Carolina, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

PE
Population 4,625,364 32,275,736
Currency United States Dollar ($) Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PEN)
Languages English Aymara, Quechua, Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +51
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 105