Moving to Peru from United States
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from United States to Peru — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from United States to Peru, you would find that Peru is 64.0% cheaper than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly PEN92,700 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 62°F in New York City, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Peru cheaper than United States?
The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 70.8% less
Groceries
pay 54.8% less
Transportation
pay 25.9% less
Housing
pay 77.3% less
Childcare
pay 83.3% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 52.2% 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.
What salary do you need in Peru?
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → PEN92,700
To maintain the same standard of living in Peru
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to Peru
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from United States to Peru, and how the trend has changed.
Key Indicator Comparison
How United States and Peru stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
United States generally does better on safety, though Peru 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 United States 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
United States 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
United States 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
share of people below the poverty line
United States 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
United States performs better than Peru across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), World Health Organization (2024), Internal Revenue Service (2016), Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas y de Administración Tributaria (2016), The World Factbook (2010). How we calculate this
Weather in Peru vs United States
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | New York City | Lima |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 43°/30°F (6°/-1°C) | 79°/67°F (26°/19°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 70°/54°F (21°/12°C) | 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 81°/66°F (27°/19°C) | 66°/58°F (19°/15°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 54°/41°F (12°/5°C) | 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) |
View all months
| Month | New York City | Lima |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°/27°F (3.5°/-2.8°C) | 78°/66°F (25.8°/19.1°C) |
| Feb | 42°/29°F (5.3°/-1.7°C) | 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.4°C) |
| Mar | 50°/35°F (9.8°/1.8°C) | 79°/67°F (26.0°/19.2°C) |
| Apr | 61°/45°F (16.2°/7.1°C) | 76°/64°F (24.3°/17.6°C) |
| May | 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.2°C) | 71°/61°F (21.7°/16.1°C) |
| Jun | 79°/64°F (26.3°/17.6°C) | 67°/60°F (19.7°/15.3°C) |
| Jul | 84°/69°F (28.9°/20.4°C) | 66°/59°F (18.7°/15.0°C) |
| Aug | 83°/68°F (28.1°/19.9°C) | 65°/58°F (18.4°/14.6°C) |
| Sep | 75°/61°F (24.0°/16.0°C) | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) |
| Oct | 64°/50°F (17.7°/10.0°C) | 68°/59°F (19.9°/15.2°C) |
| Nov | 54°/42°F (12.1°/5.3°C) | 71°/62°F (21.9°/16.4°C) |
| Dec | 43°/32°F (6.1°/0.0°C) | 75°/64°F (23.9°/17.7°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología del Perú
Can you move from United States to Peru?
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 United States?
Generally yes: Peru runs about 64% cheaper than United States 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 $75,000 comparable salary, that's around PEN23,175 in Peru for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Peru?
With 11.7 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 United States and Peru.
Is Peru safe for expats?
United States generally does better on safety, though Peru leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Peru is 8.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.8 in United States. About 39% of people in Peru feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Peru compared to United States?
Peru generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 16.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Peru, compared to 36.8 in United States. Peru scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).
What's the weather like in Peru compared to United States?
The average high temperature in Lima is 72°F, compared to 62°F in New York City. Lima receives around 0.5 in of rainfall per year, while New York City gets 49.9 in.
What language do they speak in Peru?
The official languages in Peru are Aymara, Quechua and Spanish. In United States, the official language is English.
