Peru
A solid all-round choice. Ranked 22 of 40, strongest on affordability, softest on safety.
Key facts
Visa & residency
Requires proof of a stable monthly income of at least $1,000 USD from a foreign source, plus an additional $500 USD per month for each dependent.
The Rentista program grants residency based on permanent passive income of at least $1,000 USD monthly, with $500 USD per dependent; as a resident you must declare your foreign income in Peru.
Healthcare
Peru has a two-tier system: public EsSalud for formal workers and SIS for low-income Peruvians, alongside a private sector. Public facilities suffer overcrowding and delays, so most expats use private clinics; top Lima clinics meet international standards but quality drops noticeably outside Lima.
Because of the poor standard of care in public facilities, many expats take out private medical cover or international health insurance to access shorter wait times, higher-quality facilities, and specialist care.
Cost of living
Estimated monthly costs for a single person are about $521 (excluding rent), rising to roughly $575 in Lima; cost of living is 53.3% lower than the US (59.5% lower including rent).
Safety & climate
Peru scored 2.179 on the 2024 Global Peace Index, ranking 99th in the world.
Varied: arid desert coast (Costa), highland/Andes mountain climate (Sierra), and tropical rainforest (Amazonia/Selva)
Three broad climatic regions parallel the topography: the dry Costa (coast) averages 19-22°C; the Sierra (Andes) is mostly above 3,000 m with temperatures falling as elevation rises; and Amazonia is hot and humid year-round with abundant rainfall.
Community & language
Spanish is dominant and English is not widely spoken; even in the public EsSalud health system there is a near absence of English-speaking staff, though top private Lima clinics have English-speaking doctors.
Spanish is the official language, with Quechua and Aymara as co-official indigenous languages.
Taxes
Peru taxes tax residents on income from all sources, and as a resident you must declare your foreign income in Peru.
The U.S. and Peru do not have a comprehensive tax treaty, so a treaty cannot automatically prevent being taxed twice on the same income.
Compare Peru with its closest rivals
The three countries whose RetireScore sits nearest.
