Mexico vs Peru
Peru costs roughly 17% less than Mexico, though Mexico scores higher on both safety and healthcare. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Peru is approximately 17% less expensive than Mexico based on cost of living including rent. This makes Peru a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Peru has a FIRE Score of 96/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 32.9, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Peru is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Mexico
Safety-sensitive retirees should pause: a 46.6 safety index and a significant safety index gap may signal real risk. But budget-conscious Americans willing to navigate that tradeoff get low rent (a one-bedroom city-center apartment averages $659.65\/mo), a large expat network, and an easy $3,738/mo income visa path to permanent residency.
$1,638/mo
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About Peru
A 1BR in central Lima runs $521.77/mo, less than a parking spot in Manhattan, and the Rentista Visa requires $1,000/mo income to qualify. That math works for retirees on fixed Social Security checks. But the Safety Index sits at 32.9 so the savings come with real security tradeoffs. Worth it only if you vet neighborhoods hard and skip the flash.
$1,957/mo
Not sure which Peru visa you qualify for?
Answer 11 questions and get a personalized match in under 2 minutes.
Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
Country Details →Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Mexico | Peru |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | Level 2: Increased Caution | Level 2: Increased Caution |
| Quality of Life Index | 126.3 +40.3 | 86 |
| Healthcare Index | 72.5 +16.2 | 56.3 |
| Safety Index | 46.6 +13.7 | 32.9 |
| Cost of Living Index | 34.5 | 29.4 +5.1 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $701.9 | $521.7 +180.2 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $2,604.9 | $1,920.2 +684.7 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $659.65 | $521.77 +137.88 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $430.55 | $273.27 +157.28 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1,227.82 | $886.57 +341.25 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $816.48 | $479.07 +337.41 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 174.1 Mbps | 344.6 Mbps +170.5 |
Expat taxes filed by specialists
Greenback Expat Tax handles US taxes for Americans living in Peru. File confidently from abroad.
File your taxes →International health insurance from $45/mo
Get covered before you move to Peru. Genki Traveler offers insurance designed for nomads and expats.
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