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 political stability score of 22.7 signal real risk. But budget-conscious Americans willing to navigate that tradeoff get low rent (under $800/mo city center), a large expat network, and an easy $4,400/mo income visa path to permanent residency.
$1,527/mo
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Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
About Peru
A 1BR in central Lima runs $521.77/mo, less than a parking spot in Manhattan, and the Rentista Visa only 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 with a crime score of 57.4, 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 10 questions and get a personalized match in under 2 minutes.
Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
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) | $770.88 | $521.77 +249.11 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $507.48 | $273.27 +234.21 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1,420.07 | $886.57 +533.5 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $956.87 | $479.07 +477.8 |
| 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.
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