Peru
From Machu Picchu’s ancient stones to Lima’s culinary renaissance, Peru’s heritage spans mountains, desert and jungle.
Overview
Peru’s Spanish‑speaking landscape is a tapestry of soaring Andes, arid coastal deserts and the Amazon basin. Iconic sites like the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu sit alongside vibrant cities—Lima’s gastronomic scene and Cusco’s colonial charm—while Quechua and Aymara cultures add linguistic depth to everyday life.
At a glance
Languages
- Aymara(Official)
- Quechua(Official)
- Spanish(Official)
Population33,715,000
CurrencyPeruvian Sol (PEN)
1 PEN = 0.2983 USD
1 USD = 3.3520 PEN
Popular places
Peru
Cost of living
Numbeo publishes these source indexes relative to New York City.
Cost of LivingPotentially much less expensiveSource category: All | 2026
RentPotentially much less expensiveSource category: Rent | 2026
GroceriesPotentially much less expensiveSource category: Grocery | 2026
RestaurantPotentially much less expensiveSource category: Restaurant | 2026
Local Purchasing PowerWeaker local purchasing powerSource category: Purchasing Power | 2026
Sources
- Numbeo Cost of Living Index
Quality of life
Quality of Life IndexStrongSource category: Quality Of Life | 2026 | Overall quality of life index
Healthcare IndexMixedSource category: Healthcare | 2026 | Healthcare quality index (100 = best healthcare)
Crime IndexElevatedSource category: Crime | 2026 | Crime index (100 = highest crime)
Safety IndexLimitedSource category: Safety | 2026 | Safety index (100 = safest)
Pollution IndexHighSource category: Pollution | 2026 | Pollution index (100 = most polluted)
Traffic IndexHighSource category: Traffic | 2026 | Overall traffic index (considers time + inefficiency + CO2)
Sources
- Numbeo Cost of Living Index
Entry requirements
Visa and residency reference data is available for Investor, Citizenship, Permanent Residency, and 3 more.
Investor
- Investor Resident Migration Quality
Resident visa route for foreign nationals establishing, developing, or administering lawful investments in Peru.
- 365 days, renewable
- Limited work rights
- Path to residency
Citizenship
- Nationality by Naturalization
Naturalization process for adult foreign nationals with at least two consecutive years of legal residence in Peru.
Permanent Residency
- Permanent Resident Migration Quality
Permanent resident migration-quality change for qualifying foreign nationals who have lived in Peru for three consecutive years.
- Full work rights
Retirement
Languages
- Aymara(Official)
- Quechua(Official)
- Spanish(Official)
Sources
- Country language reference
Safety
3 source-backed travel advisories are available for Peru.
Canada
Exercise a high degree of caution
Advisory effective · Verified
Exercise a high degree of caution in Peru due to high levels of crime, as well as social conflicts and strikes that may occur across the country.
United Kingdom
FCDO advises against all but essential travel
Advisory effective · Verified
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Within 20km south of the Peru-Colombia border.
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to areas within 20km south of the Putumayo River and the border between Peru and Colombia (Loreto region) except for:
- the Amazon River
- the area of the triple border with Brazil and Colombia from and including the towns of Caballococha in Peru up to the actual triple border at Santa Rosa de Yavari town
Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers ( VRAEM ). FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers, also known as the VRAEM region. We advise against all but essential travel to these two areas for safety and
United States
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