After six years of travel, I never anticipated Peru becoming my final stop. Having already lived in several countries that checked many of the boxes for my ideal living environment, I never expected it to become home.
Five countries and six years later, I am now beginning my third year in Lima.
One of the most diverse countries on the planet, Peru is home to many different ethnicities, languages, cultures, and landscapes. It is home to 90 different microclimates and ranks among the top 10 countries in biodiversity of plant and animal species.
Second only to Colombia, the country has the highest diversity of bird species in the world. This is largely due to the contrasting climates of the Andes, the Amazon, and the coastline. I am endlessly mesmerized by the variety of colorful birds that come to my terrace each morning amid the urban landscape of Lima.
For expats seeking their ideal location, it offers many of the essentials most commonly sought after, whether your preference is to live along the beach, quietly in the mountains, or surrounded by forests and trees.
Once on the ground, the challenge becomes deciding where to live within such a diverse country.
What are the most popular places expats choose?
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Cusco
Six years and five different countries distilled within me a philosophy of living simply. This became the highest priority in my daily life and surroundings. Therefore, Cusco was inevitably the first place in Peru that I wanted to explore. It was never my plan to stay beyond an exploratory month, much less rent an apartment and settle into daily life. Yet something seemed to draw me to this deeply spiritual place and keep me there for more than a season.
I was immediately drawn to the people and energy of Cusco. The city offers a simple lifestyle rooted in its history and culture. Living there for a season taught me the difference between the cost of living and the richness of living with less. It gave me the opportunity to observe people with significantly fewer material possessions, yet with a seemingly higher level of contentment than I had ever witnessed in corporate America.
I discovered parallels between the slower rhythm of Costa Rica, where I had already spent more than two years, and Cusco’s lower cost and simpler standard of living.
Most foreigners visit Cusco as tourists for a few days or a week, often on a pilgrimage to see Machu Picchu. It is not often considered a long-term living option. I arrived intending to stay for a month and ended up remaining for four.
As one begins to discover, Cusco can become much more than a tourist destination. It is a place where you can settle into a daily rhythm of life while enjoying access to necessities at a more basic and affordable level.
Most people experience Cusco for only a week or two, yet there is much more to discover in its cobblestone streets, daily markets, spiritual traditions, arts, and culture.
Cusco is a place that most people visit, but living there is something entirely different. I would likely still be living there had it not been for meeting my partner and now wife, which eventually led me to Lima.
Cusco offers cooler mountain conditions, with temperatures averaging 45 F to 68 F (7 C to 20 C). The dry season, from May to September, brings sunny days and crisp nights, while the rainy season, from November to March, delivers lush landscapes and afternoon showers.
If you are looking for depth and meaning in your surroundings, Cusco should be on your list.
Lima
I am now beginning my third year in Peru, living in the capital city of Lima, and continue to discover why it is becoming increasingly popular among expats choosing it as a permanent destination.
Lima is a popular choice for many expats for obvious reasons. It offers many of the benefits of a large metropolitan city, including restaurants, shopping, theaters, and gyms. Lima is considered the food capital of Latin America and sits along the coastline, a must for many expats.
Having never been drawn to large cities, it is somewhat ironic that I have ended up here. Lima can be overwhelming, with traffic and all that comes with a population of 11 million people. However, my travels have repeatedly taught me that location is more about creating your ideal life within what each unique environment offers than about seeking an unattainable “perfect destination” elsewhere.
Lima’s most popular expat neighborhoods include Miraflores, Barranco, and San Isidro, as well as several safe but more affordable districts, such as Surquillo, Pueblo Libre, and Surco. I spent my first four months in Barranco, enjoying its bohemian, artistic atmosphere along the coast.
I now live in the working-class neighborhood of Surquillo, with a terrace overlooking a beautiful park. My monthly expenses are under $1,000. My top-floor apartment is close to everything I need—markets, the gym, the cinema, cafés, and restaurants—all within two miles of home. That walkability brings enormous benefits not only to my health and budget, but to the environment as well.
In Surquillo, I have been able to build a simple daily life centered around walking, small cafés, and fresh markets for meat, fruits, and vegetables, while immersing myself in the culture of working-class Peruvian families.
Lima has mild year-round temperatures typically ranging from 60 F to 78 F (16 C to 26 C). Summers, from December to April, bring sun and warmth, while winters, from June to September, are cool and overcast with little rainfall. The city receives almost no rain but sees persistent coastal fog, known as garúa, during winter. Winter in Lima is not for everyone.
If you are looking for ease, convenience, and access to modern amenities, I suggest exploring Lima.
Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley surrounding Cusco is another popular area of Peru for expats. Located in the quiet foothills of the Andes Mountains, the region is rich in archaeological treasures and Inca traditions.
Stretching between Cusco and Machu Picchu, the area has long attracted those who want to live away from the city, as well as spiritual seekers of all kinds. This is where people go when they want to step out of the world.
Along the Sacred Valley on the route to Machu Picchu, you will discover towns like Pisac, known for its agricultural terraces and artisan markets; Ollantaytambo, a living Inca town with remarkable archaeological structures and the Temple of the Sun; and Urubamba, a hub for expats and travelers seeking a quieter lifestyle surrounded by nature.
The Sacred Valley offers a quieter and more unconventional way of life. It is well-suited to those seeking solitude, simplicity, and natural surroundings.
Many expats choose the Sacred Valley for its lifestyle away from the big city, its affordable cost of living, and the deep spirituality of the Andes.
If you are drawn to a quiet life and a slower pace surrounded by nature, the Sacred Valley may be where you find it.
Arequipa
Arequipa is among the most popular choices for expats in Peru, as it checks many of the boxes for an ideal long-term location. Known for its beauty, this small colonial city combines rich cultural heritage with stunning natural surroundings. It offers a unique balance of livability and culture.
First and foremost, Arequipa is affordable, with rental options often available between $500 and $600 per month. It is considered a safe and walkable city, while food and transportation costs remain low. Surrounded by three volcanoes, it offers both beauty and easy access to nature.
The city is famously known in Peru as La Ciudad Blanca, or “The White City.” It is also called the “City of Eternal Spring” because of its sunny weather and mild temperatures, which average in the 70s throughout much of the year.
Arequipa is renowned throughout Peru for its excellent food. For all of these reasons, it remains a popular choice among expats and offers the possibility of community within a smaller city, along with connections to both expats and English speakers.
Arequipa enjoys springlike weather year-round, with temperatures averaging 55 F to 75 F (13 C to 24 C), making it attractive to those seeking both comfort and social connection.
If you are seeking a balance between livability and culture, Arequipa deserves a place on your shortlist.
Trujillo
Often mentioned among expats as an affordable option, yet still somewhat undiscovered, is Trujillo. If you are on a modest budget and seeking authenticity over convenience, Trujillo may be your place.
Located on Peru’s northern coast, Trujillo offers more of a beach lifestyle and appeals to those looking for a relaxed pace of life away from the chaos of Lima.
Trujillo is similarly affordable to Arequipa, with rental options ranging from $500 to $700 per month. It provides an authentic lifestyle immersed in the culture of a smaller city. The area is also home to numerous pre-Columbian archaeological sites dating back to the Chimú and Moche civilizations.
Many expats choose Trujillo for its affordability, culture, weather, and coastal setting.
Trujillo has a subtropical desert climate, with average highs in the upper 60s to low 70s F, dry conditions, and sunshine nearly 300 days a year, making it one of Peru’s most climate-stable cities.
How to Choose
How one chooses a living environment is as personal as the individual. Remarkably, Peru offers many diverse options within one rich and beautiful country. Not everyone is seeking the same way of life.
Living in six different countries for periods ranging from more than six months to several years taught me that you can only take the surroundings you are given and make them your own. In Peru, a number of places offer the ingredients with which to do just that.
If you are looking for a basic yet culturally rich and meaningful way of life immersed in the energy and traditions of the Incas, Cusco offers such an option. It provides a simple lifestyle at a highly affordable cost.
If you thrive in a large urban environment with all its culinary options and conveniences, Lima is a place where you can live as affordably as in many other parts of Peru if you are willing to explore some of the more modest working-class neighborhoods, walk most of the time, and carve out a simple lifestyle.
If a strong sense of community and a slower pace of life are what you are seeking, with opportunities to connect with other English speakers and expats, Arequipa could be a great place to start.
If you find yourself drawn to a more off-the-grid lifestyle, surrounded by the solitude of nature and the energy of the Andes, the Sacred Valley might be right for you.
If you are seeking a beach lifestyle with affordability and great weather year-round, consider Trujillo.
If there is anything that I have gained over the years from living in dramatically different countries and cultures, it is perspective. Along the way, I have also chipped away at the nonessentials to discover what is truly most important to me in my surroundings.
Even now, in a place that might not check every box for my ideal location, I have been able to carve out the essentials for myself. That consists of a simple and affordable way of life. I can live contentedly in Lima for approximately $1,000 per month.
Walkability, access to good-quality food at an affordable price, and some connection to nature are essential for me. I live in an apartment overlooking a park, and I walk to markets, cafés, restaurants, the gym, and the movie theater.
Consider taking some time to write out what is most important to you in a living environment. Peru offers several places where you may find yourself most at home.
Remember, there is no perfect location, only your own version of life within the place that allows you to live on your own terms.
A country like Peru offers the diversity and affordability that can make that possible.
The World’s Best Retirement Havens for 2026
The World’s Best Retirement Havens for 2026
24 Countries Compared, Contrasted, Ranked, and Rated. You don’t have to be rich to enjoy a pampered retirement, you just need to know where to go. With our 35th Annual Global Retirement Index, our experts hand you a detailed roadmap. Details—and a Special Offer—Here
By submitting your email address, you will receive a free subscription to IL Postcards, The Untourist Daily and special offers from International Living and our affiliates. You can unsubscribe at any time, and we encourage you to read more about our Privacy Policy.