Lima
Pacific Coast · Peru · South America
Foggy ocean cliffs, surfers below and a gastronomic obsession around every corner.
Lima is a vast coastal capital perched on cliffs above the Pacific, home to one of the world's great food scenes and a surprisingly good surf-in-the-city lifestyle in the right districts. It's affordable and culturally rich, but the city is grey and overcast for much of the year, traffic is chaotic, and safety varies sharply by neighborhood. It suits foodies and surfers who want an affordable big city and can tolerate the gloom and sprawl. Stick to the coastal districts and it shines.
comfortable monthly budget
1-bed rent, good area
Best for
Not for
A large, diverse local population with a modest expat and nomad presence clustered in Miraflores and Barranco; sociable in those zones with a strong food-and-bar culture, though the broader city is harder to crack.
Where to land
The scorecard
Tax in Peru
Special regime: New residents taxed only on Peruvian-source income for first years
Residents are taxed on worldwide income, but foreign nationals' foreign income is exempt during initial residency.
Representative estimate — not tax advice. · source
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Find my placePhoto via Wikimedia Commons · source