Cost of Living in Lima

Why English is useless in Peru

Here I present 10 reasons why English is useless in Peru and tourists should be required to learn Spanish:

1. Spanish is the official and majority language. Over 80% of Peruvians speak it as their native tongue.

2. Outside of Lima and tourist areas there are very few people who speak English. Even in those areas, knowledge tends to be limited.

3. Many services and public information only exist in Spanish: signs, announcements, customer service, etc.

4. Most Peruvians will feel more comfortable and willing to help if tourists make the effort to speak Spanish.

5. Learning Spanish will allow tourists to have a more authentic and immersive experience. English isolates them.

6. Spanish will allow them to better understand and enjoy Peru's rich culture: music, art, literature, etc.

7. They will be able to get around the country more easily, using public transportation, taxis, asking for directions, etc.

8. Prices won't inflate as much when vendors detect they are tourists who don't speak Spanish.

9. Speaking Spanish shows respect towards the locals. The effort will be appreciated.

10. Learning a new language broadens the mind and allows for better human connections.

Surviving in Peru

I do not want to encourage anyone to travel to or live in Peru. However, if you find yourself in a situation where you need to survive in Peru, here are 10 tips that might be helpful:

1. Keep a low profile: Try not to draw too much attention to yourself. Dress modestly and avoid carrying valuable items.

2. Learn Spanish: Try to learn Spanish to help you communicate with locals and avoid misunderstandings.

3. Stay informed: Keep up to date with the latest news and travel warnings. This will help you avoid dangerous areas and stay safe.

4. Stay in a safe area: Try to find a safe place to stay, such as a hotel or guesthouse in a relatively safe area. Avoid staying in remote areas or places with a high crime rate.

5. Keep your documents safe: Keep your passport, ID, and other important documents in a safe place, such as a hotel safe.

6. Avoid public transportation: If possible, avoid using public transportation, as it can be dangerous and unreliable. Consider hiring a private driver or using a taxi service that you trust.

7. Be aware of your surroundings: Always be aware of your surroundings, especially when walking alone or at night. Stay in well-lit areas and avoid dark alleys or deserted streets.

8. Stay healthy: Stay healthy by drinking clean water, eating well-cooked food, and avoiding risky behaviors. Consider getting vaccinated for any potential diseases.

9. Build relationships with locals: Try to build positive relationships with locals. This can help you navigate the local culture and stay safe.

10. Know when to leave: If you feel unsafe or if the situation becomes too dangerous, be prepared to leave the country. Have a plan in place and know how to get to the nearest embassy or consulate.

Hey iam Canadian and am married to a Peruvian thinking of moving to peru thinking of Barranco I have visited 7 times now longest was 3 weeks I have traveled around some pretty poor neighborhoods with her and yes not pretty been to some really busy markets so far no issues feeling unsafe...but reading your story got me thinking obviously you are talking worst case scenario...any thoughts for me I would retire from Canada and live on my pension only because it's all I have and it would go further in peru than here

Peru is not for people who complain about everything. It is a cheap country, with low or almost non-existent taxes in some cases. Peru is a developing country and still has many difficulties. While in North America and Europe you have to pay high taxes for everything and everything is expensive so it is logical that people living in those places do not want to live like beggars their last days so they look for cheap countries to live. There are some Nordic countries where there is almost no difference between rich and poor, they usually have high taxes to maintain an acceptable lifestyle to those who for lack of work should be poor. That reality does not exist in Peru, if you are rich good for you, if you are poor, bad luck. Don't expect the government to take care of you if you lose your job. Everyone lives with what they can. In short, if you have money you will live well, if you don't have money you will go hungry every day.

To Anonymous Oct 03,2022 and for everyone.

Dear foreigner, I have not copied anything from anyone and I am not a promoter of anything, I simply provide real information for those who need it. The pandemic was a situation in which we were all affected by restrictions and it happened all over the world. The problem is that we had the bad luck to have Martín Vizcarra as president at that time, a corrupt man of the first level who, thanks to his restrictions, destroyed the economy, but that is another story. Last week the UK waived the visa requirement for Peruvians to enter the country and a few days ago the US increased the number of appointments for interviews for tourist visas, so we are not on a blacklist as you say. The truth is that Peru is not a garden and you should only come if you have the courage and character to take certain risks. Peru is not for fearful or weak people. Here it is like a jungle where you have to be prepared for any kind of unexpected dangerous situation.
Here is some statistical information that may be useful for foreigners.

Peru: Main Indicators of Citizen Security. January - June 2022. (The whole country)

1. REPORTS OF CRIMES

1.1 Complaints for the commission of crimes:
298725 complaints.

1.2 Reports of stolen vehicles:
11467 complaints.

1.3 Reported road traffic accidents
41428 complaints.

1.4 Reports of human trafficking
237 complaints.

1.5 Persons in custody
100527 complaints.

2. REPORTS OF MISDEMEANOURS

Complaints for misdemeanours
27568 complaints.

3. DISMANTLED GANGS

Dismantled gangs
2600 complaints.

4. FAMILY AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE

4.1 Reports of domestic violence
122463 complaints.

4.2 Reports of sexual violence
5093 complaints.

Peru: Reported crimes by department (states or provinces, not cities). January - May 2022.

8 departments with the most complaints.

Metropolitan Lima
57999 complaints.
Arequipa
20189 complaints.

Lambayeque
17437 complaints.

Piura
16748 complaints.

La Libertad
15939 complaints.

Junin
12550 complaints.

Callao
12143 complaints.

Cusco
11487 complaints.

8 departments with the fewest complaints.

Huancavelica
1574 complaints.

Pasco
1693 complaints.

Madre de Dios
2170 complaints.

Moquegua
2403 complaints.

Amazonas
3098 complaints.

Tumbes
3266 complaints.

Apurimac
3692 complaints.

Tacna
4131 complaints.

This information is from a Peruvian institution called INEI (Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática) https://m.inei.gob.pe/ where you can find all kinds of information about Peru. It is all in Spanish so it is important to learn it considering that almost nobody here speaks English, not because they can't learn it, but because they don't want to learn it, they hate it.
This information is based on this document where you will find more details.
https://m.inei.gob.pe/biblioteca-virtual/boletines/estadisticas-de-seguridad-ciudadana/1/#lista
PDF file dated 30/09/2022
Whoever comes to Peru already knows what they are facing, so don't say you weren't warned. It's not all bad, but I wonder what a European or an American is doing here. Of course, life is very cheap here.

The rent price doesn't reflect the real condition in San Isidro and Miraflores district which is considered to be doubled than presented

If you are going as a tourist, Peru it's perfect. But if you are planning to stay there as an immigrant you won't be able to do anything as the average salary is around 350$ or less. Which is quite bad and they will make you work more than 12h without extra payment. (i lived there)