Peru offers one of the lowest income thresholds in South America with a clear Rentista path. Lima is a major regional hospital hub, and the cost of living in Arequipa or Cusco runs well below most US small towns.
Single-adult planning estimates in USD: lean $1200, comfortable $2000, premium $3200. Costs vary by city and circumstances. Obtain current rental and insurance quotes.
Rentista visa: ~$1,000/mo of stable foreign income (VA disability and pensions qualify). Family unification available for spouse and minor children. Path to citizenship after 2 years.
Lima's Clínica Anglo Americana, Clínica Ricardo Palma, and Clínica Internacional are excellent. Private insurance runs $80-150/mo. Outside Lima and Arequipa, quality drops.
No VA hospitals in Peru. Foreign Medical Program reimburses service-connected care. Clínica Anglo Americana in Lima is the go-to for complex cases; major surgery often routed to Miami or Houston VA.
Lima neighborhoods Miraflores, Barranco, San Isidro are safe. Arequipa and Cusco are tourist-safe. Avoid VRAEM region. Petty theft is the main concern. Coastal desert (Lima), high-altitude Andes (Cusco, Arequipa), and Amazon (Iquitos). World-class food culture. Strong indigenous heritage.
Veterans wanting genuine low-cost living with real healthcare access in the capital, comfortable with Spanish-language daily life.