Compare countries · Ecuador vs Peru
Ecuador vs Peru
Ecuador(South America)·
Peru(South America)
Across 13 comparable indicators: Ecuador leads on 6, Peru on 5, 2 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Ecuador cheaper than Peru?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Ecuador at 30.9 and Peru at 33.5. Ecuador is about 8% cheaper overall.
Is Ecuador or Peru safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Ecuador scores 2.54 and Peru scores 2.12. Peru ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Ecuador or Peru?
On the UN Human Development Index, Ecuador scores 0.777 and Peru scores 0.794. Peru scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Ecuador compared to Peru?
GNI per capita runs $6,890 in Ecuador against $8,430 in Peru; people live 77.6 years on average against 77.9; Numbeo users rate healthcare 78 against 57. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Ecuador
30.9
Better than 77% of countries
Peru
33.5
Better than 73% of countries
Ecuador: 8% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Ecuador
8.7
Better than 81% of countries
Peru
11.3
Better than 67% of countries
Ecuador: 23% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Ecuador
2.54
Worse than 83% of countries
Peru
2.12
Worse than 66% of countries
Peru: more peaceful (2.12 vs 2.54).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Ecuador
38.1
Worse than 86% of countries
Peru
33.1
Worse than 93% of countries
Ecuador: higher perceived safety (38.1 vs 33.1).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Ecuador
0.777
Around the global middle
Peru
0.794
Better than 59% of countries
Peru: higher human development (0.794 vs 0.777).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Ecuador
$16,757
Worse than 57% of countries
Peru
$18,816
Around the global middle
Peru: 12% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Ecuador
77.6 yrs
Better than 67% of countries
Peru
77.9 yrs
Better than 68% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Ecuador
77.7
Better than 94% of countries
Peru
56.9
Worse than 72% of countries
Ecuador: better-rated healthcare (77.7 vs 56.9).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Ecuador
163 Mbps
Better than 70% of countries
Peru
260 Mbps
Better than 89% of countries
Peru: 59% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Ecuador
44/100
Worse than 70% of countries
Peru
38/100
Worse than 80% of countries
Ecuador: freer press (44 vs 38 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Ecuador
6.14
Better than 60% of countries
Peru
5.97
Around the global middle
Ecuador: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.14 vs 5.97).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Ecuador
466
Worse than 72% of countries
Peru
519
Around the global middle
Peru: stronger English proficiency (519 vs 466).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Ecuador
94.5
Better than 90% of countries
Peru
93.3
Better than 86% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Deciding between Ecuador and Peru for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Ecuador profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Peru profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.