Are you considering getting TEFL certified to teach English in Peru? Great! But before you do, there are some common questions everyone always ask and at the top of the list: is Cusco actually affordable on a teacher’s salary? Keep on reading to get the scoop on living abroad on a teacher’s salary in Peru.
While Latin America isn’t known for the allure of making a fortune while teaching English abroad, it absolutely makes up for it with a lively culture, delicious food, and exciting adventures. Between carnivals, parades, and incomparable landscapes, you’ll get the experience of a lifetime living abroad in Peru.
Salary Expectations
The average wage for teaching English in Cusco is $500 per month, or approximately 1,650 soles. This full-time schedule includes a minimum 6 hours per day in the classroom, Monday-Friday, and administrative hours outside of the classroom for lesson planning. In addition, there are almost always opportunities to provide private lessons to clients, so really, the amount you make depends on how hard you’re willing to hustle. Still, with just the base salary of $500/month, an English teacher in Peru makes double the amount of someone working minimum wage, which only amounts to $265/month.
While these wages might sound impossible to live on when compared to the average U.S, European, or Australian salaries, remember: the cost of living in Peru is significantly cheaper than in more developed countries.
Rent & Utilities
With more and more expats living in Peru, it’s easy to find someone renting out an extra room in their apartment in the local paper, on expats Facebook groups, or through word of mouth. Apartments typically come furnished, and internet and electricity are included in the rent. The average price for a two-bedroom apartment which includes a bathroom, full-kitchen, and a rooftop terrace (these are common in apartment complexes for drying newly washed clothes) is $300 per month. Between two people, your rent would amount to just $150/month; and if you don’t mind getting a little cozy with a third person to share the space, you’d save yourself $50, totaling just $100 per month for rent!
Staying Connected
The invention of online messaging apps has made it a lot more affordable to stay in contact with friends from all over the world. WhatsApp, Skype, and even Facebook Messenger are all great tools you can use to communicate with people in-country, and abroad. And with so many locations providing free Wi-Fi, including our office, this service doesn’t add any extra costs to your budget!
However, if you still want an actual phone line, it’s easy to obtain at any of the local phone service locations in the area. The best option would be to purchase a prepaid sim card (Claro and Movistar are the dominant service providers). You can buy a sim card for about 15 soles (or $5) and add credits as needed, to make local calls and data.
Transportation & Travel
Cusco is extremely walkable, so there really isn’t a need for transportation. Walking provides good exercise, but also give you the opportunity to explore the back streets that aren’t traversed by public transportation. Also, it’s an extremely beautiful city that you should take your time exploring by foot.
But if you do live too far outside of the main center, buses usually cost just pennies on the dollar and taxis can get you around the city for less than 5 soles (about $1.50).
Aside from everyday transportation, you will definitely want to make the most of your time in Cusco by visiting different sites and cities in the country, like Rainbow Mountain, Machu Picchu, the Nazca Lines, the Salt Mines, Miraflores in Lima, and others. You should also take advantage and visit the bordering countries like Bolivia and Chile. Day trips and tours can be as cheap as $20, and usually include breakfast and lunch. Overnight trips, depending on where you visit and the kinds of accommodations you book, can be anywhere from $50-$80.
The most economical way to get around is by public bus, which generally provides economy seating or VIP seating, which is much more comfortable. VIP seats recline and sometimes include T.V.
A 4-day trip to Chile on a moderate budget can cost approximately $150, including transportation, accommodations, food, and activities.
Food
Cooking for yourself will always be the most economical option. But when the food is so delicious and cheap, it’s so much easier (and more exciting) to eat out. The local “menu” restaurants often provide various lunch options including fish, potato, chicken breasts, roast beef, and other dishes. Often a soup and a drink are included, all for just 5 to 7 soles! Fancier restaurants provide different options and are usually priced anywhere from 15 to 30 soles.