Lima surprised me. It is loud and tasty and oddly relaxed. The coast fog gives slow mornings. Miraflores and Barranco feel creative. Old stone houses. Street art. People sipping coffee by the ocean. Most travellers enjoy the food. Ceviche at lunch. Cheap drinks at night. For some, Lima will be amazing for the mix of city life and beaches. Arguably not the best if you want green mountains every day.
Cost of living is friendlier than North America or Europe. You can find cheap eats and midrange apartments by the coast. Internet is solid in cafés and coworking spaces. I once worked from a rooftop café and then joined a salsa class down the street. There are plenty of meetups. Coworking spots, language exchanges, and a steady nomad crowd. Things to do range from markets and museums to paragliding off the cliffs or short trips to Paracas. It feels alive. Not perfect. But it grows on you.