Barranco vs San Isidro: which is the better rental investment in Lima? (2026)

Let me be upfront: this is a close race, and anyone selling you a dramatic winner is overselling it. On long-term rentals, Barranco nets 3.7% against San Isidro's 3.6%. That is one tenth of a percentage point. It is a difference, but not one you'd build a thesis around.

Purchase prices are nearly identical too. Barranco's median is $2,529/m2, San Isidro's is $2,564/m2. So Barranco is marginally cheaper per square metre and yields marginally more. Both small gaps point the same direction, which is at least consistent.

On Airbnb, the gross figures are 1.5% for Barranco versus 1.3% for San Isidro. Note these are gross, not net, so they aren't comparable to the long-term nets above and I wouldn't stack them side by side. Barranco leads here as well, which fits its reputation as the more tourist-facing district.

On the numbers given, Barranco comes out ahead on every metric: higher long-term net, higher Airbnb gross, and a slightly lower entry price. So the pick is Barranco. But be honest with yourself about the size of these margins. A 0.1-point yield edge can be erased by a single vacancy or a bad building.

What the data here doesn't tell you: vacancy rates, service charges, how these yields have moved over time, or how the Airbnb gross translates to net after cleaning, management and empty nights. Treat this as a starting point, not a verdict, and not as investment advice.

Related: Barranco · San Isidro · Lima Yield Index