Arequipa vs Hoi An: cost of living for digital nomads

Arequipa, Peru and Hoi An, Vietnam, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Hoi An is about 1% cheaper than Arequipa for a month of nomad living ($990 vs $1,000).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $380 in Arequipa against $400 in Hoi An.
  • Hoi An scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 6/10).
  • Internet is faster in Hoi An: 100 Mbps typical against 90 Mbps.
  • Arequipa is arid; Hoi An is tropical.

Arequipa wins 2 of the measured lines; Hoi An wins 4.

Frequently asked questions

Which city is cheaper, Arequipa or Hoi An?

Hoi An is cheaper: about $990/month against $1,000/month in Arequipa, roughly 1% less for a typical remote worker's budget.

Which city is safer, Arequipa or Hoi An?

Hoi An scores higher on safety: 8/10 against 6/10 for Arequipa.

Which has faster internet, Arequipa or Hoi An?

Hoi An has faster typical internet: 100 Mbps against 90 Mbps in Arequipa.

LineArequipaHoi An
Monthly total (USD)$1,000$990
Rent$380$400
Food$280$280
Transport$30$40
Coworking$80$80
Safety (out of 10)6/108/10
Internet (Mbps)90100
Climatearidtropical
City sizemetrosmall
Settingmountaincoast
Nomad score (out of 10)6/108/10

Compare Arequipa with

Compare Hoi An with

Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Arequipa September 11, 2026, Hoi An September 10, 2026.