Barcelona vs Puerto Escondido: cost of living for digital nomads

Barcelona, Spain and Puerto Escondido, Mexico, 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

  • Puerto Escondido is about 43% cheaper than Barcelona for a month of nomad living ($1,450 vs $2,550).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $650 in Puerto Escondido against $1,350 in Barcelona.
  • Barcelona scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
  • Internet is faster in Barcelona: 300 Mbps typical against 50 Mbps.
  • Barcelona is mediterranean; Puerto Escondido is tropical.

Barcelona wins 3 of the measured lines; Puerto Escondido wins 5.

LineBarcelonaPuerto Escondido
Monthly total (USD)$2,550$1,450
Rent$1,350$650
Food$540$400
Transport$55$45
Coworking$160$110
Safety (out of 10)8/107/10
Internet (Mbps)30050
Climatemediterraneantropical
City sizemetrosmall
Settingcoastcoast
Nomad score (out of 10)9/108/10

Puerto Escondido

Pacific surf town in Oaxaca — a quieter, cheaper alternative to Tulum with a strong nomad following.

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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. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.