Budapest vs Medellin: cost of living for digital nomads

Budapest, Hungary and Medellin, Colombia, 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

  • Medellin is about 6% cheaper than Budapest for a month of nomad living ($1,500 vs $1,600).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $720 in Medellin against $750 in Budapest.
  • Budapest scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 6/10).
  • Internet is faster in Budapest: 250 Mbps typical against 100 Mbps.
  • Budapest is temperate; Medellin is tropical.

Budapest wins 3 of the measured lines; Medellin wins 4.

Frequently asked questions

Which city is cheaper, Budapest or Medellin?

Medellin is cheaper: about $1,500/month against $1,600/month in Budapest, roughly 6% less for a typical remote worker's budget.

Which city is safer, Budapest or Medellin?

Budapest scores higher on safety: 9/10 against 6/10 for Medellin.

Which has faster internet, Budapest or Medellin?

Budapest has faster typical internet: 250 Mbps against 100 Mbps in Medellin.

LineBudapestMedellin
Monthly total (USD)$1,600$1,500
Rent$750$720
Food$420$380
Transport$40$45
Coworking$120$120
Safety (out of 10)9/106/10
Internet (Mbps)250100
Climatetemperatetropical
City sizemetrometro
Settinginlandmountain
Nomad score (out of 10)8/1010/10

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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. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Budapest November 8, 2026, Medellin November 8, 2026.