Cape Town vs Puerto Viejo: cost of living for digital nomads
Cape Town, South Africa and Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, 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 Viejo is about 5% cheaper than Cape Town for a month of nomad living ($1,520 vs $1,600).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $650 in Puerto Viejo against $720 in Cape Town.
- Both score 6/10 on safety.
- Internet is faster in Cape Town: 80 Mbps typical against 60 Mbps.
- Cape Town is mediterranean; Puerto Viejo is tropical.
Cape Town wins 3 of the measured lines; Puerto Viejo wins 4.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Cape Town or Puerto Viejo?
Puerto Viejo is cheaper: about $1,520/month against $1,600/month in Cape Town, roughly 5% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Cape Town or Puerto Viejo?
Cape Town and Puerto Viejo score the same on safety, 6/10 each.
Which has faster internet, Cape Town or Puerto Viejo?
Cape Town has faster typical internet: 80 Mbps against 60 Mbps in Puerto Viejo.
| Line | Cape Town | Puerto Viejo |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,600 | $1,520 |
| Rent | $720 | $650 |
| Food | $430 | $420 |
| Transport | $60 | $70 |
| Coworking | $130 | $90 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 80 | 60 |
| Climate | mediterranean | tropical |
| City size | metro | small |
| Setting | coast | coast |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 9/10 | 6/10 |
Compare Cape Town with
Compare Puerto Viejo 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): Cape Town October 30, 2026, Puerto Viejo September 10, 2026.