Castries vs Funchal: cost of living for digital nomads

Castries, Saint Lucia and Funchal, Portugal, 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

  • Funchal is about 2% cheaper than Castries for a month of nomad living ($1,700 vs $1,740).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $800 in Castries against $850 in Funchal.
  • Funchal scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 7/10).
  • Internet is faster in Castries: 110 Mbps typical against 100 Mbps.
  • Castries is tropical; Funchal is mediterranean.

Castries wins 3 of the measured lines; Funchal wins 5.

Frequently asked questions

Which city is cheaper, Castries or Funchal?

Funchal is cheaper: about $1,700/month against $1,740/month in Castries, roughly 2% less for a typical remote worker's budget.

Which city is safer, Castries or Funchal?

Funchal scores higher on safety: 9/10 against 7/10 for Castries.

Which has faster internet, Castries or Funchal?

Castries has faster typical internet: 110 Mbps against 100 Mbps in Funchal.

LineCastriesFunchal
Monthly total (USD)$1,740$1,700
Rent$800$850
Food$450$430
Transport$50$40
Coworking$95$120
Safety (out of 10)7/109/10
Internet (Mbps)110100
Climatetropicalmediterranean
City sizesmallmid
Settingislandisland
Nomad score (out of 10)6/108/10

Funchal

Madeira's capital and home of the original Digital Nomad Village — safe, scenic, EU-based.

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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): Castries September 11, 2026, Funchal November 9, 2026.