Ciudad del Este vs Colombo: cost of living for digital nomads

Ciudad del Este, Paraguay and Colombo, Sri Lanka, 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

  • Ciudad del Este is about 6% cheaper than Colombo for a month of nomad living ($990 vs $1,050).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $380 in Ciudad del Este against $450 in Colombo.
  • Colombo scores higher on safety (7/10 vs 5/10).
  • Internet is faster in Ciudad del Este: 100 Mbps typical against 40 Mbps.
  • Both have a tropical climate.

Ciudad del Este wins 6 of the measured lines; Colombo wins 2.

Frequently asked questions

Which city is cheaper, Ciudad del Este or Colombo?

Ciudad del Este is cheaper: about $990/month against $1,050/month in Colombo, roughly 6% less for a typical remote worker's budget.

Which city is safer, Ciudad del Este or Colombo?

Colombo scores higher on safety: 7/10 against 5/10 for Ciudad del Este.

Which has faster internet, Ciudad del Este or Colombo?

Ciudad del Este has faster typical internet: 100 Mbps against 40 Mbps in Colombo.

LineCiudad del EsteColombo
Monthly total (USD)$990$1,050
Rent$380$450
Food$280$300
Transport$30$40
Coworking$75$90
Safety (out of 10)5/107/10
Internet (Mbps)10040
Climatetropicaltropical
City sizemidmetro
Settinginlandcoast
Nomad score (out of 10)5/107/10

Ciudad del Este

Ciudad del Este, Paraguay.

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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): Ciudad del Este September 11, 2026, Colombo November 6, 2026.