Funchal vs Puerto Escondido: cost of living for digital nomads
Funchal, Portugal 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 15% cheaper than Funchal for a month of nomad living ($1,450 vs $1,700).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $650 in Puerto Escondido against $850 in Funchal.
- Funchal scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 7/10).
- Internet is faster in Funchal: 100 Mbps typical against 50 Mbps.
- Funchal is mediterranean; Puerto Escondido is tropical.
Funchal wins 3 of the measured lines; Puerto Escondido wins 4.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Funchal or Puerto Escondido?
Puerto Escondido is cheaper: about $1,450/month against $1,700/month in Funchal, roughly 15% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Funchal or Puerto Escondido?
Funchal scores higher on safety: 9/10 against 7/10 for Puerto Escondido.
Which has faster internet, Funchal or Puerto Escondido?
Funchal has faster typical internet: 100 Mbps against 50 Mbps in Puerto Escondido.
| Line | Funchal | Puerto Escondido |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,700 | $1,450 |
| Rent | $850 | $650 |
| Food | $430 | $400 |
| Transport | $40 | $45 |
| Coworking | $120 | $110 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 100 | 50 |
| Climate | mediterranean | tropical |
| City size | mid | small |
| Setting | island | coast |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 8/10 | 8/10 |
Funchal
Madeira's capital and home of the original Digital Nomad Village — safe, scenic, EU-based.
Puerto Escondido
Pacific surf town in Oaxaca — a quieter, cheaper alternative to Tulum with a strong nomad following.
Compare Funchal 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): Funchal November 9, 2026, Puerto Escondido August 30, 2026.