Hoi An vs Medellin: cost of living for digital nomads

Hoi An, Vietnam 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

  • Hoi An is about 34% cheaper than Medellin for a month of nomad living ($990 vs $1,500).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $400 in Hoi An against $720 in Medellin.
  • Hoi An scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 6/10).
  • Both have a tropical climate.

Hoi An wins 6 of the measured lines; Medellin wins 1.

Frequently asked questions

Which city is cheaper, Hoi An or Medellin?

Hoi An is cheaper: about $990/month against $1,500/month in Medellin, roughly 34% less for a typical remote worker's budget.

Which city is safer, Hoi An or Medellin?

Hoi An scores higher on safety: 8/10 against 6/10 for Medellin.

Which has faster internet, Hoi An or Medellin?

Hoi An and Medellin have about the same typical internet speed, 100 Mbps.

LineHoi AnMedellin
Monthly total (USD)$990$1,500
Rent$400$720
Food$280$380
Transport$40$45
Coworking$80$120
Safety (out of 10)8/106/10
Internet (Mbps)100100
Climatetropicaltropical
City sizesmallmetro
Settingcoastmountain
Nomad score (out of 10)8/1010/10

Compare Hoi An with

Compare Medellin 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): Hoi An September 10, 2026, Medellin November 8, 2026.