Medellin vs Montevideo: cost of living for digital nomads

Medellin, Colombia and Montevideo, Uruguay, 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

  • Medellin is about 12% cheaper than Montevideo for a month of nomad living ($1,500 vs $1,700).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $720 in Medellin against $780 in Montevideo.
  • Montevideo scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 6/10).
  • Medellin is tropical; Montevideo is temperate.

Medellin wins 5 of the measured lines; Montevideo wins 1.

Frequently asked questions

Which city is cheaper, Medellin or Montevideo?

Medellin is cheaper: about $1,500/month against $1,700/month in Montevideo, roughly 12% less for a typical remote worker's budget.

Which city is safer, Medellin or Montevideo?

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

Which has faster internet, Medellin or Montevideo?

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

LineMedellinMontevideo
Monthly total (USD)$1,500$1,700
Rent$720$780
Food$380$450
Transport$45$45
Coworking$120$130
Safety (out of 10)6/108/10
Internet (Mbps)100100
Climatetropicaltemperate
City sizemetrometro
Settingmountaincoast
Nomad score (out of 10)10/107/10

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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): Medellin November 8, 2026, Montevideo October 31, 2026.