Medellin vs Porto: cost of living for digital nomads
Medellin, Colombia and Porto, 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
- Medellin is about 21% cheaper than Porto for a month of nomad living ($1,500 vs $1,900).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $720 in Medellin against $950 in Porto.
- Porto scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 6/10).
- Internet is faster in Porto: 120 Mbps typical against 100 Mbps.
- Medellin is tropical; Porto is mediterranean.
Medellin wins 5 of the measured lines; Porto wins 3.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Medellin or Porto?
Medellin is cheaper: about $1,500/month against $1,900/month in Porto, roughly 21% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Porto?
Porto scores higher on safety: 9/10 against 6/10 for Medellin.
Which has faster internet, Medellin or Porto?
Porto has faster typical internet: 120 Mbps against 100 Mbps in Medellin.
| Line | Medellin | Porto |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,500 | $1,900 |
| Rent | $720 | $950 |
| Food | $380 | $450 |
| Transport | $45 | $40 |
| Coworking | $120 | $130 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 6/10 | 9/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 100 | 120 |
| Climate | tropical | mediterranean |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | mountain | coast |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 10/10 | 9/10 |
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): Medellin November 8, 2026, Porto November 7, 2026.