Medellin vs Puerto Escondido: cost of living for digital nomads

Medellin, Colombia 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 3% cheaper than Medellin for a month of nomad living ($1,450 vs $1,500).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $650 in Puerto Escondido against $720 in Medellin.
  • Puerto Escondido scores higher on safety (7/10 vs 6/10).
  • Internet is faster in Medellin: 100 Mbps typical against 50 Mbps.
  • Both have a tropical climate.

Medellin wins 3 of the measured lines; Puerto Escondido wins 4.

LineMedellinPuerto Escondido
Monthly total (USD)$1,500$1,450
Rent$720$650
Food$380$400
Transport$45$45
Coworking$120$110
Safety (out of 10)6/107/10
Internet (Mbps)10050
Climatetropicaltropical
City sizemetrosmall
Settingmountaincoast
Nomad score (out of 10)10/108/10

Puerto Escondido

Pacific surf town in Oaxaca — a quieter, cheaper alternative to Tulum with a strong nomad following.

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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. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.