Medellin vs Salem: cost of living for digital nomads
Medellin, Colombia and Salem, Montserrat, 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 3% cheaper than Salem for a month of nomad living ($1,500 vs $1,545).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $680 in Salem against $720 in Medellin.
- Salem scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 6/10).
- Internet is faster in Medellin: 100 Mbps typical against 65 Mbps.
- Both have a tropical climate.
Medellin wins 4 of the measured lines; Salem wins 4.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Medellin or Salem?
Medellin is cheaper: about $1,500/month against $1,545/month in Salem, roughly 3% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Salem?
Salem scores higher on safety: 8/10 against 6/10 for Medellin.
Which has faster internet, Medellin or Salem?
Medellin has faster typical internet: 100 Mbps against 65 Mbps in Salem.
| Line | Medellin | Salem |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,500 | $1,545 |
| Rent | $720 | $680 |
| Food | $380 | $430 |
| Transport | $45 | $40 |
| Coworking | $120 | $80 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 100 | 65 |
| Climate | tropical | tropical |
| City size | metro | small |
| Setting | mountain | island |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 10/10 | 4/10 |
Compare Medellin with
Compare Salem 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, Salem September 11, 2026.