Medellin vs San Jose: cost of living for digital nomads
Medellin, Colombia and San Jose, Costa Rica, 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 San Jose for a month of nomad living ($1,500 vs $1,900).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $720 in Medellin against $900 in San Jose.
- San Jose scores higher on safety (7/10 vs 6/10).
- Internet is faster in Medellin: 100 Mbps typical against 80 Mbps.
- Both have a tropical climate.
Medellin wins 7 of the measured lines; San Jose wins 1.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Medellin or San Jose?
Medellin is cheaper: about $1,500/month against $1,900/month in San Jose, roughly 21% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Medellin or San Jose?
San Jose scores higher on safety: 7/10 against 6/10 for Medellin.
Which has faster internet, Medellin or San Jose?
Medellin has faster typical internet: 100 Mbps against 80 Mbps in San Jose.
| Line | Medellin | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,500 | $1,900 |
| Rent | $720 | $900 |
| Food | $380 | $480 |
| Transport | $45 | $55 |
| Coworking | $120 | $140 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 100 | 80 |
| Climate | tropical | tropical |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | mountain | inland |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 10/10 | 8/10 |
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, San Jose November 7, 2026.