Oaxaca vs Santiago: cost of living for digital nomads
Oaxaca, Mexico and Santiago, Chile, 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
- Oaxaca is about 33% cheaper than Santiago for a month of nomad living ($1,200 vs $1,800).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $520 in Oaxaca against $850 in Santiago.
- Santiago scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
- Internet is faster in Santiago: 200 Mbps typical against 50 Mbps.
- Oaxaca is temperate; Santiago is mediterranean.
Oaxaca wins 6 of the measured lines; Santiago wins 2.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Oaxaca or Santiago?
Oaxaca is cheaper: about $1,200/month against $1,800/month in Santiago, roughly 33% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Oaxaca or Santiago?
Santiago scores higher on safety: 8/10 against 7/10 for Oaxaca.
Which has faster internet, Oaxaca or Santiago?
Santiago has faster typical internet: 200 Mbps against 50 Mbps in Oaxaca.
| Line | Oaxaca | Santiago |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,200 | $1,800 |
| Rent | $520 | $850 |
| Food | $340 | $460 |
| Transport | $40 | $50 |
| Coworking | $100 | $140 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 50 | 200 |
| Climate | temperate | mediterranean |
| City size | mid | metro |
| Setting | inland | inland |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 8/10 | 7/10 |
Compare Santiago 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): Oaxaca November 8, 2026, Santiago November 5, 2026.