Puerto Escondido vs Santiago: cost of living for digital nomads
Puerto Escondido, 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
- Puerto Escondido is about 19% cheaper than Santiago for a month of nomad living ($1,450 vs $1,800).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $650 in Puerto Escondido 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.
- Puerto Escondido is tropical; Santiago is mediterranean.
Puerto Escondido wins 6 of the measured lines; Santiago wins 2.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Puerto Escondido or Santiago?
Puerto Escondido is cheaper: about $1,450/month against $1,800/month in Santiago, roughly 19% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Puerto Escondido or Santiago?
Santiago scores higher on safety: 8/10 against 7/10 for Puerto Escondido.
Which has faster internet, Puerto Escondido or Santiago?
Santiago has faster typical internet: 200 Mbps against 50 Mbps in Puerto Escondido.
| Line | Puerto Escondido | Santiago |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,450 | $1,800 |
| Rent | $650 | $850 |
| Food | $400 | $460 |
| Transport | $45 | $50 |
| Coworking | $110 | $140 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 50 | 200 |
| Climate | tropical | mediterranean |
| City size | small | metro |
| Setting | coast | inland |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 8/10 | 7/10 |
Puerto Escondido
Pacific surf town in Oaxaca — a quieter, cheaper alternative to Tulum with a strong nomad following.
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): Puerto Escondido August 30, 2026, Santiago November 5, 2026.