Punta Cana vs Santiago: cost of living for digital nomads
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 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
- Punta Cana is about 3% cheaper than Santiago for a month of nomad living ($1,740 vs $1,800).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $800 in Punta Cana against $850 in Santiago.
- Santiago scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
- Internet is faster in Santiago: 200 Mbps typical against 90 Mbps.
- Punta Cana is tropical; Santiago is mediterranean.
Punta Cana wins 4 of the measured lines; Santiago wins 4.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Punta Cana or Santiago?
Punta Cana is cheaper: about $1,740/month against $1,800/month in Santiago, roughly 3% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Punta Cana or Santiago?
Santiago scores higher on safety: 8/10 against 7/10 for Punta Cana.
Which has faster internet, Punta Cana or Santiago?
Santiago has faster typical internet: 200 Mbps against 90 Mbps in Punta Cana.
| Line | Punta Cana | Santiago |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,740 | $1,800 |
| Rent | $800 | $850 |
| Food | $430 | $460 |
| Transport | $60 | $50 |
| Coworking | $110 | $140 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 90 | 200 |
| Climate | tropical | mediterranean |
| City size | small | metro |
| Setting | coast | inland |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 6/10 | 7/10 |
Compare Punta Cana with
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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. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Punta Cana September 10, 2026, Santiago November 5, 2026.