Medellín vs San José for Digital Nomads
🇨🇴 Medellín vs 🇨🇷 San José · updated 2026-07
Verdict
Cheaper: Medellín · Faster internet: Medellín · Higher Nomad Score: Medellín.
Head-to-head
| 🇨🇴 Medellín | 🇨🇷 San José | |
|---|---|---|
| Comfortable / month | $1,200 ★ | $1,425 |
| 1-bed rent | $550 ★ | $750 |
| Food | $280 ★ | $320 |
| Coworking | $110 ★ | $120 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 95 ★ | 85 |
| Affordability | 88 ★ | 82 |
| Weather | 95 ★ | 80 |
| Community | 85 ★ | 72 |
| Nomad Score | 85 ★ | 77 |
| Climate | Eternal spring, ~22°C | Tropical highland |
★ = better on that row. Figures are aggregated estimates.
FAQ
Is Medellín or San José cheaper for digital nomads?
Medellín is cheaper — about $1,200/month vs $1,425/month for a comfortable solo setup.
Which has faster internet, Medellín or San José?
Medellín has faster average broadband (95 Mbps vs 85 Mbps).
Which has the higher Nomad Score?
Medellín scores 85 vs 77 on our composite of affordability, connectivity, weather and community.