---
title: "Cancún vs Paraty for digital nomads"
url: https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/cancun-vs-paraty
description: "Under balanced weights Cancún edges it, 62 to 61, winning 5 of the 9 factors. Cancún is stronger on visa ease; Paraty on nothing outright. Change the weights in the ranker to see which one wins for you."
dataset: 2026.10.7 (2026-10-13)
license: CC BY 4.0
---

# Cancún vs Paraty for digital nomads

Under balanced weights Cancún edges it, 62 to 61, winning 5 of the 9 factors. Cancún is stronger on visa ease; Paraty on nothing outright. Change the weights in the ranker to see which one wins for you.

## Factor scores (0–100, balanced weights)

| Metric | Cancún | Paraty | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cost of living | 47 | 50 | Paraty |
| Safety | 28 | 35 | Paraty |
| Healthcare | 67 | 72 | Paraty |
| Internet | 67 | 72 | Paraty |
| Visa ease | 90 | 77 | Cancún |
| Getting there & around | 59 | 56 | Cancún |
| Climate | 58 | 50 | Cancún |
| Air quality | 87 | 83 | Cancún |
| Quality of life | 54 | 54 | Cancún |

## Cost

| Metric | Cancún | Paraty | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly cost, one person | $1,400 | $1,300 | Paraty |
| Central one-bedroom rent | no data | no data | — |

## Safety and health (country-level)

| Metric | Cancún | Paraty | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Homicides per 100k | 25.64 | 18.69 | Paraty |
| Political stability (0–100) | 55 | 58.9 | Paraty |
| UHC service coverage (0–100) | 79 | 84 | Paraty |
| Life expectancy | 70.8 yrs | 72.4 yrs | Paraty |

## Internet (M-Lab measured medians)

| Metric | Cancún | Paraty | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Download | 33.4 Mbps | 36.2 Mbps | Paraty |
| Upload | 11.9 Mbps | 29.4 Mbps | Paraty |

## Visa

| Metric | Cancún | Paraty | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nomad visa | none listed | Digital nomad temporary visa (VITEM XIV) | Paraty |
| Minimum income for the visa | no data | $1,500/mo | — |
| Entry, US passport | 180 days | 90 days | Cancún |
| Entry, EU passport | 180 days | 90 days | Cancún |
| Entry, UK passport | 180 days | 90 days | Cancún |

## Getting there and around

| Metric | Cancún | Paraty | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Non-stop airport destinations | 134 | 59 | Cancún |
| Walkability (1–5, editorial) | 2 | 4 | Paraty |
| Transit (1–5, editorial) | 2 | 1 | Cancún |

## Climate and air

| Metric | Cancún | Paraty | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Comfortable months per year | 7 | 6 | Cancún |
| Annual mean PM2.5 | 11 µg/m³ | 12.8 µg/m³ | Cancún |

## FAQ

### Which is cheaper, Cancún or Paraty?

Paraty is cheaper: about $1,300 per month versus $1,400 for one person.

### Is Cancún or Paraty safer?

Paraty scores higher on safety (35 vs 28), based on national homicide rates and World Bank political-stability scores.

### Where is the internet faster, Cancún or Paraty?

Paraty: a measured median of 36.2 Mbps versus 33.4 Mbps (M-Lab, 2024).

City pages: [Cancún](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/cancun) · [Paraty](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/paraty). Sources: Cost of Living Global 2026 (city rows); 2026 Cost of Living Index (country level); Worldwide Governance Indicators — Political Stability and Absence of Violence (score 0–100); Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year); UHC service coverage index; Life expectancy at birth (years), both sexes; M-Lab NDT statistics (city aggregates, 2024); Airport destinations (Wikipedia airline and destination tables); NASA POWER climatology (2001–2020 monthly means); SatPM2.5 satellite-derived annual PM2.5 (V6.GL.02.04); Human Development Index (HDR 2025, HDI 2023); EF English Proficiency Index 2024 (band); Walkability and transit ratings (editorial); Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations); OpenStreetMap restaurants (Overpass API); Nostos long-stay visa guides; Starlink availability map.

HTML page: https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/cancun-vs-paraty