---
title: "Uruapan vs Vilcabamba for digital nomads"
url: https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/uruapan-vs-vilcabamba
description: "Under balanced weights the two cities tie at 60. Uruapan is stronger on visa ease; Vilcabamba on climate. Change the weights in the ranker to see which one wins for you."
dataset: 2026.11.2 (2026-11-09)
license: CC BY 4.0
---

# Uruapan vs Vilcabamba for digital nomads

Under balanced weights the two cities tie at 60. Uruapan is stronger on visa ease; Vilcabamba on climate. Change the weights in the ranker to see which one wins for you.

## Where they differ

- **Climate.** Vilcabamba leads on climate, 100 to 83, against Uruapan. Comfortable months: 10 vs 12.
- **Visa ease.** Uruapan leads on visa ease, 90 to 78, against Vilcabamba.
- **Safety.** Uruapan leads on safety, 28 to 23, against Vilcabamba. Homicides per 100,000: 25.64 vs 38.94.

Where they are close: within five points on healthcare, air quality, getting there & around, cost of living, internet, quality of life.

**Pick Uruapan if you want** the safer country figures.

**Pick Vilcabamba if you want** to spend about $50 less a month; a longer comfortable season (12 months against 10); a dedicated digital-nomad visa.

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

| Metric | Uruapan | Vilcabamba | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cost of living | 58 | 60 | Vilcabamba |
| Safety | 28 | 23 | Uruapan |
| Healthcare | 75 | 78 | Vilcabamba |
| Internet | 57 | 59 | Vilcabamba |
| Visa ease | 90 | 78 | Uruapan |
| Getting there & around | 17 | 15 | Uruapan |
| Climate | 83 | 100 | Vilcabamba |
| Air quality | 71 | 73 | Vilcabamba |
| Quality of life | 57 | 55 | Uruapan |

## Cost

| Metric | Uruapan | Vilcabamba | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly cost, one person | $1,400 | $1,350 | Vilcabamba |
| Central one-bedroom rent | no data | no data | — |

## Safety and health (country-level)

| Metric | Uruapan | Vilcabamba | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Homicides per 100k | 25.64 | 38.94 | Uruapan |
| Political stability (0–100) | 55 | 54.4 | Uruapan |
| UHC service coverage (0–100) | 79 | 78 | Uruapan |
| Life expectancy | 75.3 yrs | 77.6 yrs | Vilcabamba |

## Internet (M-Lab measured medians)

| Metric | Uruapan | Vilcabamba | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Download | 20.5 Mbps | 18.8 Mbps | Uruapan |
| Upload | 6.7 Mbps | 15.8 Mbps | Vilcabamba |

## Visa

| Metric | Uruapan | Vilcabamba | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nomad visa | none listed | Digital nomad temporary residence visa (rentista for remote work) | Vilcabamba |
| Minimum income for the visa | no data | $1,446/mo | — |
| Entry, US passport | 180 days | 90 days | Uruapan |
| Entry, EU passport | 180 days | 90 days | Uruapan |
| Entry, UK passport | 180 days | 90 days | Uruapan |

## Getting there and around

| Metric | Uruapan | Vilcabamba | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Non-stop airport destinations | 15 | 1 | Uruapan |
| Walkability (1–5, editorial) | 3 | 4 | Vilcabamba |
| Transit (1–5, editorial) | 2 | 1 | Uruapan |

## Climate and air

| Metric | Uruapan | Vilcabamba | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Comfortable months per year | 10 | 12 | Vilcabamba |
| Annual mean PM2.5 | 18.1 µg/m³ | 17.1 µg/m³ | Vilcabamba |

## FAQ

### Which is cheaper, Uruapan or Vilcabamba?

Vilcabamba is cheaper: about $1,350 per month versus $1,400 for one person.

### Is Uruapan or Vilcabamba safer?

Uruapan scores higher on safety (28 vs 23), based on national homicide rates and World Bank political-stability scores.

### Where is the internet faster, Uruapan or Vilcabamba?

Uruapan: a measured median of 20.5 Mbps versus 18.8 Mbps (M-Lab, 2024).

City pages: [Uruapan](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/uruapan) · [Vilcabamba](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/vilcabamba). 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/uruapan-vs-vilcabamba