Top 10 cities for digital nomads in Latin America

The full Top 10

#	City	Score	Monthly cost	Safety	Internet	Nomad visa	US passport
1	Buenos Aires Argentina	68.5	$973	61	53	yes	90 days
2	Colonia del Sacramento Uruguay	68.5	$1,239	64	84	yes	90 days
3	Montevideo Uruguay	66.3	$1,555	64	85	yes	90 days
4	Punta del Este Uruguay	63.8	$1,972	64	80	yes	90 days
5	Playa del Carmen Mexico	62.5	$1,352	28	69	no	180 days
6	Valparaíso Chile	62.5	$1,183	56	79	no	90 days
7	Lima Peru	62.3	$1,266	44	67	no	180 days
8	Mérida Mexico	61.2	$881	28	60	no	180 days
9	Bogotá Colombia	61	$881	25	60	yes	90 days
10	Guadalajara Mexico	60.7	$991	28	64	no	180 days

* country-level cost estimate. Lists ranked by overall score put cities with a city-level price first; country-wide estimates only fill a list with fewer than ten. Scores are 0–100 under balanced weights; open a city for every number and its source.

What the data says

These 10 cities are the best of 216 that qualify, with balanced scores from 61 to 69. The 10 with a city-level price run from $881 to $1,972 a month for one person. They span Latin America; 5 of the 10 are in countries with a digital-nomad visa.

The ten, one by one

1. 1. Buenos Aires

   Buenos Aires, Argentina: European grandeur at Latin American prices. It scores 69/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on getting there & around. About $973 a month for one person including rent, 16.3 Mbps measured download, the Digital nomad transitory residence and 8 of 12 comfortable months.

2. 2. Colonia del Sacramento

   Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay: UNESCO cobblestone town across the river from Buenos Aires. It scores 69/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and internet and weakest on getting there & around. About $1,239 a month for one person including rent, 82.7 Mbps measured download, the Digital nomad permit (Hoja de Identidad Provisoria) and 8 of 12 comfortable months.

3. 3. Montevideo

   Montevideo, Uruguay: Calm, safe and quietly progressive. It scores 66/100 under balanced weights, best for internet and air quality and weakest on getting there & around. About $1,555 a month for one person including rent, 87.1 Mbps measured download, the Digital nomad permit (Hoja de Identidad Provisoria) and 7 of 12 comfortable months.

4. 4. Punta del Este

   Punta del Este, Uruguay: South America's Riviera, quiet outside January. It scores 64/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and healthcare and weakest on getting there & around. About $1,972 a month for one person including rent, 64.4 Mbps measured download, the Digital nomad permit (Hoja de Identidad Provisoria) and 7 of 12 comfortable months.

5. 5. Playa del Carmen

   Playa del Carmen, Mexico: Caribbean beach town on the nomad circuit. It scores 63/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and visa ease and weakest on safety. About $1,352 a month for one person including rent, 34.6 Mbps measured download and 7 of 12 comfortable months.

6. 6. Valparaíso

   Valparaíso, Chile: Bohemian port of hills and murals. It scores 63/100 under balanced weights, best for healthcare and air quality and weakest on getting there & around. About $1,183 a month for one person including rent, 59.1 Mbps measured download and 5 of 12 comfortable months.

7. 7. Lima

   Lima, Peru: Coastal capital with a world-famous food scene. It scores 62/100 under balanced weights, best for climate and visa ease and weakest on getting there & around. About $1,266 a month for one person including rent, 29.4 Mbps measured download and 12 of 12 comfortable months.

8. 8. Mérida

   Mérida, Mexico: Safe colonial city near cenotes and coast. It scores 61/100 under balanced weights, best for visa ease and cost of living and weakest on getting there & around. About $881 a month for one person including rent, 23 Mbps measured download and 7 of 12 comfortable months.

9. 9. Bogotá

   Bogotá, Colombia: High-altitude capital with a growing tech scene. It scores 61/100 under balanced weights, best for healthcare and cost of living and weakest on safety. About $881 a month for one person including rent, 20.8 Mbps measured download, the Digital nomad visitor visa (Visa V) and 7 of 12 comfortable months.

10. 10. Guadalajara

    Guadalajara, Mexico: Mexico's tech city with mariachi roots. It scores 61/100 under balanced weights, best for visa ease and climate and weakest on safety. About $991 a month for one person including rent, 27.1 Mbps measured download and 10 of 12 comfortable months.

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