Medellín vs Playa del Carmen

Cost of living and a cost-only FI reference estimate, side by side.

Weighing Medellín against Playa del Carmen? Compare cost of living and a cost-only FI estimate, plus livability and generic visa and tax-residency signals. The timeline excludes taxes, eligibility, FX, inflation and sequence risk.

Medellín vs Playa del Carmen, key metrics for digital nomads
Metric Medellín Playa del Carmen Edge
Monthly cost $1,300/mo $1,600/mo Medellín
Cost-only years estimate 11.4 yrs 10.3 yrs Medellín
Burn reduction 35% 20% Medellín
Tax context Medium Low Playa del Carmen
Visa context Easy Easy —
Safety 3 3 —
Internet 40 Mbps 45 Mbps Playa del Carmen

The verdict

  • Medellín is about 19% cheaper per month ($1,300/mo vs $1,600/mo).
  • Medellín leads the cost-only model by about 1.1 years.
  • In the cost-only model, Medellín ranks ahead. Taxes, visas, FX, inflation and sequence risk are excluded.

Run your own numbers

The figures above run one fixed reference profile. Enter your income, spending and savings to see your personal FI Score and the cities that get you to your date fastest.

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Illustrative cost-only screening estimate for one fixed reference profile (a US remote worker earning $90,000/yr and spending $45,000/yr). Taxes and treaties, visa eligibility and costs, FX, local inflation, and sequence-of-returns risk are excluded from the timeline and reference cost order. Tax and visa context requires a personal check. Do not use this as an after-tax FIRE, legal-eligibility, financial, tax, or immigration decision.