The Least Expensive Cities in Latin America for Nomads in 2023

For those of us who spend our days hunched over a laptop, the digital nomad life represents a chance to see the world without sacrificing precious vacation hours. The only problem is – you guessed it – money.

Short-term Airbnb rentals are always much more expensive than the local market rate (a.k.a. “gringo prices”). In the spirit of saving that dinero, the chart below shows the average cost of short-term nomading in the big cities of Mexico and South America.

The Least Expensive Cities

Looking at the rankings, we can see that the top five most budget-friendly cities are in the Andean countries of Colombia, Bolivia, and Ecuador. These cities are still off the beaten path for digital nomads, and flights are also relatively less expensive.

Cali, Colombia: Digital nomads tend to obsess over safety, which is probably why “dangerous” Cali tops the list of least-expensive major cities (FYI: Cali’s murder rate is now roughly equal to Chicago, which may or may not be a comfort.) More adventurous tourists will find a warm-weather city steeped in Afro-Colombian culture and fun festivals year round.

Bogota, Colombia: There are two kinds of people in the world: those who love Bogota, and those who hate it. The weather ain’t balmy, but it’s the only true international city in Colombia and probably the entire region. [now read: the best area to stay in Bogota for digital nomads.]

La Paz, Bolivia: For those masochists who prefer the cold, La Paz is for you. Bolivia’s capital contains some stunning vistas and excellent hiking, but year-round frigid weather keeps many digital nomads away. Different strokes for different folks, right?

Quito, Ecuador: Seasoned digital nomads in South America will tell you not to sleep on Quito. It’s not as lively as someplace trendy like Medellin, but Ecuador’s capital is a major historical center and serves as a launchpad to the rest of the country.

Cuenca, Ecuador: This small colonial city has become a minor hotspot for American retirees looking to live large on their Social Security checks. If you’re after something more laidback, people often say that the vibe in Cuenca is much more chill than other nomad destinations.

Methodology

Airbnb costs are taken from analytics site AirDNA. The monthly rate was calculated by taking a city’s average nightly rate and multiplying it by 30 days (taxes and monthly discounts are excluded). Flight costs are taken from Google Flights and show the average cost of flying out of New York City (with one bag) over the next six months. The exact figures on this chart may vary widely based on date and lifestyle, but can still serve as a point of comparison.