⭐️ Total score | 2.1/5 (Rank #1043) |
👍 Quality of life score | Okay |
👶 Family score | Okay |
🎒 Community score | Okay |
💵 Cost | 🧐 Pricey: $3,211 / mo |
📡 Internet | 🙂 Good: 11Mbps (avg) |
😝 Fun | Good |
⛅️ Temperature (now) | 🌞 Perfect: 28°C82°F (feels 31°C88°F) |
💦 Humidity (now) | 🥵 Sweaty: 72% |
👌 Safety | Okay |
🤮 Food safety* | Great |
👮♀️ Lack of crime* | Bad |
🤝 Lack of racism* | Good |
🎓 Education level* | Mediocre |
⚡️ Power grid | Great |
🌊 Vulnerability to climate change | Great |
💰 Income level* | Low: $985 / mo |
🙊 English speaking* | Okay |
🚶 Walkability | Okay |
✌️ Peace (no pol. conflict) | Okay |
🚦 Traffic safety* | Okay |
😄 Happiness* | Okay |
🍸 Nightlife | Bad |
📶 Free WiFi in city | Bad |
🖥 Places to work from | Good |
❄️ A/C or heating | Bad |
😁 Friendly to foreigners | Good |
🗯 Freedom of speech* | Great |
👩 Female friendly | Okay |
🌈 LGBTQ+ friendly | Great |
🎅 Startup Score | Bad |
🌍 Continent | Latin America |
🚩 Country | Costa Rica |
🗓️ Average trip length | 14 days |
📡 Internet speed (avg) | 11 Mbps |
⛅️ Weather (now) | 🌧 28°C 82°F + 🥵 Sweaty (72%) = feels 31°C 88°F |
🔌 Power | 115V60Hz |
🚑 Travel medical insurance | Safetywing |
💸 1,000 CRC in USD | USD 1.99 |
🏧 Suggested ATM take out: | CRC 100,000 = USD 199 |
💸 Tipping | No |
💳 Cashless | 💵 No, cash only (esp. for foreigners) |
💻 Best coworking space | Loop |
🚰 Tap water | 🚫 No, not drinkable |
♻️ Return rate | 8% of visitors return |
👨👩👧👦 Population | 10,000 people |
👨👩👧👦 GDP per capita* | $11,825 / year |
👫 Gender ratio (population) | 👨 51% 👱♀️ 49% |
👫 Gender ratio (young adults) | 👨 52% 👱♀️ 48% |
👫 Gender ratio (nomads) | 👨 68% 👱♀️ 32% |
🏞 Foreign land ownership allowed | Yes |
⛪️ Religious government | Religious |
🏠 Apartment listings | Encuentra24 |
✈️ Best short-haul air carrier | Nature Air |
✈️ Best int'l air carrier | Nature Air |
🏥 Best hospital | Hone Creek Clinic |
💵 Cost of living for nomad | $3,211 / month |
💵 Cost of living for expat | $1,914 / month |
💵 Cost of living for family | $3,559 / month |
💵 Cost of living for local | $1,017 / month |
🏨 Hotel (median price) | $2,182 / month |
🏡 Airbnb (median price) | $2,671 / month |
🏠 1br studio rent in center | $696 / month |
🏨 Hotel (median price) | $102 / night |
🏠 Airbnb (median price) | $88 / night |
🏢 Coworking hot desk | $197 / month |
🍛 Dinner | $12 |
🥤 Coca-Cola (0.3L) | $2 |
🍺 Beer in cafe (0.5L) | $4 |
☕️ Coffee in cafe | $3 |
✅ Fast internet
✅ Lots of fun stuff to do
✅ Warm now
✅ Warm all year round
✅ Good air quality on average
✅ Many Nomad List members have been
✅ Spacious and not crowded
✅ Very easy to make friends
✅ Easy to do business
✅ High quality of education
✅ Roads are pretty safe
✅ Great freedom of speech
✅ Democratic
✅ Safe for women
✅ Family friendly
✅ Very friendly to LGBTQ+
✅ Not many people smoke tobacco
❌ Too expensive
❌ Not very safe
❌ Very sweaty and humid now
❌ Hospitals are bad
❌ People don't speak English well
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
Feels | 7926° warm | 7926° warm | 8127° warm | 8228° warm | 8228° warm | 8228° warm | 8228° warm | 8228° warm | 8228° warm | 8228° warm | 8127° warm | 7926° warm |
Real | 7926° warm | 7926° warm | 8027° warm | 8127° warm | 8127° warm | 8127° warm | 8127° warm | 8127° warm | 8228° very warm | 8228° very warm | 8127° warm | 7926° warm |
Humidity | nice 44% | nice 44% | nice 43% | nice 46% | nice 47% | nice 46% | nice 47% | nice 46% | nice 45% | nice 44% | nice 44% | nice 46% |
Most common | ||||||||||||
Rain | rainy 208mm | rainy 174mm | rainy 159mm | rainy 208mm | rainy 378mm | rainy 266mm | rainy 519mm | rainy 312mm | rainy 288mm | rainy 283mm | rainy 336mm | rainy 415mm |
Cloud | pockets 29% | pockets 27% | pockets 25% | pockets 35% | pockets 36% | pockets 36% | pockets 35% | pockets 39% | pockets 36% | pockets 33% | pockets 30% | pockets 28% |
Sun | avoid sun 8 UVI | avoid sun 10 UVI | avoid sun 11 UVI | avoid sun 9 UVI | avoid sun 8 UVI | avoid sun 8 UVI | avoid sun 7 UVI | avoid sun 8 UVI | avoid sun 8 UVI | avoid sun 8 UVI | avoid sun 8 UVI | avoid sun 8 UVI |
Remote workers | 425 people | 543 people | 356 people | 457 people | 425 people | 480 people | 280 people | 333 people | 356 people | 467 people | 371 people | 400 people |
If you'd like to filter destinations based on their climate, try Nomad List's Climate Finder
Based on Puerto Viejo's cost of living, here's selected remote jobs that would cover your costs:
Bocas del Toro is an awesome place to come and work at. There are different places to stay and work in Bocas del Toro, throughout the archipelago that offer different experiences. Some places are more remote with high speed internet service, comfortable settings just a bit far so getting into town and enjoying the nightlife can be more difficult. If you want to stay in town there are some options in Bocas Town with co-working spaces like Selinas Hostel, but keep in mind there is a lively nightli
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 🧐 Pricey📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked very bad👮 Safety badTap to open🌧 Feels 30° 86° 27° 81°🚕2h$3,076 / mo15Mbps×According to the World Happiness Report, San José in Costa Rica is the 11th "happiest city" (in terms of how positively the inhabitants currently evaluate their lives on average) among 186 cities across the globe. In this ranking, the top cities have often a much higher cost of living.
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 🧐 Pricey📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked mediocre👮 Safety very badTap to open🌥 Feels 33° 91° 29° 85°AQI 85😷✈️13min$3,157 / mo37Mbps×Frequent power outages especially with the growing town on poor unsupportive electricity infrastructure and also the closer you are to rainy season.
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 🧐 Too expensive📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked very bad👮 Safety badTap to open🌧 Feels 37° 99° 31° 87°🥵✈️21min$4,098 / mo38Mbps×Only shop in Liberia. Playa Hermosa/Ocatal is simply lovely. As a female traveler, havent had any issues/concerns. My Spanish is basic and no issues there either.
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😙 Affordable📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked very bad👮 Safety badTap to open☀️ Feels 39° 102° 33° 92°🥵✈️25min$2,136 / mo11Mbps×Panama City very interesting and slept on. Probably the most developed major city in Latin America with the strongest technology infrastructure which makes it very appealing for digital nomads. Also a lot of international business coming through here so there can definitely be good networking opportunities. It’s also super safe compared to other South American hotspots like Medellin however it is significantly more expensive. I would say prices here are slightly less expensive than southern s
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😙 Affordable📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked good👮 Safety badTap to open🌥 Feels 39° 102° 31° 88°🥵✈️29min$2,483 / mo34Mbps×Safety score is honestly too high! I passed through Managua a few times during my time in Nicaragua, and it remains the sketchiest, dirtiest city I've personally seen in Latin America. It's also ungodly hot and smelly. Would not recommend staying here for any reason whatsoever.
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😙 Affordable📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked very bad👮 Safety badTap to open☀️ Feels 40° 104° 34° 94°🥵✈️38min$1,281 / mo10Mbps×Ungodly hot year round, but some cool things to see. Can't imagine working from here, but it a cool enough place to visit for a few days if you can stand the heat. Volcano boarding is a great time!
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😙 Affordable📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked very bad👮 Safety badTap to open☀️ Feels 45° 113° 36° 97°🥵✈️44min$1,301 / mo12Mbps×Personal Rating: 2/5 As a nomad kiteboarder, I spent 2 weeks in Cartagena just to work and enjoy the sunsets on the water. On the positive side, the city provides affordable accommodation options and a decent food scene with noteworthy restaurants like Celele or bars like Alquimico. The city's nightlife boasts lively bars and rooftop venues, and the sunsets are truly beautiful. However, prostitution and sex tourism is really to much and to present, which may be uncomfortable for some visitors.
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😙 Affordable📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked bad👮 Safety badTap to open🌥 Feels 35° 95° 29° 83°🥵✈️1h$1,654 / mo13Mbps×According to the World Happiness Report, San José in Costa Rica is the 11th "happiest city" (in terms of how positively the inhabitants currently evaluate their lives on average) among 186 cities across the globe. In this ranking, the top cities have often a much higher cost of living.
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 🧐 Pricey📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked mediocre👮 Safety very badTap to open🌥 Feels 33° 91° 29° 85°AQI 85😷✈️13min$3,157 / mo37Mbps×Bocas del Toro is an awesome place to come and work at. There are different places to stay and work in Bocas del Toro, throughout the archipelago that offer different experiences. Some places are more remote with high speed internet service, comfortable settings just a bit far so getting into town and enjoying the nightlife can be more difficult. If you want to stay in town there are some options in Bocas Town with co-working spaces like Selinas Hostel, but keep in mind there is a lively nightli
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 🧐 Pricey📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked very bad👮 Safety badTap to open🌧 Feels 30° 86° 27° 81°🚕2h$3,076 / mo15Mbps×Love it! Don't expect them to speak English, that is NOT their native language. If you're going to go, learn some Spanish and respect their culture. No gentrification in Mexico, please.
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😙 Affordable📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked good👮 Safety badTap to open☀️ Feels 14° 57° 14° 57°✈️3h$2,013 / mo66Mbps×Got robbed at gun point, also the streets are pretty dirty and there are a lot of beggars. I wouldn't recommend it
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😙 Affordable📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked mediocre👮 Safety very badTap to open🌧 Feels 22° 72° 22° 72°AQI 95😷✈️1h$1,457 / mo51Mbps×Panama City very interesting and slept on. Probably the most developed major city in Latin America with the strongest technology infrastructure which makes it very appealing for digital nomads. Also a lot of international business coming through here so there can definitely be good networking opportunities. It’s also super safe compared to other South American hotspots like Medellin however it is significantly more expensive. I would say prices here are slightly less expensive than southern s
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😙 Affordable📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked good👮 Safety badTap to open🌥 Feels 39° 102° 31° 88°🥵✈️29min$2,483 / mo34Mbps×I spent 4 months working here during summertime. It's one of the best summers I have ever had in my life. The city is just amazing and offers dozens of outdoor activities. There are so many different places such as parks, lakes, hills, mountains, beaches, etc. Also, you can feel the Californication vibe on every step. I lived in Hollywood and I would avoid this place at any cost. It's just too overrated and won't meet your expectations. Hollywood (esp. West Hollywood) is a big pile of dirtiness
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😳 Way too expensive📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked very bad👮 Safety mediocreTap to open🌥 Feels 19° 66° 18° 64°AQI 42✈️6h$5,300 / mo112Mbps×Frequent power outages especially with the growing town on poor unsupportive electricity infrastructure and also the closer you are to rainy season.
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 🧐 Too expensive📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked very bad👮 Safety badTap to open🌧 Feels 37° 99° 31° 87°🥵✈️21min$4,098 / mo38Mbps×Playa has been really good to me. The digital nomad community (at least over my winter stay) has been INCREDIBLE. Join the Facebook groups, find the WhatsApp groups - it’s so easy to meet others. The beach is ok, seaweed isn’t as bad in winter but it’s very visible and does smell. It rarely kills my beach day. The city has so many conveinces and is very walkable - it’s perfect for someone looking to work and enjoy themselves. Internet has been stable and fast. I get it’s not authentic,
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😙 Affordable📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked bad👮 Safety badTap to open🌥 Feels -11° 12° -7° 19°✈️2h$2,399 / mo31Mbps×I loved the sunsets. They were breathtaking by the water. Internet was spotty and difficult to find good coworking spaces and cafes with reliable wifi. Had to leave one airbnb due to wifi. As a woman, I was often sexually harassed with men hitting on me and not respected me when I declined. One even said to me "no sometimes means yes when i declined to go back home with him after a drink". This was more sexual harrasment than anywhere I've ever visited in the world. Food was mediocre and can get
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😙 Affordable📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked bad👮 Safety mediocreTap to open🌥 Feels 22° 72° 22° 72°AQI 92😷✈️3h$1,307 / mo56Mbps×It is more expensve than expected. Depending whete you live, streets can be dirty. It seems the government only uses the tax money to invest in the high en areas. Thwre are is a lot of inequality. People are very racist. I am Mexican, and the first thing people ask me here, is whete do I come from. I have never felt as discriminated as here and to be honest I dont think I have it as bad as other people.
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 🧐 Pricey📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked good👮 Safety goodTap to open🌥 Feels 16° 61° 16° 61°AQI 25✈️11h$3,958 / mo90Mbps×Bocas del Toro is an awesome place to come and work at. There are different places to stay and work in Bocas del Toro, throughout the archipelago that offer different experiences. Some places are more remote with high speed internet service, comfortable settings just a bit far so getting into town and enjoying the nightlife can be more difficult. If you want to stay in town there are some options in Bocas Town with co-working spaces like Selinas Hostel, but keep in mind there is a lively nightli
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 🧐 Pricey📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked very bad👮 Safety badTap to open🌧 Feels 30° 86° 27° 81°🚕2h$3,076 / mo🌇 Also went here43 people×According to the World Happiness Report, San José in Costa Rica is the 11th "happiest city" (in terms of how positively the inhabitants currently evaluate their lives on average) among 186 cities across the globe. In this ranking, the top cities have often a much higher cost of living.
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 🧐 Pricey📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked mediocre👮 Safety very badTap to open🌥 Feels 33° 91° 29° 85°AQI 85😷✈️13min$3,157 / mo🌇 Also went here64 people×Panama City very interesting and slept on. Probably the most developed major city in Latin America with the strongest technology infrastructure which makes it very appealing for digital nomads. Also a lot of international business coming through here so there can definitely be good networking opportunities. It’s also super safe compared to other South American hotspots like Medellin however it is significantly more expensive. I would say prices here are slightly less expensive than southern s
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😙 Affordable📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked good👮 Safety badTap to open🌥 Feels 39° 102° 31° 88°🥵✈️29min$2,483 / mo🌇 Also went here36 people×Got robbed at gun point, also the streets are pretty dirty and there are a lot of beggars. I wouldn't recommend it
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😙 Affordable📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked mediocre👮 Safety very badTap to open🌧 Feels 22° 72° 22° 72°AQI 95😷✈️1h$1,457 / mo🌇 Also went here59 people×Playa has been really good to me. The digital nomad community (at least over my winter stay) has been INCREDIBLE. Join the Facebook groups, find the WhatsApp groups - it’s so easy to meet others. The beach is ok, seaweed isn’t as bad in winter but it’s very visible and does smell. It rarely kills my beach day. The city has so many conveinces and is very walkable - it’s perfect for someone looking to work and enjoy themselves. Internet has been stable and fast. I get it’s not authentic,
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😙 Affordable📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked bad👮 Safety badTap to open🌥 Feels -11° 12° -7° 19°✈️2h$2,399 / mo🌇 Also went here47 people×Love it! Don't expect them to speak English, that is NOT their native language. If you're going to go, learn some Spanish and respect their culture. No gentrification in Mexico, please.
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😙 Affordable📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked good👮 Safety badTap to open☀️ Feels 14° 57° 14° 57°✈️3h$2,013 / mo🌇 Also went here57 people×New York is cool. I’ve visited multiple times to see my family throughout my life, and recently came back from my first post-COVID trip there. Yes, it’s very expensive — but there is no city on earth that’s more captivating in my opinion. I used to think that New Yorkers were smug by claiming that NYC was better than everywhere else, but now I totally get it lol. My personal favourite neighbourhood is the Upper East Side, which is where you’ll find the coveted Museum Mile. But I also
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😳 Way too expensive📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked mediocre👮 Safety mediocreTap to open🌥 Feels 16° 61° 16° 61°✈️5h$7,298 / mo🌇 Also went here42 people×Decent city, mainly because the people are so kind. But, it is a pain to get cash (spent a few hours every couple weeks trying Western Union after WU and never finding one with enough cash), and a lot of places don't take cards/the current exchange rate is a ripoff. However, BRING REPELLENT. The place is littered with mosquitos, and my partner and I both contracted dengue. He ended up in the hospital, and it was not a blast. The healthcare system is decent, but long wait times even in the nicest
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😙 Affordable📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked bad👮 Safety mediocreTap to open☀️ Feels 17° 63° 16° 62°AQI 25✈️7h$1,549 / mo🌇 Also went here37 people×Hello i am agreed with previous comment . I was very passionate about Portugal pend here two and half years even more just living living here , not travel abroad . So my opinion its very beautiful country people are also very nice . Ideally if you working abroad . British and French expats are here . Nepal people hard workers and afro colonies people who came from Mozambique . Its totally fine no racism and totally solidarity . But , if you searching housing , and move in city of course , it wi
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 🧐 Pricey📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked bad👮 Safety goodTap to open🌥 Feels 17° 63° 17° 62°AQI 40✈️11h$3,897 / mo🌇 Also went here43 people×I don't understand why London has so high safety rating. Your phone could be stolen and your bicycle WILL be stolen here (or a part of it). I live here 8.5 years and I experienced the above multiple times. Police seems only cares about crime against person by whatever reason. Insure everything expensive that you own. I would also add that antisocial behaviour is quite common here and teenagers are heavily involved in crimes as police don't do anything with them because of their age. Basically th
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😳 Way too expensive📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked bad👮 Safety goodTap to open🌧 Feels 11° 52° 11° 51°AQI 27✈️12h$5,534 / mo🌇 Also went here49 people×I have heard of a friend of a friend that in France it is important to bring sandpaper and to have suitable medical insurance which covers eye reconstruction surgery. “Well worth a visit, would recommend”.
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😳 Way too expensive📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked good👮 Safety mediocreTap to open🌥 Feels 11° 52° 12° 54°AQI 42✈️12h$5,060 / mo🌇 Also went here45 people×I don't know exactly how Barcelona is still considered safe but it's far from it. It's probably the most dangerous city to live in Madrid and one of the most dangerous in europe, with constant pick-pocketing and even violent crimes to get your wallet and phone in certain areas. If you like a peaceful life, Barcelona is not the place anymore!!
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😳 Way too expensive📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked mediocre👮 Safety goodTap to open🌥 Feels 12° 54° 13° 55°AQI 46✈️12h$5,046 / mo🌇 Also went here44 people×I recently visited Amsterdam for the third time (and the first time since 2018). I personally think it's a little overrated, but a cool place to visit nonetheless. The architecture is beautiful, and there are lots of good places to eat. I don't like the main area of the canals in the city centre; it smells of weed and is often packed. However, the outer edges - such as the Jordaan district - are less busy and more interesting in my opinion. One thing that surprised me is how much trash was o
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😳 Way too expensive📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked mediocre👮 Safety goodTap to open🌧 Feels 7° 45° 9° 48°AQI 31✈️12h$6,099 / mo🌇 Also went here37 people×Berlin used to be nomad base in Europe... but it's not the same anymore. The 'pandemic' changed many things -- the cost of course, but also the culture -- the freedom and liberty have been contained. The police presence and size of the state have grown -- definitely doesn't feel so relaxed anymore. It's also important to note here -- there is limited ambition. Most are looking for an easy, fun and peaceful life -- which is great, but if you are building something or running a business it can fee
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 🧐 Pricey📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked mediocre👮 Safety goodTap to open🌥 Feels 7° 45° 8° 46°AQI 78😷✈️13h$3,943 / mo🌇 Also went here45 people×This city is not for everyone, if you like shopping malls and big crowded cities it is for you. It may be cheap but if you want to live in a good location with swimming pool, go to nice rooftops and restaurants, use taxis then it is similar cost to western countries. In many areas there are no sidewalks, big and dangerous traffic all the time, pollution, taxis do not want to go with meter, it can get really hot. Definitely try to live by the metro. Many foreigners, mostly friendly people, cheap
⭐️ OverallAll 💵 Cost 😙 Affordable📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast👍 Liked mediocre👮 Safety goodTap to open☀️ Feels 45° 113° 36° 97°🥵AQI 62😷✈️23h$1,345 / mo🌇 Also went here45 people×Can't login? See the FAQ
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