Medellín vs Riga — Cost of Living Comparison 2026
Which city is cheaper, safer, and better for remote workers? Here's the data.
NoodlePants Verdict — generated from live data
Medellín edges out Riga on affordability with a Cost of Living index of 32.4 vs 58 (US=100; very affordable vs mid-priced). Riga scores higher on safety (76/100), and Riga wins on internet at ~226 Mbps. Overall, Medellín takes the Nomad Score crown with 80/100 — best for budget nomad and latam base.
* Some figures are country averages — full city-level data coming soon.Pro members get neighbourhood-level breakdowns.
Metric
Medellín
Riga
Avg Rent 1BR (city centre)
US$580
US$650
Avg Rent 1BR (outside centre)
US$360
US$450
Cost of Living (US=100)
32
58
Safety Score
48/100
76/100
Internet Speed
130 Mbps
226 Mbps
Nomad Score
80/100
68/100
Healthcare Score
70/100
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Digital Nomad Visa
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Who is each city for?
Medellín is better for…
Budget nomadLatAm baseSpring climateCommunity
See the Colombia country profileAlso compare
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