Cartagena vs Fukuoka

Real cost of living, rent, internet, safety and visa terms for both cities, side by side — then open the interactive tool to weight them against your own priorities.

Cartagena, Colombia
🇨🇴Colombia

Cartagena

60Freedom Score#83Global rank$888Per month

Colombia's jewel on the Caribbean — a UNESCO walled colonial city, azure waters, perfect US market hours, and the warmth of the coast at a fraction of Miami prices.

Fukuoka, Japan
🇯🇵Japan

Fukuoka

73Freedom Score#37Global rank$1,600Per month

Japan's most livable city — compact, green, and affordable by Japanese standards, with legendary ramen, a startup boom, and 90-day visa-free access.

The short answer

Compare these two in the full toolBoth cities pre-loaded — add your income and priorities to get a personal match score

Cost of living

Monthly figures for one person. Rent, meals and coworking are measured values, not shares of the total budget.

ExpenseCartagenaFukuoka
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$888✓$1,600
Rent, 1BR city centre$569$500✓
Meal, mid-range$18$10✓
Coworking deskper month$92✓$180
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper30.2✓64.0

Quality of life

Scored 0–100 on the same attributes the match engine weights, so these agree with the interactive tool.

MeasureCartagenaFukuoka
Safety
40
85
Healthcare
60
90
Walkability
60
85
English spoken
40
42
Food & dining
80
90
Nightlife
80
65
Outdoors
68
58
Nomad community
60
58
Climate quality
78
60
Public transit
40
95

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureCartagenaFukuoka
Freedom Score60/10073/100✓
Global rankof 100 cities#83#37✓
Internet30 Mbps100 Mbps✓
Average temperature82°F63°F
Air quality45/100✓30/100
Airport connectivity60/10078/100✓
Nomad visa90 days90 days free
Headline tax rateon local income0%20%

Which should you choose?

Choose Cartagena if runs $712/mo cheaper, the climate scores better, the nomad community is larger and the headline tax rate is lower.

Choose Fukuoka if rent is $69/mo lower, internet is faster at 100 Mbps, it scores higher on safety (85 vs 40) and it is more walkable.

What each city is known for

Cartagena

  • US market opens at 9:30am — perfect trading schedule
  • UNESCO walled city: one of the Americas' most photogenic spots
  • Rosario Islands 45 minutes by boat — Caribbean paradise
  • Street food in Getsemani neighbourhood is world-class

Fukuoka

  • Most livable big city in Japan
  • Legendary Hakata ramen scene
  • 90-day visa-free for Western passports
  • Growing startup and coworking hub

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Cartagena or Fukuoka?
Fukuoka scores higher on the Freedom Score (73/100 against 60/100), which makes it the stronger all-round base. That is an average, though — if cost, climate or community is what actually decides it for you, the tables above will point the other way as often as not.
Which is cheaper: Cartagena or Fukuoka?
Cartagena is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $888 against $1,600, a difference of $712 a month or about $8,544 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $569/mo in Cartagena versus $500/mo in Fukuoka.
Which is safer: Cartagena or Fukuoka?
Fukuoka scores higher on safety, 85/100 against 40/100. Safety scores blend crime levels, political stability and healthcare access, and they describe a city as a whole — individual neighbourhoods vary far more than the headline number suggests.
How fast is the internet in Cartagena and Fukuoka?
Cartagena averages 30 Mbps and Fukuoka averages 100 Mbps, so Fukuoka has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Cartagena or Fukuoka?
Cartagena sits in Colombia (90 days) and Fukuoka in Japan (90 days free). Requirements, income floors and processing times change often, so check the visa and residency guide before you commit to either.
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Cost, connectivity and quality-of-life figures come from the YourLifeMatch city dataset. Where a value is not confirmed it reads n.a. rather than an estimate. Figures are for planning, not professional advice.