Cartagena vs Koh Samui

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.

Koh Samui, Thailand
🇹🇭Thailand

Koh Samui

69Freedom Score#53Global rank$1,400Per month

Thailand's island of palms and granite boulders — direct airport access, beach clubs, and the DTV long-stay visa for remote workers.

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.

ExpenseCartagenaKoh Samui
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$888✓$1,400
Rent, 1BR city centre$569$450✓
Meal, mid-range$18$8✓
Coworking deskper month$92✓$190
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper30.2✓46.0

Quality of life

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

MeasureCartagenaKoh Samui
Safety
40
70
Healthcare
60
65
Walkability
60
48
English spoken
40
55
Food & dining
80
72
Nightlife
80
62
Outdoors
68
44
Nomad community
60
58
Climate quality
78
78
Public transit
40
40

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureCartagenaKoh Samui
Freedom Score60/10069/100✓
Global rankof 100 cities#83#53✓
Internet30 Mbps60 Mbps✓
Average temperature82°F82°F
Air quality45/100✓40/100
Airport connectivity60/100✓58/100
Nomad visa90 daysDTV 5-year
Headline tax rateon local income0%15%

Which should you choose?

Choose Cartagena if runs $512/mo cheaper, it is more walkable, the nomad community is larger and the headline tax rate is lower.

Choose Koh Samui if rent is $119/mo lower, internet is faster at 60 Mbps, it scores higher on safety (70 vs 40) and English is more widely spoken.

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

Koh Samui

  • Own international airport — fly direct
  • Palm beaches and granite boulders
  • Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)
  • Big expat and digital-nomad scene

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Cartagena or Koh Samui?
Koh Samui scores higher on the Freedom Score (69/100 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 Koh Samui?
Cartagena is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $888 against $1,400, a difference of $512 a month or about $6,144 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $569/mo in Cartagena versus $450/mo in Koh Samui.
Which is safer: Cartagena or Koh Samui?
Koh Samui scores higher on safety, 70/100 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 Koh Samui?
Cartagena averages 30 Mbps and Koh Samui averages 60 Mbps, so Koh Samui has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Cartagena or Koh Samui?
Cartagena sits in Colombia (90 days) and Koh Samui in Thailand (DTV 5-year). 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.