Medellín vs Quy Nhon

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.

Medellín, Colombia
🇨🇴Colombia

Medellín

57Freedom Score#89Global rank$1,500Per month

The City of Eternal Spring offers low cost, a booming expat scene, and perfect US market hour alignment — ideal for day traders.

Quy Nhon, Vietnam
🇻🇳Vietnam

Quy Nhon

63Freedom Score#76Global rank$800Per month

A still-under-the-radar Vietnamese coastal gem — Quy Nhon offers pristine beaches, fresh seafood, and one of the lowest costs of living anywhere, with a quiet, laid-back pace.

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.

ExpenseMedellínQuy Nhon
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$1,500$800
Rent, 1BR city centre$800$300
Meal, mid-range$6$5
Coworking deskper month$160n.a.
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper36.432.0

Quality of life

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

MeasureMedellínQuy Nhon
Safety
65
72
Healthcare
70
42
Walkability
75
52
English spoken
55
22
Food & dining
80
70
Nightlife
100
38
Outdoors
82
78
Nomad community
90
28
Climate quality
82
74
Public transit
65
35

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureMedellínQuy Nhon
Freedom Score57/10063/100
Global rankof 100 cities#89#76
Internet120 Mbps60 Mbps
Average temperature68°F82°F
Air quality65/10030/100
Airport connectivity70/10035/100
Nomad visa90 days45 days
Headline tax rateon local income18%15%

Which should you choose?

Choose Medellín if internet is faster at 120 Mbps, it is more walkable, English is more widely spoken and the climate scores better.

Choose Quy Nhon if runs $700/mo cheaper, rent is $500/mo lower, it scores higher on safety (72 vs 65) and the headline tax rate is lower.

What each city is known for

Medellín

  • Perfect US market hours — trade 9:30am–4pm without staying up late
  • Massive expat community in El Poblado neighborhood
  • Eternal spring climate — 72°F year-round, no AC needed
  • Foreign income not taxed under 183-day rule

Quy Nhon

  • One of the cheapest beach cities on the platform at $800/mo
  • Uncrowded golden-sand beaches and fresh daily seafood
  • Vietnam's 0% non-resident tax on foreign income under 183 days
  • Quiet, slow-paced alternative to Da Nang and Nha Trang

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Medellín or Quy Nhon?
Quy Nhon scores higher on the Freedom Score (63/100 against 57/100), 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: Medellín or Quy Nhon?
Quy Nhon is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $800 against $1,500, a difference of $700 a month or about $8,400 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $800/mo in Medellín versus $300/mo in Quy Nhon.
Which is safer: Medellín or Quy Nhon?
Quy Nhon scores higher on safety, 72/100 against 65/100. 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 Medellín and Quy Nhon?
Medellín averages 120 Mbps and Quy Nhon averages 60 Mbps, so Medellín has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Medellín or Quy Nhon?
Medellín sits in Colombia (90 days) and Quy Nhon in Vietnam (45 days). Requirements, income floors and processing times change often, so check the visa and residency guide before you commit to either.
Open the interactive comparison

Related comparisons