How we ranked Latin America for January
This ranking covers Latin America only. From the 158 Latin American cities in our database that have both a monthly cost figure and a city internet speed, we sorted by our monthly score for January and kept the top ten. The monthly score is the site's own measure of how well a city works in a given calendar month, and a higher number is better. It lets us compare a city with its own year, which is the point of this article: not only who ranks first, but how January treats each city compared with its best and worst months.
For every city we show the cost of a month for a digital nomad in US dollars, the average city internet speed in Mbps, a safety index where a higher number means safer, and the January weather: mean, high and low temperature plus hours of sunshine per day. We leave rainfall out because the rainfall records for several of these cities are too thin to quote. Scores are close at the top, with only 36 points between first place and tenth, so treat the order as a guide rather than a verdict.
The top 10 at a glance
| # | City | Country | January score | Cost per month (USD) | Internet (Mbps) | Safety index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico City | Mexico | 466 | $1,824 | 93 | 32.7 |
| 2 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | 463 | $1,595 | 113 | 36.89 |
| 3 | Lima | Peru | 454 | $1,284 | 219 | 29.82 |
| 4 | Santiago | Chile | 451 | $2,046 | 200 | 36.05 |
| 5 | Puerto Vallarta | Mexico | 449 | $2,863 | 83 | 65.07 |
| 6 | Guadalajara | Mexico | 441 | $1,723 | 97 | 37.79 |
| 7 | Merida | Mexico | 439 | $1,553 | 83 | 75.49 |
| 8 | San Salvador | El Salvador | 433 | $2,054 | 85 | 43.31 |
| 9 | Cartagena | Colombia | 433 | $1,580 | 166 | 48.46 |
| 10 | Guatemala City | Guatemala | 430 | $1,522 | 69 | 37.67 |
Mexico City leads on score at 466. Lima is the cheapest of the ten at $1,284 a month and also has the fastest internet at 219 Mbps, while Puerto Vallarta is the most expensive at $2,863. Merida has the highest safety index at 75.5, followed by Puerto Vallarta at 65.1. Just outside the ten, Havana scores 429 and Montevideo 428, so a small shift in the data would reorder the bottom of this table.
January weather in the ten cities
| City | Mean (°C) | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Sunshine (hours per day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | 15.0 | 24.0 | 7.0 | 10.0 |
| Buenos Aires | 24.6 | 28.5 | 21.3 | 13.1 |
| Lima | 22.5 | 25.0 | 20.6 | 11.0 |
| Santiago | 22.2 | 30.7 | 14.7 | 13.2 |
| Puerto Vallarta | 22.0 | 27.1 | 17.7 | 9.8 |
| Guadalajara | 18.5 | 25.9 | 11.7 | 10.0 |
| Merida | 24.2 | 29.8 | 21.5 | 9.0 |
| San Salvador | 24.1 | 31.8 | 19.5 | 10.5 |
| Cartagena | 28.4 | 33.2 | 24.9 | 10.7 |
| Guatemala City | 18.6 | 26.2 | 13.7 | 10.5 |
Latin America splits in two in January. Cartagena is the warmest at a mean of 28.4°C and Mexico City is the coolest at 15.0°C, a gap of 13.4 degrees. Buenos Aires and Santiago are in southern-hemisphere summer, with daytime highs of 28.5°C and 30.7°C. The highland cities, Mexico City, Guadalajara and Guatemala City, have mild days and cool nights, and Mexico City's overnight low is 7.0°C. Buenos Aires and Santiago get the most sun, at 13.1 and 13.2 hours a day, while Merida gets the least of the ten at 9.0 hours.
The ten cities, one by one
1. Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City (Mexico) scores 466 for January in our monthly ranking, which puts it number 1 on this list. A month of nomad-style living costs about $1,824, the average city internet speed is 93 Mbps, and the safety index is 32.7, where higher means safer.
In January the mean temperature in Mexico City is 15.0°C, with highs near 24.0°C, lows near 7.0°C and about 10.0 hours of sunshine a day. January is at the top of the city's yearly range: no month scores higher than 466, and the weakest stretch, July, drops to 266. The cool nights make January comfortable for long desk days, and Roma, Condesa and Juarez are the usual bases for remote workers.
2. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires (Argentina) scores 463 for January in our monthly ranking, which puts it number 2 on this list. A month of nomad-style living costs about $1,595, the average city internet speed is 113 Mbps, and the safety index is 36.89, where higher means safer.
In January the mean temperature in Buenos Aires is 24.6°C, with highs near 28.5°C, lows near 21.3°C and about 13.1 hours of sunshine a day. January is at the top of the city's yearly range: no month scores higher than 463, and the weakest stretch, August, drops to 410. It is high summer in the southern hemisphere, so expect heat and humidity, and some residents leave for the coast, which can make parts of the city quieter. Palermo and Recoleta are the usual bases.
3. Lima, Peru
Lima (Peru) scores 454 for January in our monthly ranking, which puts it number 3 on this list. A month of nomad-style living costs about $1,284, the average city internet speed is 219 Mbps, and the safety index is 29.82, where higher means safer.
In January the mean temperature in Lima is 22.5°C, with highs near 25.0°C, lows near 20.6°C and about 11.0 hours of sunshine a day. January is at the top of the city's yearly range: no month scores higher than 454, and the weakest stretch, May–October, drops to 414. The Pacific coast keeps the city mild rather than hot, and Miraflores and Barranco put you close to the sea with plenty of cafes and coworking space.
4. Santiago, Chile
Santiago (Chile) scores 451 for January in our monthly ranking, which puts it number 4 on this list. A month of nomad-style living costs about $2,046, the average city internet speed is 200 Mbps, and the safety index is 36.05, where higher means safer.
In January the mean temperature in Santiago is 22.2°C, with highs near 30.7°C, lows near 14.7°C and about 13.2 hours of sunshine a day. January is at the top of the city's yearly range: no month scores higher than 451, and the weakest stretch, May–August, drops to 401. January is summer in Chile, dry and sunny, and the Andes are often visible from the city. Providencia and Nunoa are the usual neighbourhoods for remote workers.
5. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Puerto Vallarta (Mexico) scores 449 for January in our monthly ranking, which puts it number 5 on this list. A month of nomad-style living costs about $2,863, the average city internet speed is 83 Mbps, and the safety index is 65.07, where higher means safer.
In January the mean temperature in Puerto Vallarta is 22.0°C, with highs near 27.1°C, lows near 17.7°C and about 9.8 hours of sunshine a day. January is at the top of the city's yearly range: no month scores higher than 449, and the weakest stretch, September, drops to 377. January is dry season on Mexico's Pacific coast and the resort town fills with winter visitors, so book accommodation early. The Zona Romantica and Marina Vallarta are common bases.
6. Guadalajara, Mexico
Guadalajara (Mexico) scores 441 for January in our monthly ranking, which puts it number 6 on this list. A month of nomad-style living costs about $1,723, the average city internet speed is 97 Mbps, and the safety index is 37.79, where higher means safer.
In January the mean temperature in Guadalajara is 18.5°C, with highs near 25.9°C, lows near 11.7°C and about 10.0 hours of sunshine a day. January is at the top of the city's yearly range: no month scores higher than 441, and the weakest stretch, July, drops to 358. Days are warm and nights are cool, which suits working from a cafe in the morning and walking in the evening. Colonia Americana and Providencia are the usual bases.
7. Merida, Mexico
Merida (Mexico) scores 439 for January in our monthly ranking, which puts it number 7 on this list. A month of nomad-style living costs about $1,553, the average city internet speed is 83 Mbps, and the safety index is 75.49, where higher means safer.
In January the mean temperature in Merida is 24.2°C, with highs near 29.8°C, lows near 21.5°C and about 9.0 hours of sunshine a day. January scores 5 points under the city's best month (February/December, at 444), and the weakest stretch, June, drops to 336. January is one of the more comfortable months in the Yucatan, cooler and drier than the summer, and the historic centre and Garcia Gineres are common places to live.
8. San Salvador, El Salvador
San Salvador (El Salvador) scores 433 for January in our monthly ranking, which puts it number 8 on this list. A month of nomad-style living costs about $2,054, the average city internet speed is 85 Mbps, and the safety index is 43.31, where higher means safer.
In January the mean temperature in San Salvador is 24.1°C, with highs near 31.8°C, lows near 19.5°C and about 10.5 hours of sunshine a day. January is at the top of the city's yearly range: no month scores higher than 433, and the weakest stretch, June, drops to 207. January falls in the dry season, with warm days and clear skies. Escalon and San Benito are the usual neighbourhoods for remote workers.
9. Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena (Colombia) scores 433 for January in our monthly ranking, which puts it number 9 on this list. A month of nomad-style living costs about $1,580, the average city internet speed is 166 Mbps, and the safety index is 48.46, where higher means safer.
In January the mean temperature in Cartagena is 28.4°C, with highs near 33.2°C, lows near 24.9°C and about 10.7 hours of sunshine a day. January scores 10 points under the city's best month (November, at 443), and the weakest stretch, October, drops to 350. The Caribbean coast is hot all year, and January is in the dry season. The walled city and Getsemani are the places most visitors choose to stay.
10. Guatemala City, Guatemala
Guatemala City (Guatemala) scores 430 for January in our monthly ranking, which puts it number 10 on this list. A month of nomad-style living costs about $1,522, the average city internet speed is 69 Mbps, and the safety index is 37.67, where higher means safer.
In January the mean temperature in Guatemala City is 18.6°C, with highs near 26.2°C, lows near 13.7°C and about 10.5 hours of sunshine a day. January is at the top of the city's yearly range: no month scores higher than 430, and the weakest stretch, June, drops to 243. January is dry and mild in the highlands, and Zona 10 and Zona 14 are the usual bases for remote workers.
January against each city's best month
| City | January score | Best month score | Points below best | Weakest stretch (score) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | 466 | 466 | 0 | July (266) |
| Buenos Aires | 463 | 463 | 0 | August (410) |
| Lima | 454 | 454 | 0 | May–October (414) |
| Santiago | 451 | 451 | 0 | May–August (401) |
| Puerto Vallarta | 449 | 449 | 0 | September (377) |
| Guadalajara | 441 | 441 | 0 | July (358) |
| Merida | 439 | 444 | 5 | June (336) |
| San Salvador | 433 | 433 | 0 | June (207) |
| Cartagena | 433 | 443 | 10 | October (350) |
| Guatemala City | 430 | 430 | 0 | June (243) |
January is the best or joint-best month for eight of the ten cities. Only Merida (439 against 444 in February and December) and Cartagena (433 against 443 in November) have a better month, and both gaps are small. That makes January one of the safest months of the year to commit to a Latin American base, because very few cities here lose ground by arriving in it.
The bigger story is how far each city falls afterwards. San Salvador drops from 433 to 207 in June, a fall of 226 points, Mexico City goes from 466 to 266 in July, and Guatemala City falls from 430 to 243 in June. Lima (454 to 414), Santiago (451 to 401) and Buenos Aires (463 to 410) hold their scores far better. If you plan to stay beyond January, the size of the swing matters as much as the January score itself.
Month by month across the ten
| Month | Average score of the ten cities |
|---|---|
| January | 445.9 |
| February | 444.9 |
| March | 436.6 |
| April | 421.0 |
| May | 401.3 |
| June | 369.1 |
| July | 372.3 |
| August | 376.0 |
| September | 379.6 |
| October | 399.7 |
| November | 430.1 |
| December | 439.2 |
Averaged across these ten cities, January is the strongest month of the year at 445.9, with February almost level at 444.9 and December at 439.2. The score then slides through April (421.0) and May (401.3) to its low in June at 369.1, before recovering to 430.1 in November. If you are building a year around Latin America, the pattern is clear: the first quarter and the last weeks of the year are the strong stretch, and June to September is the weak one.
What January costs
The ten cities average about $1,804 a month for a nomad budget. Five come in under $1,600: Lima at $1,284, Guatemala City at $1,522, Merida at $1,553, Cartagena at $1,580 and Buenos Aires at $1,595. Guadalajara ($1,723) and Mexico City ($1,824) sit in the middle.
Three cities cost more than $2,000: Santiago at $2,046, San Salvador at $2,054 and Puerto Vallarta at $2,863, which is more than twice the price of Lima. The cost figure is a monthly total for a single nomad lifestyle, so it moves with where you live and how often you eat out. Treat the figures as a baseline and check current rents before you commit.
Internet and safety trade-offs
Internet is strongest in Lima at 219 Mbps and Santiago at 200 Mbps, followed by Cartagena at 166 and Buenos Aires at 113. Guadalajara (97) and Mexico City (93) are comfortable for video calls. Puerto Vallarta, Merida and San Salvador sit between 83 and 85 Mbps, and Guatemala City is lowest at 69 Mbps, so it is worth keeping mobile data as a backup there.
Safety splits the list more sharply. Merida (75.5) and Puerto Vallarta (65.1) have the highest safety index, then Cartagena (48.5) and San Salvador (43.3). The other six sit between Lima at 29.8 and Guadalajara at 37.8. The index describes a city as a whole and says little about a single street, so choose your neighbourhood carefully, use ride-hailing or licensed taxis at night, and ask local residents which areas to avoid.
Which city suits which remote worker
- Fast internet on a modest budget: Lima, with 219 Mbps at $1,284 a month and a January score of 454.
- The highest score and a big-city base: Mexico City, at 466 and $1,824 a month, with cool nights.
- Southern-hemisphere summer: Buenos Aires (463, $1,595) or Santiago (451, $2,046), with more than 13 hours of sunshine a day.
- A beach base: Puerto Vallarta (449, $2,863) for the best safety index of the coastal options, or Cartagena (433, $1,580) for heat and 166 Mbps.
- Safety first: Merida, with a safety index of 75.5 and a cost of $1,553, though internet is 83 Mbps.
- Mild highland weather: Guadalajara (441, $1,723) or Guatemala City (430, $1,522).
Verdict
For January in Latin America, Mexico City is the strongest all-round choice on our monthly score at 466, with Buenos Aires at 463 and Lima at 454 close behind. Lima is the value pick, offering the lowest cost and the fastest internet of the ten, while Merida is the safety pick and Puerto Vallarta the premium beach option.
Because January is the best or joint-best month for eight of the ten cities, you are rarely choosing the wrong month, only the wrong city for your priorities. Start from what matters most, whether that is cost, internet, safety or weather, and use the tables above to shortlist two cities. If you plan to stay beyond the first quarter, favour the cities with smaller seasonal swings, such as Lima, Santiago and Buenos Aires.
