Cartagena vs Oaxaca: Cost, Visas & Safety
Living in Cartagena vs Oaxaca: Cartagena runs about $1,060/mo all-in vs $1,040/mo in Oaxaca — Oaxaca is cheaper. See visas, safety, internet, and climate…
Cartagena and Oaxaca cost about the same to live in, Oaxaca scores higher for safety, and internet is comparable in both. Which one wins depends on your income, passport, and what you value most.
How they compare
- Cost of living: near-identical — $1,060/mo in Cartagena vs $1,040/mo in Oaxaca all-in for one person.
- Rent: similar in both — around $550/mo in Cartagena and $550/mo in Oaxaca.
- Safety: Oaxaca rates higher (58/100 for Cartagena vs 70/100 for Oaxaca).
- Internet: both solid for remote work (60/100 vs 60/100).
- Climate: Oaxaca edges ahead (80/100 vs 88/100).
- Visa: easier to move to Cartagena — Cartagena's process is rated Easy, Oaxaca's Very Easy.
- Retirement/long-stay: both have options — Cartagena via the Colombia Pensioner Visa, Oaxaca via the Mexico Residente Temporal (Rentista).
- Families: Oaxaca rates safer for family life (52/100 vs 72/100 family safety).
- Local salaries: higher in Cartagena (~$800/mo vs ~$800/mo average) — relevant if you'd work locally rather than remotely.
- Sunshine: Oaxaca logs about 300 sunny days a year vs 260 in Cartagena.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cartagena or Oaxaca cheaper to live in?
Cartagena costs about $1,060/month all-in for one person; Oaxaca costs about $1,040/month. They land within $20/mo of each other, so lifestyle and neighbourhood matter more than the city you pick.
How much cheaper is Oaxaca than Cartagena?
Barely — the two cities are within $20/month of each other all-in, so the cheaper choice comes down to your neighbourhood and lifestyle, not the city.
Which is safer, Cartagena or Oaxaca?
Oaxaca scores higher on Jonzy's safety index (58/100 for Cartagena vs 70/100 for Oaxaca). Both are catalog averages — feelings of safety also vary by neighbourhood and time of day.
Which is better for remote work and digital nomads, Cartagena or Oaxaca?
For connectivity, both are solid (60/100 vs 60/100). On climate, Oaxaca edges ahead (80/100 vs 88/100). Jonzy scores both against your income, passport, and priorities so you see which fits your setup.
Which is easier to get a visa for, Cartagena or Oaxaca?
Cartagena's visa process is rated Easy (about 5 weeks); Oaxaca's is rated Very Easy (about no formal wait). Your passport changes the answer — run a visa check for both in Jonzy.
Can I compare Cartagena and Oaxaca for my situation?
Yes, open Jonzy, enter your income and passport, and get personalised Life Upgrade Scores for both cities. You can also share a side-by-side comparison link with a partner.