CityCost
Compare global cost of living for digital nomads and remote workers
What is CityCost? Complete Overview
CityCost is a comprehensive cost-of-living comparison platform designed for digital nomads, remote workers, and international travelers. The tool provides detailed insights into living expenses across thousands of locations worldwide, helping users find affordable and suitable destinations based on their budget and lifestyle preferences. With AI-powered data processing of over 2 million monthly price checks, CityCost offers accurate, up-to-date information on housing, coworking spaces, food, transportation, and other essential expenses. The platform features intuitive filters for population size, climate, specific activities (like surfing), and budget constraints, making it easy to discover ideal locations for remote work and living.
CityCost Interface & Screenshots

CityCost Official screenshot of the tool interface
What Can CityCost Do? Key Features
Global Cost Comparisons
Compare cost of living across thousands of cities in 6 continents, with detailed breakdowns of expenses including rent, food, transportation, and leisure activities. Data covers both popular digital nomad hubs and off-the-beaten-path locations.
Nomad Budget Calculator
Get personalized monthly cost estimates for living as a digital nomad in any city, factoring in coworking spaces, accommodation types, and lifestyle preferences. The calculator uses up-to-date local pricing data.
AI-Powered Data Updates
Our system processes over 2 million price checks monthly, ensuring you get the most current cost information. AI algorithms verify and normalize data from multiple sources for accuracy.
Advanced Filtering System
Filter destinations by climate, population size, monthly budget, visa requirements, and specific amenities like surfing spots or coworking cafes. Create custom profiles to save your preferred locations.
Destination Collections
Explore curated collections of cities based on themes like surf-friendly locations, visa-easy countries, or cities with vibrant expat communities. Each collection provides comparative cost data.
Seasonal Cost Variations
View how costs fluctuate throughout the year in popular destinations, helping you plan your travels during more affordable periods and avoid price surges.
Best CityCost Use Cases & Applications
Digital Nomad Relocation
A remote worker planning to spend 3 months in Southeast Asia uses CityCost to compare costs between Chiang Mai, Bali, and Ho Chi Minh City, ultimately choosing Chiang Mai for its balance of affordability and coworking infrastructure.
Budget Travel Planning
A backpacker uses the under $1k/month filter to identify affordable European destinations, discovering lesser-known cities in Croatia and Poland that offer great value compared to Western European capitals.
Corporate Relocation Assistance
HR managers use CityCost data to create accurate cost-of-living adjustment packages for employees being transferred to international offices, ensuring fair compensation across locations.
Retirement Destination Research
A couple approaching retirement uses CityCost to compare coastal towns in Portugal, Spain, and Malaysia, analyzing not just housing costs but also healthcare expenses and leisure activities.
How to Use CityCost: Step-by-Step Guide
Select your preferred filters including continent, climate, population size, monthly budget, and special interests (like surfing or coworking cafes).
Browse the filtered list of cities with their cost scores, monthly nomad budget estimates, and current weather information.
Click on any city to view detailed cost breakdowns across categories like accommodation, food, transportation, and leisure activities.
Compare multiple cities side-by-side to evaluate which destination best fits your budget and lifestyle preferences.
Save your favorite locations to your profile or share them with travel companions for collaborative planning.
Use the seasonal cost variations data to determine the optimal time to visit your chosen destination for the best value.
CityCost Pros and Cons: Honest Review
Pros
Considerations
Is CityCost Worth It? FAQ & Reviews
Our system processes over 2 million price checks monthly, with most city data being refreshed at least weekly. Popular destinations receive daily updates to ensure accuracy.
Yes, our platform allows side-by-side comparison of up to 5 cities simultaneously in the free version, with unlimited comparisons available in Pro plans.
Yes, we maintain updated information about visa requirements and digital nomad programs for all countries in our database, available through our visa-friendly collections.
Our estimates are based on aggregated real spending data from thousands of digital nomads, adjusted for current local prices. You can further customize them based on your lifestyle preferences.
Historical data and seasonal trends are available to Pro subscribers, showing how costs have changed over time in each location.