Side-by-side city decision # Santiago de Compostela vs Xiamen. A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit. Share comparison Copy link Santiago de CompostelaSpain5/6 VS XiamenChina1/6 $1,410Santiago de Compostela monthly budget $950Xiamen monthly budget 260 MbpsSantiago de Compostela internet 210 MbpsXiamen internet Decision summary Santiago de Compostela Santiago de Compostela leads on more of the six headline signals. Cost Best budget Xiamen Speed Fastest internet Santiago de Compostela Vibe Best nomad vibe Santiago de Compostela Safety Highest safety Santiago de Compostela Air Cleanest air Santiago de Compostela Walk Most walkable Santiago de Compostela Quick read ## Two cities at a glance The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison. [Santiago de Compostela](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/spain/santiago-de-compostela.md) Spain 5/6 Budget$1,410 Internet260 Mbps Vibe8/10 [Xiamen](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/china/xiamen.md) China 1/6 Budget$950 Internet210 Mbps Vibe7/10 Full comparison ## Compare what matters Green marks the stronger numeric result. Text-only categories are presented without a winner. Differences only ### Monthly budget and costs 7 signals MetricSantiago de CompostelaXiamen Total estimated budget $1,410 $950 1-bed center rent $850 $520 Coworking desk $180 $165 Local meal $13 $3.5 Cappuccino $1.9 $3.6 Gym membership $35 $45 Transport budget $30 $30 ### Work and infrastructure 2 signals MetricSantiago de CompostelaXiamen Internet speed 260 Mbps 210 Mbps Nomad vibe 8/10 7/10 ### Quality of life 5 signals MetricSantiago de CompostelaXiamen Safety index 81/100 79/100 Air quality 88/100 72/100 Walkability 9/10 7/10 Female safety 8/10 8/10 LGBTQ+ friendly 8/10 4/10 ### Culture and climate 4 signals MetricSantiago de CompostelaXiamen Healthcare quality Excellent Good English proficiency Average Basic Climate type Oceanic Humid subtropical monsoon Best time to visit May - Sep Oct - Dec Beyond the numbers ## What each city asks you to trade Costs and scores help narrow the choice. These practical strengths and limitations finish the picture. [Santiago de Compostela](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/spain/santiago-de-compostela.md) Spain → ### Strengths * Beautiful, highly walkable historic center * Lower rents than Madrid or Barcelona * Fast fiber internet is widely available * Excellent Galician food and affordable menus del día * Very safe with high-quality public healthcare * Easy access to nature, coast, and Camino routes ### Trade-offs * Frequent rain and damp winters * English is less common than in major Spanish cities * Small remote-worker and international community * Limited direct international flights * Student demand can tighten the rental market * Quiet pace may not suit nightlife-focused nomads ### Common visa routes * Spain Digital Nomad Visa * Schengen Visa Waiver or Short-Stay Visa * Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa [Xiamen](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/china/xiamen.md) China → ### Strengths * Relaxed coastal setting with beaches and green spaces * Affordable food, public transit, and everyday services * Fast mobile and home broadband coverage * Generally low violent-crime risk * Excellent Fujian and seafood dining * Milder winters than much of northern China ### Trade-offs * Internet access requires a reliable VPN for many global services * English is limited outside international hotels and major attractions * Summer heat, humidity, and typhoon disruption can be intense * China has no dedicated digital nomad visa * International payment cards are not accepted everywhere * Coworking and foreigner-focused community options are limited ### Common visa routes * Tourist L visa * Business M visa * Work permit and Z visa Reading the result ## Use this as a planning benchmark The headline score compares six directional signals. It does not weight personal priorities, visa eligibility, household size or individual lifestyle choices. Costs are monthly estimates, not guaranteed prices. Higher is better for quality scores and connectivity. Lower is better for budgets and individual expenses.