Which Country Has the Fastest Internet in Central America?

In this article, we explore the latest data from Ookla, the internet speed test experts, to reveal which countries offer the fastest internet in Central America. 

Whether you’re traveling for a short time, or you’re a potential digital nomad/remote worker, internet speed is a critical issue. Slow/unstable internet is a potential dealbreaker for many people. Folks need to have some semblance of what to expect in Central America. And that’s where we come in.

We went to Ookla, the internet speed test guys, to check their latest global index of mobile and fixed broadband speeds from around the world. It’s been a while since I’ve done this and I wanted to see how Central America’s performance compared to the rest of the world right now. The latest info from Ookla is from August 2025.

Managing Expectations with Internet Speed in Central America

First, it’s important to say that compared to the rest of the world, Central America performs rather poorly. The highest ranking country in Central America for fixed broadband speed is Panama, at number 34 in the world. For mobile speeds, Guatemala ranks highest in the region, at 70th in the world.

These rankings are still a far cry from countries like the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait (top three fastest mobile speeds) and Singapore, Chile, and Hong Kong (top three fastest fixed broadband speeds). This obviously makes countries like these super-attractive to work in (shout out to fellow LatAms in Chile), and here’s a handy guide on how to start a company in Singapore right here! But closer to home, the fastest mobile speed in Latin America is Brazil at 4th in the world. So… impressive results from Brazil and Chile aside, Latin America ain’t to great and Central America even less so.

Meaning that unless you’re prepared to spend some money, your internet speeds in Central America will be slower than many places, which is something to consider. But it’s not all bad. Internet speed has improved dramatically over the years in Central America, all across the region.

Which Central American Countries Have the Fastest Internet?

So let’s see how each country in Central America performs for both mobile and fixed broadband internet speed.

The most interesting (although not surprising) thing that jumps out is that Panama has by far the fastest fixed broadband speed in the region, with an average download speed of 185.94 mbps (upload speed of 16.87 mbps). If you’re looking for the fastest internet, look at Panama first and Costa Rica second (Costa Rica appears to be the leading country in the region for fiber optic internet, too, judging by how download and upload speeds are more even – Belize also appears to have a strong fiber optic network, although much slower). For mobile internet, Guatemala leads the way in Central America, making it the better choice for staying connected on your phone. Costa Rica takes the second spot for mobile speed in the region.

On the flip side, the worst countries in the region for mobile speed are Nicaragua and Panama (there is no data for Belize here). As for fixed broadband speed, Belize and Guatemala are the slowest, with Belize being markedly slower.

Country-by-Country Guide

Mobile Internet Speed Fastest to Slowest:

1. Guatemala (70th in world)
2. Costa Rica (73rd in world)
3. Honduras (82nd in world)
4. El Salvador (87th in world)
5. Panama (94th in world)
6. Nicaragua (99th in world)

*No data for Belize available

Fixed Broadband Speed Fastest to Slowest:

1. Panama (34th in world)
2. Costa Rica (43rd in world)
3. Nicaragua (66th in world)
4. El Salvador (75th in world)
5. Honduras (85th in world)
6. Guatemala (87th in world)
7. Belize (108th in world)

Individual Cities in Central America

Ookla also ranks cities based on their internet speed. This is invaluable for remote workers trying to decide where they want to base themselves in any given country. It’s important to note that Oola only includes cities with populations of over 500,000, which excludes most Central American communities.

With that said, we’ve looked at all the Central American cities from Ookla’s rankings. Aside from Honduras, which has both San Pedro Sula and the capital Tegucigalpa listed, Ookla only includes the capital cities. Belize, however, does not have any cities large enough to be featured.

Mobile Internet Speed Fastest to Slowest:

1. Guatemala City, Guatemala (74th in world)
2. San Pedro Sula, Honduras (113rd in world)
3. San José, Costa Rica (115th in world)
4. San Salvador, El Salvador (129th in world)
5. Tegucigalpa, Honduras (131st in world)
6. Managua, Nicaragua (140th in world)
7. Panama City, Panama (141st in world)

Fixed broadband speed fastest to slowest per Central American city:

1. Panama City, Panama (55th in world)
2. San José, Costa Rica (61st in world)
3. Tegucigalpa, Honduras (95th in world)
4. Managua, Nicaragua (99th in world)
5. San Salvador, El Salvador (104th in world)
6. Guatemala City, Guatemala (109th in world)
7. San Pedro Sula, Honduras (117th in world)

Wrapping Up Our Guide to Internet Speed in Central America

Bookmark this article to track general internet speeds in Central America and how the countries compare with each other.

Central America has made considerable progress in improving internet speed, and Panama and Guatemala lead the way in fixed broadband and mobile speeds, respectively. As you search for the fastest internet in Central America, keep in mind the region’s overall performance compared to global leaders.

For travelers and digital nomads seeking the fastest internet in Central America, Panama and Costa Rica remain the top contenders. Consider the rankings and locations carefully to ensure a seamless online experience during your stay in the region.

James Dyde is the editor of centralamerica.com. He lives in Escazu, Costa Rica.