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 we’ve done this and we wanted to see how Central America’s performance compared to the rest of the world right now. The latest info from Ookla is from February 2026.

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 26 in the world. For mobile speeds, Costa Rica ranks highest in the region, at 63rd 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 and Hong Kong (in the top three fastest fixed broadband speeds alongside the UAE again). This obviously makes countries like these super-attractive to work in (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 5th in the world with Chile having the fastest broadband in the region at 6th. So… impressive results from Brazil and Chile aside, Latin America ain’t too 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 219.79 mbps (upload speed of 19.39 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, Costa Rica leads the way in Central America, making it the better choice for staying connected on your phone. Guatemala takes the second spot for mobile speed in the region. On the flip side, the worst countries in the region for mobile speed are Panama and El Salvador (there’s no data for Belize or Nicaragua here). As for fixed broadband speed, Belize and Honduras are the slowest, with Belize being markedly slower than anyone else.

Country-by-Country Guide

Mobile Internet Speed Fastest to Slowest:

1. Costa Rica (63rd in world)
2. Guatemala (72nd in world)
3. Honduras (91st in world)
4. El Salvador (93rd in world)
5. Panama (95th in world)

*No data available for Belize and Nicaragua

Fixed Broadband Speed Fastest to Slowest:

1. Panama (26th in world)
2. Costa Rica (44th in world)
3. El Salvador (61st in world)
4. Nicaragua (69th in world)
5. Guatemala (75th in world)
6. Honduras (83rd in world)
7. Belize (110th 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, and in the case of mobile speeds, Nicaragua no longer provides any info which counts out Managua from the list.

Mobile Internet Speed Fastest to Slowest:

1. Guatemala City, Guatemala (78th in world)
2. San José, Costa Rica (96th in world)
3. San Pedro Sula, Honduras (124th in world)
4. San Salvador, El Salvador (136th in world)
5. Tegucigalpa, Honduras (141st in world)
6. Panama City, Panama (144th in world)

Fixed broadband speed fastest to slowest per Central American city:

1. Panama City, Panama (51st in world)
2. San José, Costa Rica (62nd in world)
3. San Salvador, El Salvador (87th in world)
4. Tegucigalpa, Honduras (92nd in world)
5. Guatemala City, Guatemala (93rd in world)
6. Managua, Nicaragua (95th in world)
7. San Pedro Sula, Honduras (115th 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.

As mentioned earlier, Central America has made massive progress in improving its internet speed, and Panama and Costa Rica 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.