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Are you looking for a great city to base yourself as a digital nomad? Or maybe you’re just curious about the best digital nomad countries. Either way, you’re in luck! This list will give you ten of the best cities in the world for digital nomads and remote workers. We’ve taken into account a variety of factors, including:
- Digital nomad lifestyle
- Cost of living
- Internet speed
- Wifi reliability
- Ability to work remotely
- Co-working spaces
- Ex-pat community
- Safety
Whether you’re looking for an exotic location or a more developed city with all the amenities for working online, we’ve got you covered! But remember, cover yourself with the proper health insurance and a valid passport no matter where you choose to live abroad.
What is a digital nomad
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While it’s a ubiquitous term nowadays, and most readers are likely aware of what a digital nomad is, for those who don’t – A digital nomad is someone who can do their job one-hundred percent working online. These location-independent people combine work and travel, provided they have easy access to a reliable internet connection and their laptop, computer, and/or phone.
Digital nomads can be self-employed people or a remote worker for a company. However, many remote workers are restricted in where they can travel by time zone. In contrast, self-employed can typically travel as they please. They rely on digital nomad apps such as Airbnb, Rome2Rio, and Google Translate to aid their travel.
The digital nomad visa
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Most digital nomads consider themselves part of a global community and generally move from one country to the next, depending on the length of visa allowance. They travel on tourist visas, freelancer visas, and long-term visas or find themselves permanent residency. However, since the onset of COVID and more people working remotely, countries are issuing specific digital nomad visas. Most digital nomad visas require a minimum monthly income.
The digital nomad community is growing rapidly, with a new breed seeking to become global citizens on board residential cruise ships.
10 best cities for digital nomads
- Da Nang, Vietnam
Photo by James Cheung on Unsplash
Da Nang is a coastal city in central Vietnam known for its sandy beaches and rich history. With affordable living costs, a burgeoning café scene, and a surprisingly good digital infrastructure, Da Nang has all the necessities for a digital nomad. The city’s laid-back vibe is a perfect antidote to the hustle and bustle of bigger Asian cities.
Some other factors about Da Nang that warrants it place on this list are the richness of Vietnamese history and culture, and the next-level local cuisine. Be sure to make use of the street food, which you can pick up a tasty meal for as little as a few dollars.
2. Tbilisi, Georgia
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Although Tbilisi in Georgia has massively gained in popularity, is still a good option for most digital nomads. It’s an incredibly cheap place to live, the food & wine is impressive, and they offer an excellent temporary visa. The wifi is reliable, and there are plenty of co-working spaces. The city also has a rich history & culture, good internet connection, and is one of the safest cities in the Eastern bloc.
And if you like hiking, you are lucky with Georgia’s spectacular mountains and nature. Then come summertime, you can escape to the beachside towns on the beautiful Black Sea. As a result, the whole of Georgia has become one of the most popular digital nomad countries.
3. Cape Town, South Africa
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Cape Town in South Africa is an excellent city for digital nomads. It was one of the first destinations for this writer starting out on his digital nomad journey. It’s got a laid-back, relaxed vibe, and the people are friendly and welcoming. The cost of living is affordable, and plenty of co-working spaces and cafes have easy access to good wifi.
Cape Town is one of the most naturally beautiful cities in the world, with the dramatic Table Mountain as a backdrop, offering world-class hiking trails on your doorstep. You also have incredible beaches, wine country, and big five safaris not too far away. While there are already many nomads calling Cape Town their temporary home, there are so many different nooks of the city to live in that you wouldn’t notice. From the vibrant city center to the serene neighborhoods with stunning views, the allure of restaurants in Camps Bay seamlessly contributes to the unique and enticing living experience found in every corner of Cape Town.
4. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Rio de Janeiro in Brazil is a fantastic city for the digital nomad life in South America. It’s got a great vibe, with a lively and friendly atmosphere. Like Cape Town, Rio is one of the world’s most naturally beautiful cities with that rare balance of nature and urbanization. Rio also has gorgeous beaches and world-famous landmarks such as Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer.
The cost of living is reasonable, and plenty of co-working spaces have good wifi. Additionally, they released their digital nomad visa in 2022, allowing you to stay for up to one year. As such, we expect Rio to become a digital nomad hub if it isn’t already.
5. Cuenca, Ecuador
Photo by Mauricio Muñoz on Unsplash
Cuenca is a hidden gem in the highlands of Ecuador. This UNESCO World Heritage city is known for its stunning colonial architecture and warm, welcoming locals. The cost of living is low, the weather is pleasant year-round, and a well-established expat community makes it an excellent option for digital nomads.
The best part? Unlike other South American digital nomad cities such as Medellin in Colombia, and even the Ecuadoian capital Quito, Cuenca is yet to be overrun by nomads, expats and tourists.
6. Port Louis, Mauritius
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This is a left-field addition to the list, but we couldn’t not include it. Mauritius is a small island off the coast of Africa that has become a digital nomad hotspot in recent years. It’s got great weather, beautiful beaches, and an incredible food scene with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. The cost of living is affordable, it has a super relaxed lifestyle, and there are some excellent coworking spaces.
What’s more, Mauritius has a special Premium visa for digital nomads that allows you to stay for up to a year. The only downside is that it can be an isolated place, and there’s not much of a digital nomad community yet. But if you’re looking for a yet-to-be-fully-discovered destination, then Mauritius could be for you.
7. Valparaíso, Chile
Photo by Tyler Gooding on Unsplash
Often overlooked in favor of Santiago, Valparaíso is a colorful, vibrant city with all the hallmarks of a perfect digital nomad base. With its rich culture, seaside views, affordable cost of living, and strong internet connectivity, Valparaíso offers a South American experience unlike any other.
Valparaiso is still flying beneath the radar, so get in there before it’s too late!
8. Prague, Czech Republic
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Prague in the Czech Republic is the old medieval capital city of the Czech Republic. It has reinvented itself since breaking away from the Soviet Union and became part of the European Union. Since Prague has become quite the hub for ex-pats and digital nomads, it’s always good to be around like-minded people.
It has a relatively low cost of living for Western Europe and is ideally situated smack bang in the middle of Europe, making it an ideal base to explore the region. The old architecture is sure to charm you. If it’s the rich history and culture you are after, you won’t get much better than Prague. Oh, and then beer is next-level too!
9. Tallinn, Estonia
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Estonia has the highest number of startups per person in Europe, and Tallinn is at the heart of this tech boom. The city is compact, making it easy to get around, and English is widely spoken. Estonia also offers a Digital Nomad Visa, adding to its appeal for remote workers. Not only that, but it was the first visa of its kind, kick-starting a global trend of countries catering to digital nomads with visas.
For that reason alone, Talin, Estonia earns a spot on this list.
10. Cebu, Philippines
Nestled in the heart of the Philippines, Cebu offers a blend of urban comfort and tropical paradise that makes it a highly attractive destination for digital nomads. As the oldest city in the Philippines, it boasts a rich cultural history, but Cebu’s modern attributes truly make it shine as a destination for remote workers.
But Cebu is not just about work. The island offers a wealth of activities for digital nomads looking to balance their work-life routine. From the white sandy beaches of Mactan and Bantayan, to the majestic waterfalls in the south, nature-lovers will find plenty of opportunities for exploration and relaxation.
Cebu Island’s central location makes it a great base for island hopping, and it is also one of the few places in the world where you can swim with whale sharks.
