The digital nomad life is the dream- just you, your laptop and a location of your choice. With more and more work going fully online, it’s a dream that can be realised.
Offering the option of working from wherever- the beach, the mountains, the city- the digital nomad lifestyle offers remote workers the freedom to travel at will.
Find somewhere you like? Settle down for a while. Feeling restless? Hit the road and logon on the move. All you really need to pack is a laptop and a sense of adventure.
Now that remote work is fully bedded into the global culture, some cities are beginning to standout as the go-to destinations for digital nomads.
There are a few things that mark a city out as a hotspot worth considering:
- Internet speed: If you’re logging in to work each day, you’re going to want a decent, reliable connection. There’s nothing worse than spending the first 20 minutes of a meeting saying “can you hear me now?” as you fiddle hopelessly with the settings on Zoom.
- Cost of Living: A huge advantage of the digital nomad lifestyle is that you can bring good wages with you and go where a fun life is cheap. If you’re spending all your money just to get by it can be a lonely existence.
- Safety: Unfortunately, not all cities are as safe as they might be. If you’re planning on spending any length of time in a location, it’s best to check the crime rates before you plug in your laptop.
- Ease of Entry: If you’re reading this, you probably desire a relatively relaxed life. Adding more bureaucracy is the opposite of that. Check visa requirements and know before you go. Travel may be the goal; deportation is not.
- Places to work: A huge part of the draw of the digital nomad lifestyle is the ability to see the world while you work. If you’re stuck in an apartment or hotel for 8 hours a day, you may as well stay at home. A selection of co-working spaces, cafés with free internet and public networks will make life so much more enjoyable.
- Community: While we all want to get away from it all, very few of us want total isolation. Some cities have become hubs for digital nomads, offering the best of both worlds. Places that attract nomads offer a great sense of community as you can work, rest and play together.
So, now that we know what makes a great city for digital nomads, which are the best cities?
1. Lisbon, Portugal
Looking around online, Lisbon seems to top the list of the best cities for digital nomads.
Warm all year round and with centuries of culture, cuisine and views to die for, the Portuguese capital isn’t short of charms for the nomadic worker.
As a part of the Schengen area, entry is as simple as turning up for EU citizens and really not much harder for anyone else- visas are simple and relatively cheap and have the added bonus of letting you travel much of the continent.
Café culture is everywhere, offering you a wide range of places to write that report and the cost of living is surprisingly reasonable for a western European capital- according to Numbeo it’s around 40% cheaper than London, with rents being less than half the price.
With so much to recommend it, Lisbon has become a real hotspot for digital nomads in Europe, so you won’t be short of new friends either.
2. Chiang Mai, Thailand
Close your eyes and imagine your life as a digital nomad. Chances are you’re seeing tropical scenery and a chilled out pace of life.
Chiang Mai has all that in abundance. Thailand’s second largest city might fly under the radar for many travellers but it’s amazingly well serviced for the digital nomad.
An abundance of attractions, low cost of living, cuisine that can’t be beaten, stunning surroundings and relative ease of entry thanks to Thailand’s visa-free travel deals with many countries make Chiang Mai a great place to work remotely.
Surrounded by lush Thai nature, studded with ancient temples and all the advantages of a modern city, it’s no wonder that Chiang Mai has cemented itself near the top of ideal location lists across the digital nomad blogosphere.
3. Melbourne, Australia
Another perennial contender for best city for digital nomads, Melbourne, Australia is perhaps the most expensive place on this list, but my word, is it worth consideration.
The second highest cost of living in Australia doesn’t rule Victoria state capital out of contention- the vibrant cultural scene combined with the laid back lifestyle prevalent down under means that Melbourne attracts people from all over the world to work and play.
Ubiquitous cafes, a huge number of co-working spaces, international foods, easy access to some of the world’s best beaches and fantastic nightlife combine to make the city one of the absolute best for digital nomads.
Working visas are relatively easy to get and can allow you to stay for up to a year.
4. Budapest, Hungary
Low cost of living, solid internet speeds and a unique blend of ostentatious and austere architecture make Budapest a real consideration for any digital nomad.
Cheap rents and cheap meals mean that the Hungarian capital is an ideal location for anyone seeking to keep costs down while they work.
One major advantage of Eastern Europe is that cheap and sub-par don’t always go together- it’s not unheard of for a Michelin Stared meal to cost less than $30 here.
The famous Ruin Bars are popular with travellers and locals alike and combined with the social scene that’s sprung up around co-working spaces in the city, Budapest is an easy place to make friends.
Being part of Schengen, Hungary allows many nationalities up to 90 days stay for any purpose (including work) visa-free. If you plan on staying longer, it’s relatively simple to get a residency permit.
5. Medellin, Columbia
Columbia is taking great strides to shake off its old image and embrace the modern world and its second largest city, Medellin is playing a key role.
With low costs, easy access to stunning scenery, comfortable climate and all mod-cons, it’s easy to see why Medellin pops up in so many digital nomad’s itineraries.
The ‘City of Eternal Spring’, as it’s known amongst the tourist boards, offers a great quality of life for the remote worker.
Constantly upgraded infrastructure, ubiquitous Wi-Fi and the warm-but- not-too-warm climate combine into making some of the more affluent areas of the city the ideal location to experience the digital nomad life for yourself.
Of course, with such a plethora of great reviews, the remote work community is absolutely buzzing, so making friends shouldn’t be too much of a challenge.
A specialist digital nomad visa was introduced in 2022, making it relatively easy to live, work and experience Medellin’s scene for yourself.
So there you have it, our top 5 best cities for digital nomads in 2024. Where are you heading first?
