Best Cities For Digital Nomads

What if you could work remotely from anywhere? At Nomad Life 101, we believe in a lifestyle that offers a lot of freedom. Although, sometimes, having a lot of freedom can cause other struggles. You know… like where should you go next? What destinations are nomad-friendly? Where are the best places to work remotely?

If you’re about to dive into the digital nomad life, the last thing you need to figure out is where to go. With this lifestyle becoming more and more normalized, the list of viable living destinations increases. 

Before we start, there are a few different factors that you need to consider when choosing a place to settle in for a while as a digital nomad. You must think about the cost of living, internet reliability, and the nomad community. 

If you’re like me, you might want to skip the winter and head somewhere sunnier. Over the years, I lived in many places around the world. I spent two of these years living in Asia – under the sun – amongst communities of digital nomads.

In 2019, I decided to head to Europe to experience the digital nomad life in this area. This list will cover destinations that are hip right now in the digital nomad community.

Here are some of the best cities for digital nomads around the world this year.

Prague

With strong wifi and an abundance of cozy cafes to work from, the capital of the Czech Republic is a growing hub for nomads. The city itself is beautiful with a bunch of scenic sites to see. It is also in a great location for those looking to travel around as it situated centrally in Europe and neighbors four other exciting countries; Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Austria.

🖤 Our pick: I decided to settle in Prague for the summer of 2019.

✅ Pros: A thriving and warm expat community.

❌ Cons: During the peak months, Prague also becomes a major tourist destination which can make the city a bit overcrowded.

Medellin

Looking to own a start-up or meet other like-minded nomads? Then, Medellin, one of the best digital nomad locations, is a great choice to make your new home. The best thing about this place (other than the amazing scenery) has to be the large expat community living in Medellin. 

✅ Pros: Perfect weather all the time. Ok, we can’t guarantee all the time, but Medellin seems to be captured in a state of constant spring where it gets not too hot yet not cold.

❌ Cons: The Internet is not as fast as in other cities so it might not be suitable for some jobs such as teaching online.

Chiang Mai

Thailand is a country well-known for being a hotspot for some of the best cities to work remotely from, and with good reason. Chiang Mai, in particular, is a great choice for those looking for a city with a relaxing vibe and friendly locals.

🖤 Our pick: We tried it for a few months in 2019 and we loved it!

✅ Pros: Many digital nomads flock to Chiang Mai because of its fast internet speeds found everywhere. 

❌ Cons: Every year, farmers burn their old crops to make room for the new. This results in heavy air pollution throughout Thailand from January to April. 

Lisbon

If you are a bit nervous about moving abroad, why not stay in one of the biggest digital nomad cities in Europe. Lisbon is a modern city with a charming twist to is and is a great choice for new expats.

A good majority of the locals here can speak English which makes the move a lot less intimidating. With cafes that provide stable internet speeds and a lively city to explore, it’s no wonder nomads are loving life in Lisbon.

✅ Pros: If you are a foodie, Lisbon is the perfect destination. The food options that you have here are arguably the best on this list.

❌ Cons: With the increase of nomads choosing Lisbon to relocate to, the cost of living is rising and getting more difficult to find decent places to rent.

Da Nang

This small city in the middle of Vietnam is quickly turning into the category of best digital nomad destinations. The internet speeds are superb and very reliable which makes it a great location for any kind of nomad work.

Vietnam in general also has an extremely affordable cost of living. Most places in Da Nang’s most popular expat area are as cheap as $300 a month and include internet, water, and a weekly cleaner.

✅ Pros: Da Nang has a beautiful beach that is perfect for taking a short afternoon break during the day.

❌ Cons: Sometimes there are power outages, these occur usually at night. This means that it won’t affect your working hours, but having no aircon in 35-degree weather can be unpleasant.

Taipei

Many digital nomads are naming Taipei as one of the best places to work remotely as it has incredibly reliable internet.

It is also really easy to get around as they have an expansive metro system, so even if you choose to live a bit outside the city, it’s not difficult to get back to the centre.

✅ Pros: Taipei is easily one of the safest destinations you can choose to live in. Just like with most cities, you should always travel smart but travelers hardly have to worry about petty crime here.

❌ Cons: So many great things with Taipei result in it having the most expensive living expenses on this list.

Bali (Canggu or Ubud)

Living in Bali is like living on a completely different planet and is the most popular digital nomad destination. You can choose to reside in the more relaxed Ubud or mingle at the parties in Canggu.

One thing you can be sure of is that no matter where you go, you can easily find a great community of like-minded people.

🖤 Our pick: Bali was my favorite place for a long time. I lived there for over a year. Read more about what it’s like to be a digital nomad in Bali here.

✅ Pros: Bali is the perfect place for digital nomads to network, which is crucial to make connections with potential future clients (but also, for friendships).

❌ Cons: For a location where so many people that live there rely on the internet, it tends to be a little bit unreliable at times.

FAQ – Top Digital Nomad Locations

Still feeling unsure about where to go next? You can also pick the best places for nomads with the following questions/answers.

Where is the cheapest place to live in the world?

Most digital nomads live in Southeast Asia or Eastern Europe as the cost of living is lower. This means you can work on your projects without having to worry too much about supporting yourself in an expensive city.

You can live on a very cheap budget in countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Cambodia. You can also find affordable cities in Eastern Europe. I’m thinking of places such as Serbia, Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria.

Where is the safest place to live in the world?

Going through the best places for digital nomads, you are probably wondering where is the safest place to live.  You should know that I had no problems in many destinations around the world.

Although, it’s totally understandable that you want to move somewhere safe. Japan and Singapore are known to be super safe in Asia. I would also add Thailand, which was super safe if I compare it to Bali. In Europe, many places are safe too.

What kind of visas should I take?

When it comes to visas, it depends on your citizenship. Depending on your passport, you may or may not be able to get a tourist visa in some countries. Most digital nomads currently use tourist visas as they aren’t working for local companies.

Although some countries could question you about your work activities, so you might want to make sure you’re not breaking any rules along the way. If you want to check your visa requirements, check this website. It also allows you to order your visa online when you need it.

Final Thoughts On The Best Cities For Digital Nomads And Expats

These cities are amongst the most popular in the digital nomad community.

That said, if you’re not sure, think about creating a nomadic bucket list of destinations you’d like to try. It may help you to know that you’ll discover different cities over time.