Digital nomads have the enviable freedom of working from wherever works for them.
This means that some digital nomads work as they travel from place to place, and others will spend longer periods of time in each country.
The digital nomad lifestyle has grown in popularity since the pandemic, with more people than ever realizing that they only need a laptop and a stable internet connection to work from anywhere. Meaning they can combine work with their passion for travel.
But where are the best places to work as a digital nomad? A new study has analyzed the world’s cities based on their affordability, internet speed, coworking costs, safety, and the fun factor.
This study found that the top 7 destinations for digital nomads right now are:
- Bangkok
- Shanghai
- Bucharest
- Hanoi
- Tokyo
- Krakow
- Calgary
Bangkok
Bangkok took the number 1 spot far ahead of the other cities. The main attractions of Bangkok for digital nomads are its affordability and fast internet speed.
Bangkok doesn’t come top of the list for any of the rankings, but it receives unilaterally high scores across the board.
The average cost of a hotel room in Bangkok is just $51 per night, and other expenses are equally low. You can expect to pay just $3 per meal and 86 cents for a journey on the public transport system.
Shanghai
Shanghai took the second spot on the list thanks to its vibrant culture and cuisine and abundance of coworking spaces.
Shanghai is an international hub for business, finance, and research which makes it incredibly attractive to some digital nomads.
The internet speed is slightly higher in Shanghai than in Bangkok, but it’s important to note that the Great Firewall of China may make it difficult to access some of the online tools that you’re used to.
You can expect to pay an average of $89 per night for a hotel room, $6 per meal, and 42 cents for a journey on public transport.
Bucharest
The highest-ranking European city on this list, the capital of Romania, is considered incredibly attractive to digital nomads.
Living and working in Bucharest is easy as the residents of most countries can stay in Romania visa-free for up to 90 days. There is also a dedicated digital nomad visa that allows travelers to stay and work in the country for up to a year.
You can expect to pay an average of $81 per night for a hotel room, $11 per meal, and 67 cents for a journey on public transport.
Hanoi
With the average price of a hotel room in Hanoi sitting at just $41 per night, this is the city with the cheapest accommodation on the list. You will also pay just $2 for a meal and 30 cents for a public transport journey.
This makes Hanoi the most affordable city for digital nomads, with estimated monthly living costs of just under $1,700.
Hanoi is working hard to attract digital nomads right now and is setting itself up to compete with other digital hubs in Southeast Asia, such as Bangkok and Singapore.
Tokyo
Tokyo tops the charts as the digital nomad hub with the most things to do. That is not surprising given the huge size of the city. There are more than 12,600 attractions to enjoy in Tokyo.
Accommodation here is expensive. You can expect to pay an average of $183 per night, which is cheaper only than Dubai on the list of digital nomad destinations.
While there isn’t currently a dedicated digital nomad visa available in Japan, the Japanese government is considering implementing one.
Krakow
Krakow is considered the second-best city in Europe for digital nomads. Accommodation here is slightly more expensive than in Bucharest, but meals are slightly cheaper.
That makes Krakow an affordable hub where digital nomads can live on a relatively low income. Internet speeds are mid-range as standard, but there are plenty of hubs available if you want to work collaboratively or need access to faster internet.
Calgary
Calgary is the city with the fastest average internet speed of all the cities analyzed. Digital nomads can enjoy internet speeds of 322 MB/s here.
Calgary might not be the most affordable city on this list but is ranked as one of the most livable cities in the world, and it is also safe with excellent social opportunities.
What’s more, the introduction of the new Canadian digital nomad visa is sure to make it even easier to live and work in Calgary as a digital nomad.
