With a workforce of over 35 million people and growing, digital nomads are set to take the world by storm.
While there are many regions, countries, and cities that have emerged as digital nomad hotspots, there are always new ones to be discovered.
Europe remains a huge draw for digital nomads due to the number of diverse and beautiful places it offers, and there seems to be one region in particular that is gaining momentum with digital nomads who are looking for some unique choices, with more and more remote workers choosing to head to the Baltic states.
Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have been gaining attention recently with both travelers as well as digital nomads who are looking to escape the normal European tourist route and get off the beaten path a bit to explore some unique destinations.
One such place that has made its way onto numerous lists for the best digital nomad cities in Europe is Estonia’s capital city of Tallinn. This raises questions about why Tallinn is so great for digital nomads and what it offers, making it a standout choice.
Ranked as one of the European countries with the best quality of life for digital nomads, Estonia has much to offer for those looking for something a little different.
A Cozy Capital
Estonia’s capital city of Tallinn has been winning people over in recent years, and digital nomads are no exception. It’s well known to be one of the most stunning medieval cities in Europe, and because it gets a fraction of the visitors that other European cities do, it’s able to retain its original cozy charm.
Tallinn is also widely regarded as being one of the safest cities in the world, leaving you with one less thing to worry about if you make it your home base for a while.
Tallinn has been called the Silicon Valley of Europe, and remote workers and those in the tech professions are finding it an easy place to live. With most things being online here, from banking to voting, Estonia seems to have embraced tech more so than other countries.
Walking the charming streets of Tallinn’s old town, you will see numerous coworking spaces, not to mention an endless amount of coffee shops to spend your days working from. In terms of internet, wifi networks are readily available all over the city, and sim cards can be found almost anywhere. The average download speed in Estonia is around 50 Mbps, and staying connected shouldn’t be an issue for you here.
Tallinn also boasts a great transportation system, and the majority of the city speaks a good level of English, meaning your day-to-day life here should be relatively easy to navigate.
Digital Nomad Visa
As one of the early adopters of the digital nomad movement, Estonia’s digital nomad visa has been in effect since August 2020. The scheme allows digital nomads to work and live in the country for up to a year so long as they can provide proof of income (currently around $3,760 a month) and meet a few other requirements.
Estonia actually offers two different types of digital nomad visas, Type C: which allows a 90-day stay, and Type D: allowing a full year to live and work in the country. Of course, as part of the Schengen area, Americans and other nationalities can stay in Estonia visa-free for up to 90 days.
The Price Is Right
Let’s get this out of the way first, Tallinn is known to be the most expensive city in the Baltics to live in, and there are numerous other options to choose in this region if you are looking for an ultra-budget destination. However, while it might be expensive for the region, Tallinn is much cheaper than most comparable cities in the U.S. or U.K.
The prices here are on par with those of other cities in popular European countries such as Italy and Spain. It’s important that you do not come to Tallinn expecting cheap Eastern European prices, as those do not exist here anymore.
A nice Airbnb in the popular Old Town can run you from $1000 up to $2000 a month in the peak summer months, but looking outside the historic center can find you a much better deal. On average monthly costs for transport can ring in a little under $100.
Food and drinks can be as cheap or fancy as you choose, with many options from street food to fine dining and rooftop bars. While Tallinn can offer some bargains as compared to other places, make sure you have your expectations in check before arriving to avoid disappointment.
Location Location Location
Located on a bay in the north of Estonia, Tallinn’s spot on the shores of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland make it a great place to use as a base for exploring the Baltic reason and beyond. Well connected by air to many other European cities by low-cost carriers, Tallinn is also a short ferry ride away from Helsinki, meaning the opportunities to explore nearby countries in your downtime are endless.
The trending capital cities of Riga and Vilnius are both easily reachable by bus or train as well. In the country itself, Tallinn is situated in a prime lotion to enjoy the seaside in the warmer months and then explore the natural beauty that lies in the Estonian countryside when you need to escape the city.
The Downsides
Estonia and its neighboring Baltic neighbors are known for their unpredictable weather, and the winters can be long and dark. Because of this, many digital nomads choose to enjoy Tallinn in the summertime when the weather is pleasant.
Another factor to consider before moving to Tallinn is that the country has a low monthly wage for nationals, and therefore many young professionals tend to leave for greener pastures. This “brain drain” may not affect digital nomads who come here, but it is worth mentioning.
In conclusion, it’s important to remember that no place is perfect, and although it ticks many boxes for digital nomads, in Tallinn, you might still have to deal with the occasional downside.
