---
title: "Living in Hull as a digital nomad: cost, safety, visa, internet"
url: https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/hull
description: "Humber port city with low rents and early full fibre"
dataset: 2026.11.2 (2026-11-09)
license: CC BY 4.0
---

# Hull, United Kingdom

Hull scores 67.5/100 for digital nomads under balanced weights, ranking 195 of 1501 cities. Expect about $2,900 per month (country-level estimate), no dedicated nomad visa, and a measured median download speed of 93.3 Mbps.

Hull is a flat port city on the Humber estuary with a restored Old Town and marina, The Deep aquarium and some of the lowest rents of any large English city. Its own phone company, KCOM, rolled out full-fibre broadband years before most of the country. Parts of the city are deprived, it is windy and out on a limb, London is about 2 h 45 by train, and the UK has no digital nomad visa.

Known for: The Deep aquarium, Old Town and marina, Early full-fibre broadband, Humber Bridge.

## Scores (balanced weights, 0–100)

| Factor | Score |
| --- | --- |
| Overall | 67.5 |
| Cost of living | 22 |
| Safety | 76 |
| Healthcare | 88 |
| Internet | 87 |
| Visa ease | 77 |
| Getting there & around | 51 |
| Climate | 17 |
| Air quality | 93 |
| Quality of life | 97 |

## The numbers behind the scores

| Metric | Value | Level | As of | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly cost, one person | $2,900 | country | 2026-09 | [^2] |
| Central 1-bedroom rent | — | city | 2026-09 | [^3] |
| Outskirts 1-bedroom rent (basis of the monthly total) | — | city | 2026-09 | [^3] |
| Homicide rate (per 100k) | 0.93 | country | 2023 | [^4] |
| Political stability (0–100) | 70.7 | country | 2025 | [^5] |
| UHC service coverage (0–100) | 88 | country | 2023 | [^6] |
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.7 | country | 2023 | [^7] |
| Median download (Mbps) | 93.3 | city | 2024 | [^8] |
| Median upload (Mbps) | 47.6 | city | 2024 | [^8] |
| Starlink residential service | Available | country | 2026-10 | [^9] |
| Nomad visa | none listed | country | 2026-07 | [^10] |
| Entry for US / EU / UK passports | eTA required (online, before travel) / 180 days / home country | country | 2026-02 | [^11] |
| Non-stop destinations (HUY/LBA/MAN) | 215 | city | 2026-10 | [^12] |
| Restaurants within 3 km of the centre (OpenStreetMap) | 47 | city | 2026-11 | [^16] |
| Walkability / transit (1–5) | 4 / 2 | editorial | 2026-09 | [^13] |
| Comfortable months | 2 of 12 | city | 2001–2020 | [^14] |
| Annual mean PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 8.3 | city | 2021 | [^15] |
| Human Development Index | 0.946 | country | 2023 | [^17] |
| English proficiency band | native | country | 2024 | [^18] |

## Tax on income from abroad

**Residents pay 20%–45% (Scotland 19%–48%) on worldwide income; most new arrivals can exempt foreign income for 4 years.** UK residents are taxed on worldwide income. Salary or freelance fees earned while living in the UK pay income tax of 20%–45% (19%–48% in Scotland) plus National Insurance. The non-dom remittance basis ended on 6 April 2025. Instead, people who arrive after 10 straight tax years abroad can claim the 4-year FIG regime, which exempts foreign dividends, interest, rent and gains, but not pay for work done in the UK. There is no wealth tax.

| Question | Answer |
| --- | --- |
| How residents are taxed | worldwide income |
| Remote work for foreign clients or employers | taxed (20%–45% income tax (19%–48% in Scotland), plus National Insurance of 8%/2% for employees or 6%/2% for the self-employed) |
| Investments and pensions from abroad | taxed (Dividends 10.75%/35.75%/39.35%; interest 20%–45%; capital gains 18% or 24%; rent and pensions at income tax rates) |
| Wealth | no wealth tax; inheritance tax applies |
| Tax resident after | 183 days a year |
| Top income tax rate | 45% |

Residency: Residence is decided per tax year (6 April to 5 April) by the Statutory Residence Test. You are automatically non-resident if you spend fewer than 46 days in the UK and were not resident in any of the previous 3 tax years (fewer than 16 days if you were). You are automatically resident if you spend 183 days or more in the UK, if you have a UK home for a 91-day stretch, spend at least 30 days in it, and have no overseas home or spend fewer than 30 days in it, or if you work full-time in the UK. Otherwise the sufficient ties test applies: a newcomer with no UK residence in the last 3 years becomes resident at 46–90 days with all 4 ties (family, accommodation, work, 90-day), 91–120 days with 3, or over 120 days with just 2. A day counts if you are in the UK at midnight. So a nomad who rents a flat for 6 months and has a UK-resident partner can be resident from 121 days. Split-year treatment can make the arrival year start on the day you arrive.

Remote work: Salary from a foreign employer and fees from foreign clients are taxed in full once you are resident. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the 2026/27 bands are 20% on the first £37,700 of taxable income above the £12,570 personal allowance, 40% up to £125,140 and 45% above. Scottish residents pay 19%, 20%, 21%, 42%, 45% and 48% on these earnings. Pay for duties done in the UK is UK-taxable even before you become resident, unless a tax treaty exempts it. The 4-year FIG regime does not cover it: employment income is excluded, and freelance profits only qualify if the trade is carried on wholly outside the UK. Overseas Workday Relief only helps with days physically worked abroad. National Insurance applies too: employees pay 8% on earnings between £242 and £967 a week and 2% above. If your employer has no UK presence, you usually pay your own Class 1 contributions through a direct payment scheme and report the salary on Self Assessment. A certificate from your home country under EU rules or a social security agreement can keep you in that system instead. Freelancers register for Self Assessment and pay Class 4 at 6% on profits from £12,570 to £50,270 and 2% above. Sole traders with turnover over £50,000 must keep digital records under Making Tax Digital from April 2026 (over £30,000 from April 2027). Foreign tax paid on the same income can be credited under the UK's tax treaties.

Investments: Foreign dividends, interest, rent, pensions and gains are taxed as they arise, whether or not you bring the money to the UK. For 2026/27, dividends above a £500 allowance pay 10.75% (basic rate), 35.75% (higher) or 39.35% (additional). Interest gets a £1,000 personal savings allowance for basic-rate taxpayers (£500 higher rate, nothing at the additional rate) and a 0% starting rate on up to £5,000 if your other income is low, then 20%, 40% or 45%. Dividends and interest use UK-wide rates even in Scotland. Rent from property abroad and foreign pensions are taxed at ordinary income tax rates (Scottish rates for Scottish residents). Capital gains, including on shares and crypto, pay 18% within the basic-rate band and 24% above it, after a £3,000 annual exemption. These rates have applied to most assets since 30 October 2024. From April 2027, savings rates rise to 22%, 42% and 47%, and property income in England, Wales and Northern Ireland gets its own rates of 22%, 42% and 47%. Foreign tax is credited against UK tax on the same income. People arriving after 10 consecutive tax years of non-residence can instead claim the 4-year FIG regime (see regimes).

On the nomad visa: The UK has no digital nomad or remote-work visa. Visitors (visa-free with an electronic travel authorisation, or on a Standard Visitor visa) can usually stay up to 6 months but cannot work as self-employed or for a UK company. The Immigration Rules (Appendix Visitor, PA 4(h)) let visitors do work for their overseas employer remotely only when it is not the main purpose of the visit, and Home Office guidance treats a trip that relies on remote earnings to pay for itself as having remote work as its main purpose. For tax, a visitor with no UK home who stays under 183 days is usually non-resident, but the sufficient ties test can make a long stay resident from 46 days, and pay for days worked in the UK can be UK-taxable unless a tax treaty exempts it.

Schemes for newcomers:

- **4-year foreign income and gains (FIG) regime** (4 years): 100% relief on qualifying foreign income and gains arising from 6 April 2025: foreign dividends and interest, overseas rental profits, profits of a trade carried on wholly outside the UK, most foreign pensions, and gains on foreign assets. Relieved money can be brought to the UK tax-free. In any year you claim, you lose the £12,570 personal allowance and the £3,000 capital gains exemption, cannot use foreign losses, and get no foreign tax credit on relieved income. Pay for work done in the UK is not covered. Who qualifies: Anyone, of any nationality or domicile, in their first 4 consecutive tax years of UK residence after at least 10 consecutive tax years of non-UK residence. You claim each year on your Self Assessment return and can choose which foreign sources to claim for. Years spent non-resident inside the 4-year window are lost.
- **Overseas Workday Relief (OWR)** (4 years): Employment income for days worked outside the UK is not taxed in the UK, capped each year at the lower of 30% of the qualifying employment income or £300,000. A remote worker who works only from the UK gets nothing from it. Who qualifies: Employees who meet the same 10-year non-residence test (qualifying new residents) and whose employment duties are performed partly outside the UK. You elect for it on your Self Assessment return.
- **Temporary Repatriation Facility (TRF)** (3 years): Foreign income and gains from before 6 April 2025 (and other qualifying overseas capital) can be designated and brought to the UK at 12% in 2025/26 and 2026/27 and 15% in 2027/28, instead of full income tax or capital gains tax on remittance. No foreign tax credit is given against the charge. Who qualifies: UK residents who used the old remittance basis before 6 April 2025. Designation is made on the Self Assessment return.

Official sources: [Finance Act 2013, Schedule 45 (Statutory residence test)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/29/schedule/45) (legislation.gov.uk, read 2026-10-27); [Guidance note for Statutory Residence Test (RDR3)](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rdr3-statutory-residence-test-srt/guidance-note-for-statutory-residence-test-srt-rdr3) (HM Revenue & Customs, GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [RFIG20710: Meaning of a day spent in the UK](https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/residence-and-fig-regime-manual/rfig20710) (HM Revenue & Customs, Residence and FIG Regime Manual, read 2026-10-27); [Finance Act 2025](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/8/contents) (legislation.gov.uk, read 2026-10-27); [HS266 Foreign income and gains (FIG) regime (2026)](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/foreign-income-and-gains-fig-regime-self-assessment-helpsheet-hs266/hs266-foreign-income-and-gains-fig-regime-2026) (HM Revenue & Customs, GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [Check if you can claim the 4-year foreign income and gains regime](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-can-claim-the-4-year-foreign-income-and-gains-regime) (HM Revenue & Customs, GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [Reforming the taxation of non-UK domiciled individuals](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tax-changes-for-non-uk-domiciled-individuals/reforming-the-taxation-of-non-uk-domiciled-individuals) (HM Treasury and HM Revenue & Customs, GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [EIM43560: Overseas Workday Relief: eligibility](https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/employment-income-manual/eim43560) (HM Revenue & Customs, Employment Income Manual, read 2026-10-27); [EIM43600: Overseas Workday Relief: financial limit](https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/employment-income-manual/eim43600) (HM Revenue & Customs, Employment Income Manual, read 2026-10-27); [HS264 Remittance of pre-6 April 2025 foreign income and gains, and the temporary repatriation facility (TRF)](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/remittance-basis-hs264-self-assessment-helpsheet/hs264-remittance-of-pre-6-april-2025-foreign-income-and-gains-and-the-temporary-repatriation-facility-trf) (HM Revenue & Customs, GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [Income Tax rates and allowances for current and previous tax years](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rates-and-allowances-income-tax/income-tax-rates-and-allowances-current-and-past) (HM Revenue & Customs, GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [Scottish Income Tax: current rates](https://www.gov.uk/scottish-income-tax) (GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [Welsh Income Tax](https://www.gov.uk/welsh-income-tax) (GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [Changes to tax rates for property, savings and dividend income](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-tax-rates-for-property-savings-dividend-income/changes-to-tax-rates-for-property-savings-dividend-income) (HM Treasury and HM Revenue & Customs, GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [Tax on savings interest: how much is tax free](https://www.gov.uk/apply-tax-free-interest-on-savings/how-much-is-tax-free) (GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [Capital Gains Tax rates and allowances](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/capital-gains-tax-rates-and-allowances) (HM Revenue & Customs, GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [Capital Gains Tax: rates of tax](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-the-rates-of-capital-gains-tax/capital-gains-tax-rates-of-tax) (HM Revenue & Customs, GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [Tax on foreign income](https://www.gov.uk/tax-foreign-income) (GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [Globally mobile employees: effect of residence on an employee's liability to UK income tax](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/globally-mobile-employees/effect-of-residence-on-an-employees-liability-to-uk-income-tax) (HM Revenue & Customs, GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [National Insurance rates and categories](https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-rates-letters) (GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [Self-employed National Insurance rates](https://www.gov.uk/self-employed-national-insurance-rates) (GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [National Insurance where there is no employer in the UK](https://www.hmrc.gov.uk/gds/nic/work/embassy.htm) (HM Revenue & Customs, read 2026-10-27); [New employee coming to work from abroad](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-employee-coming-to-work-from-abroad) (HM Revenue & Customs, GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [Check when to sign up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-when-to-sign-up-for-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax) (HM Revenue & Customs, GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [Inheritance Tax if you're a long-term UK resident](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/inheritance-tax-if-youre-a-long-term-uk-resident) (HM Revenue & Customs, GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [Inheritance Tax](https://www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax) (GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [Stamp Duty Land Tax: residential property rates](https://www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax/residential-property-rates) (GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [Stamp Duty Land Tax](https://www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax) (GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [Council Tax](https://www.gov.uk/council-tax) (GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [High Value Council Tax Surcharge](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-value-council-tax-surcharge/high-value-council-tax-surcharge) (HM Treasury, GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-visitor-permitted-activities) (Home Office, GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [Visit guidance (caseworker guidance)](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visit-guidance/visit-caseworker-guidance-accessible--2) (Home Office, GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27); [Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor](https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor) (GOV.UK, read 2026-10-27).

Not yet reviewed by a person. General information, not tax advice. US citizens are taxed by the US wherever they live.

## Climate (2001–2020 normals)

| Month | Mean °C | Rain mm | Humidity % | Comfortable |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Jan | 3.7 | 59 | 94 | no |
| Feb | 3.9 | 51 | 91 | no |
| Mar | 5.7 | 50 | 86 | no |
| Apr | 8.3 | 47 | 83 | no |
| May | 11.5 | 57 | 80 | no |
| Jun | 14.6 | 75 | 81 | no |
| Jul | 16.6 | 73 | 80 | yes |
| Aug | 16.3 | 75 | 81 | yes |
| Sep | 13.8 | 52 | 84 | no |
| Oct | 10.5 | 72 | 88 | no |
| Nov | 6.7 | 68 | 93 | no |
| Dec | 4.2 | 64 | 95 | no |

## Airports and nonstop flights

| Airport | IATA | Nonstop destinations | International | From US airports |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Humberside Airport | HUY | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Leeds Bradford Airport | LBA | 69 | 67 | 0 |
| Manchester Airport | MAN | 211 | 201 | 5 |

Unique destinations across all airports: 215, of which 205 international (Wikipedia, 2026-10).

## Similar cities

- [Swindon](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/swindon) (67.2) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/hull-vs-swindon)
- [Doncaster](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/doncaster) (66) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/doncaster-vs-hull)
- [Liverpool](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/liverpool) (66.9) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/hull-vs-liverpool)
- [Coventry](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/coventry) (66) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/coventry-vs-hull)
- [Oxford](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/oxford) (67.5) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/hull-vs-oxford)

## FAQ

### How much does it cost to live in Hull as a digital nomad?

A single person typically spends about $2,900 per month in Hull (a country-level estimate for United Kingdom). That is a 22/100 cost score, where 100 is the cheapest city in the dataset.

### Is Hull safe for digital nomads?

Hull scores 76/100 on safety. United Kingdom records 0.93 homicides per 100,000 people per year (WHO, 2023) and a political-stability score of 70.7/100 (World Bank WGI). Both figures are national, so neighbourhood-level risk can differ.

### Does United Kingdom have a digital nomad visa?

No dedicated digital nomad visa was listed for United Kingdom as of 2026-07. Visitors from the US need an electronic travel authorisation (eTA), bought online before the trip.

### How fast is the internet in Hull?

Measured median download speed in Hull was 93.3 Mbps (upload 47.6 Mbps) across 31,092 M-Lab tests in 2024. Measured speeds run below advertised plan speeds everywhere, so compare cities rather than reading the number as a plan.

### Is Starlink available in Hull?

Yes. Starlink's availability map lists residential service as available in United Kingdom (checked 2026-10), so a dish can serve as a backup line in Hull. Check the exact address on starlink.com before ordering, since capacity varies by area.

### Which airports serve Hull and how many nonstop flights are there?

Hull is served by Humberside Airport (HUY) with 3 nonstop destinations; Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) with 69 nonstop destinations; Manchester Airport (MAN) with 211 nonstop destinations, 215 unique destinations across all of them, of which 205 are international. 5 US airports have a nonstop link. Source: Wikipedia, 2026-10.

### When is the best time of year to be in Hull?

The most comfortable months are Jul, Aug. Mean temperatures range from 39°F (4°C) in Jan to 62°F (17°C) in Jul (NASA POWER 2001–2020 climatology).

### Hull or Swindon: which is better for digital nomads?

Swindon is the city with the closest factor profile to Hull in this dataset. Which one wins depends on your weights; the comparison page puts every factor side by side with the numbers behind them.

## Plan a trip

[Plan a trip to Hull](https://dashboard.navoy.io/trip/new?utm_source=nostos&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=plan_trip&utm_content=hull&destination=Hull%2C+United+Kingdom) on Navoy, the AI travel planner behind Nostos.

## Sources

[^1]: City population (latest census or official estimate), Wikipedia (citing national statistics offices). CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^2]: 2026 Cost of Living Index (country level), WhereNext. CC BY 4.0. https://getwherenext.com/data/cost-of-living-2026 (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^3]: Cost of Living Global 2026 (city rows), WhereToEmigrate. CC BY 4.0. https://github.com/0brien18/global-emigration-dataset (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^4]: Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, dataUNODC. UNODC data, free to reuse with attribution. https://data.unodc.org/datareport/hom-victim (retrieved 2026-10-12)
[^5]: Worldwide Governance Indicators — Political Stability and Absence of Violence (score 0–100), World Bank. CC BY 4.0. https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/worldwide-governance-indicators (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^6]: UHC service coverage index, World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO data policy). https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/uhc-index-of-service-coverage (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^7]: Life expectancy at birth (years), both sexes, World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO data policy). https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/life-expectancy-at-birth-(years) (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^8]: M-Lab NDT statistics (city aggregates, 2024), Measurement Lab. CC0 1.0. https://statistics.measurementlab.net/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^9]: Starlink availability map, SpaceX (Starlink). Factual status cited from starlink.com. https://www.starlink.com/map (retrieved 2026-10-07)
[^10]: Digital Nomad Visas 2026, WhereToEmigrate. CC BY 4.0. https://github.com/0brien18/global-emigration-dataset (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^11]: Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations), Ilya Ilyankou (compiled from passportindex.org). MIT. https://github.com/ilyankou/passport-index-dataset (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^12]: Airport destinations (Wikipedia airline and destination tables), Wikipedia contributors; countries via Wikidata. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/ (retrieved 2026-09-24)
[^13]: Walkability and transit ratings (editorial), Navoy. CC BY 4.0. https://nostos.navoy.io/methodology (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^14]: NASA POWER climatology (2001–2020 monthly means), NASA Langley Research Center. Public domain (US Government). https://power.larc.nasa.gov/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^15]: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database, June 2026 update (V8), World Health Organization. CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO data policy). https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/who-ambient-air-quality-database-(update-jun-2026) (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^16]: OpenStreetMap restaurants (Overpass API), OpenStreetMap contributors. ODbL 1.0. https://overpass-api.de/ (retrieved 2026-10-02)
[^17]: Human Development Index (HDR 2025, HDI 2023), United Nations Development Programme. CC BY 3.0 IGO. https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/documentation-and-downloads (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^18]: EF English Proficiency Index 2024 (band), EF Education First. Proprietary; band cited as a fact with attribution. https://www.ef.com/epi/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)

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