Top 10 cities for first-time digital nomads

The full Top 10

#	City	Score	Monthly cost	Safety	English	US passport
1	Faro (Algarve) Portugal	72.8	$1,690	83	very-high	90 days
2	Budapest Hungary	71.9	$1,365	80	high	90 days
3	Lisbon Portugal	71.9	$2,456	83	very-high	90 days
4	The Hague Netherlands	71.6	$2,794	81	very-high	90 days
5	Malmö Sweden	71.3	$1,923	83	very-high	90 days
6	Porto Portugal	71	$1,972	83	very-high	90 days
7	Athens Greece	70.5	$1,542	76	very-high	90 days
8	Odense Denmark	70.4	$2,377	83	very-high	90 days
9	Amsterdam Netherlands	69.2	$3,530	81	very-high	90 days
10	Hong Kong Hong Kong	68.8	$3,138	87	high	90 days

* country-level cost estimate. Lists ranked by overall score put cities with a city-level price first; country-wide estimates only fill a list with fewer than ten. Scores are 0–100 under balanced weights; open a city for every number and its source.

What the data says

These 10 cities are the best of 309 that qualify, with balanced scores from 69 to 73. The 10 with a city-level price run from $1,365 to $3,530 a month for one person. They span Europe and Asia; 5 of the 10 are in countries with a digital-nomad visa.

The ten, one by one

1. 1. Faro (Algarve)

   Faro (Algarve), Portugal: Algarve base with beaches and an airport. It scores 73/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on getting there & around. About $1,690 a month for one person including rent, 46.2 Mbps measured download, the Digital nomad residence visa (D8) and 8 of 12 comfortable months.

2. 2. Budapest

   Budapest, Hungary: Thermal baths, ruin bars and low rents. It scores 72/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and internet and weakest on climate. About $1,365 a month for one person including rent, 91.7 Mbps measured download, the White Card (digital nomad residence permit) and 5 of 12 comfortable months.

3. 3. Lisbon

   Lisbon, Portugal: Sunny Atlantic capital with Europe's biggest nomad scene. It scores 72/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on cost of living. About $2,456 a month for one person including rent, 40.4 Mbps measured download, the Digital nomad residence visa (D8) and 8 of 12 comfortable months.

4. 4. The Hague

   The Hague, Netherlands: International city with a North Sea beach. It scores 72/100 under balanced weights, best for quality of life and air quality and weakest on cost of living. About $2,794 a month for one person including rent, 91.1 Mbps measured download and 4 of 12 comfortable months.

5. 5. Malmö

   Malmö, Sweden: Sweden's youngest city, a bridge from Copenhagen. It scores 71/100 under balanced weights, best for quality of life and air quality and weakest on climate. About $1,923 a month for one person including rent, 84.9 Mbps measured download and 3 of 12 comfortable months.

6. 6. Porto

   Porto, Portugal: Lisbon's cheaper, moodier northern sibling. It scores 71/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on cost of living. About $1,972 a month for one person including rent, 48.7 Mbps measured download, the Digital nomad residence visa (D8) and 6 of 12 comfortable months.

7. 7. Athens

   Athens, Greece: Ancient city, modern nomad scene, island escapes. It scores 71/100 under balanced weights, best for quality of life and healthcare and weakest on climate. About $1,542 a month for one person including rent, 49.4 Mbps measured download, the Digital Nomad Visa (Z.1) and 6 of 12 comfortable months.

8. 8. Odense

   Odense, Denmark: Hans Christian Andersen's hometown, Denmark's cycling-friendly third city. It scores 70/100 under balanced weights, best for quality of life and air quality and weakest on climate. About $2,377 a month for one person including rent, 118.8 Mbps measured download and 3 of 12 comfortable months.

9. 9. Amsterdam

   Amsterdam, Netherlands: Bike-first canals and an international job market. It scores 69/100 under balanced weights, best for quality of life and air quality and weakest on cost of living. About $3,530 a month for one person including rent, 63.4 Mbps measured download and 4 of 12 comfortable months.

10. 10. Hong Kong

    Hong Kong, Hong Kong: Dense, efficient, and exceptionally connected. It scores 69/100 under balanced weights, best for healthcare and quality of life and weakest on cost of living. About $3,138 a month for one person including rent, 42.5 Mbps measured download and 7 of 12 comfortable months.

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