Top 10 cheapest-rent cities for digital nomads

The full Top 10

#	City	Rent (1BR)	Monthly cost	Score	Internet
1	Cairo Egypt	$306	$881	46.5	42
2	Chiang Mai Thailand	$410	$967	55.8	65
3	Penang (George Town) Malaysia	$443	$958	64.5	88
4	Concepción Chile	$451	$1,115	57.4	47
5	Amman Jordan	$459	$1,707	52.6	59
6	Marrakech Morocco	$475	$1,300*	46	39
7	Batumi Georgia	$477	$881	60.9	60
8	Johor Bahru Malaysia	$482	$1,037	61.9	86
9	Da Nang Vietnam	$508	$589	56	63
10	Colonia del Sacramento Uruguay	$518	$1,239	68.5	84

* 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 118 that qualify, with balanced scores from 46 to 69. The 9 with a city-level price run from $589 to $1,707 a month for one person. They span Africa, Asia, Latin America, Middle East and Europe; 4 of the 10 are in countries with a digital-nomad visa.

The ten, one by one

1. 1. Cairo

   Cairo, Egypt: Millennia of history in an overwhelming metropolis. It scores 47/100 under balanced weights, best for cost of living and healthcare and weakest on air quality. About $881 a month for one person including rent, 10.6 Mbps measured download and 6 of 12 comfortable months.

2. 2. Chiang Mai

   Chiang Mai, Thailand: The original nomad capital, still cheap. It scores 56/100 under balanced weights, best for healthcare and cost of living and weakest on getting there & around. About $967 a month for one person including rent, 28 Mbps measured download, the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) and 7 of 12 comfortable months.

3. 3. Penang (George Town)

   Penang (George Town), Malaysia: Street-food capital with heritage streets. It scores 65/100 under balanced weights, best for internet and safety and weakest on getting there & around. About $958 a month for one person including rent, 93.6 Mbps measured download, the DE Rantau Nomad Pass and 4 of 12 comfortable months.

4. 4. Concepción

   Concepción, Chile: Chile's university and rock-music city on the Biobío, cheaper than Santiago. It scores 57/100 under balanced weights, best for healthcare and air quality and weakest on getting there & around. About $1,115 a month for one person including rent, 10.4 Mbps measured download and 4 of 12 comfortable months.

5. 5. Amman

   Amman, Jordan: Calm base for Jordan and the Levant. It scores 53/100 under balanced weights, best for healthcare and safety and weakest on getting there & around. About $1,707 a month for one person including rent, 18.6 Mbps measured download and 7 of 12 comfortable months.

6. 6. Marrakech

   Marrakech, Morocco: Medina life with desert and mountains close. It scores 46/100 under balanced weights, best for healthcare and cost of living and weakest on getting there & around. About $1,300 a month on the national estimate, 10.1 Mbps measured download and 5 of 12 comfortable months.

7. 7. Batumi

   Batumi, Georgia: Black Sea resort with Georgia's visa freedom. It scores 61/100 under balanced weights, best for visa ease and cost of living and weakest on getting there & around. About $881 a month for one person including rent, 21.5 Mbps measured download and 4 of 12 comfortable months.

8. 8. Johor Bahru

   Johor Bahru, Malaysia: Singapore's neighbour at Malaysian prices. It scores 62/100 under balanced weights, best for internet and safety and weakest on climate. About $1,037 a month for one person including rent, 86.4 Mbps measured download, the DE Rantau Nomad Pass and 0 of 12 comfortable months.

9. 9. Da Nang

   Da Nang, Vietnam: Beach city with Vietnam's best value. It scores 56/100 under balanced weights, best for cost of living and air quality and weakest on getting there & around. About $589 a month for one person including rent, 23.1 Mbps measured download and 2 of 12 comfortable months.

10. 10. Colonia del Sacramento

    Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay: UNESCO cobblestone town across the river from Buenos Aires. It scores 69/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and internet and weakest on getting there & around. About $1,239 a month for one person including rent, 82.7 Mbps measured download, the Digital nomad permit (Hoja de Identidad Provisoria) and 8 of 12 comfortable months.

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