Top 10 cities for digital nomads

The full Top 10

#	City	Score	Monthly cost	Safety	Internet	Climate	Nomad visa
1	Faro (Algarve) Portugal	72.8	$1,690	83	74	67	yes
2	Budapest Hungary	71.9	$1,365	80	85	42	yes
3	Lisbon Portugal	71.9	$2,456	83	71	67	yes
4	The Hague Netherlands	71.6	$2,794	81	86	33	no
5	Barcelona Spain	71.4	$2,648	76	80	50	yes
6	Malmö Sweden	71.3	$1,923	83	85	25	no
7	Porto Portugal	71	$1,972	83	76	50	yes
8	Taipei Taiwan	71	$1,817	86	73	58	yes
9	Madrid Spain	70.9	$2,535	76	80	42	yes
10	Brisbane Australia	70.6	$2,758	82	70	92	no

* 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 1,501 that qualify, with balanced scores from 71 to 73. The 10 with a city-level price run from $1,365 to $2,794 a month for one person. They span Europe, Asia and Oceania; 7 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. Barcelona

   Barcelona, Spain: Beach, grid streets and big-city everything. It scores 71/100 under balanced weights, best for healthcare and air quality and weakest on cost of living. About $2,648 a month for one person including rent, 57.8 Mbps measured download, the International teleworking visa (digital nomad visa) and 6 of 12 comfortable months.

6. 6. 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.

7. 7. 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.

8. 8. Taipei

   Taipei, Taiwan: Safe, efficient and surprisingly affordable. It scores 71/100 under balanced weights, best for healthcare and safety and weakest on cost of living. About $1,817 a month for one person including rent, 44.8 Mbps measured download, the Digital nomad visitor visa and 7 of 12 comfortable months.

9. 9. Madrid

   Madrid, Spain: High-energy capital with Spain's best transport. It scores 71/100 under balanced weights, best for healthcare and air quality and weakest on cost of living. About $2,535 a month for one person including rent, 59 Mbps measured download, the International teleworking visa (digital nomad visa) and 5 of 12 comfortable months.

10. 10. Brisbane

    Brisbane, Australia: Subtropical, growing and gearing up for 2032. It scores 71/100 under balanced weights, best for quality of life and air quality and weakest on cost of living. About $2,758 a month for one person including rent, 41.8 Mbps measured download and 11 of 12 comfortable months.

Frequently asked