Top 10 cities for digital nomads in Oceania

The full Top 10

#	City	Score	Monthly cost	Safety	Internet	Nomad visa	US passport
1	Brisbane Australia	70.6	$2,758	82	70	no	eTA
2	Perth Australia	70.2	$2,808	82	69	no	eTA
3	Sydney Australia	68.5	$3,538	82	71	no	eTA
4	Melbourne Australia	65.8	$2,820	82	71	no	eTA
5	Wellington New Zealand	65.8	$2,355	84	88	no	eTA
6	Auckland New Zealand	65.2	$2,479	84	79	no	eTA
7	Christchurch New Zealand	64.2	$2,107	84	79	no	eTA
8	Port Moresby Papua New Guinea	42.8	$1,707	41	28	no	eTA
9	Newcastle (NSW) Australia	68.6	$3,350*	82	73	no	eTA
10	Toowoomba Australia	66.6	$3,350*	82	73	no	eTA

* 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 43 that qualify, with balanced scores from 43 to 71. The 8 with a city-level price run from $1,707 to $3,538 a month for one person. They span Oceania; 0 of the 10 are in countries with a digital-nomad visa.

The ten, one by one

1. 1. 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.

2. 2. Perth

   Perth, Australia: Isolated, sunny and laid-back. It scores 70/100 under balanced weights, best for climate and quality of life and weakest on cost of living. About $2,808 a month for one person including rent, 39.2 Mbps measured download and 12 of 12 comfortable months.

3. 3. Sydney

   Sydney, Australia: Harbour city with beaches in the suburbs. It scores 69/100 under balanced weights, best for quality of life and air quality and weakest on cost of living. About $3,538 a month for one person including rent, 44.2 Mbps measured download and 10 of 12 comfortable months.

4. 4. Melbourne

   Melbourne, Australia: Coffee, culture and trams. It scores 66/100 under balanced weights, best for quality of life and air quality and weakest on cost of living. About $2,820 a month for one person including rent, 42.9 Mbps measured download and 6 of 12 comfortable months.

5. 5. Wellington

   Wellington, New Zealand: Compact creative capital with wild weather. It scores 66/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on getting there & around. About $2,355 a month for one person including rent, 90.1 Mbps measured download and 4 of 12 comfortable months.

6. 6. Auckland

   Auckland, New Zealand: Harbour city at the edge of the world. It scores 65/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on getting there & around. About $2,479 a month for one person including rent, 61.5 Mbps measured download and 6 of 12 comfortable months.

7. 7. Christchurch

   Christchurch, New Zealand: Rebuilt garden city near mountains. It scores 64/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on getting there & around. About $2,107 a month for one person including rent, 56.5 Mbps measured download and 4 of 12 comfortable months.

8. 8. Port Moresby

   Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: Papua New Guinea's capital, gateway to Kokoda, with serious security limits. It scores 43/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and climate and weakest on getting there & around. About $1,707 a month for one person including rent, 3.6 Mbps measured download and 8 of 12 comfortable months.

9. 9. Newcastle (NSW)

   Newcastle (NSW), Australia: Surf city two hours from Sydney at a fraction of the rent. It scores 69/100 under balanced weights, best for quality of life and air quality and weakest on cost of living. About $3,350 a month on the national estimate, 46.5 Mbps measured download and 11 of 12 comfortable months.

10. 10. Toowoomba

    Toowoomba, Australia: Queensland's garden city on the range, cooler than Brisbane. It scores 67/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on cost of living. About $3,350 a month on the national estimate, 47.4 Mbps measured download and 9 of 12 comfortable months.

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