Top 10 nomad cities under $1,500 a month

The full Top 10

#	City	Score	Monthly cost	Safety	Internet	US passport
1	Budapest Hungary	71.9	$1,365	80	85	90 days
2	Buenos Aires Argentina	68.5	$973	61	53	90 days
3	Colonia del Sacramento Uruguay	68.5	$1,239	64	84	90 days
4	Fukuoka Japan	66.9	$1,408	94	87	90 days
5	Ostrava Czechia	66.9	$1,408	88	74	90 days
6	Pärnu Estonia	66.4	$1,352	79	75	90 days
7	Sofia Bulgaria	66.4	$826	73	74	90 days
8	Bucharest Romania	66	$1,431	73	83	90 days
9	Penang (George Town) Malaysia	64.5	$958	78	88	90 days
10	Chișinău Moldova	64.4	$1,046	64	77	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 56 that qualify, with balanced scores from 64 to 72. The 10 with a city-level price run from $826 to $1,431 a month for one person. They span Europe, Latin America and Asia; 9 of the 10 are in countries with a digital-nomad visa.

The ten, one by one

1. 1. 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.

2. 2. Buenos Aires

   Buenos Aires, Argentina: European grandeur at Latin American prices. It scores 69/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on getting there & around. About $973 a month for one person including rent, 16.3 Mbps measured download, the Digital nomad transitory residence and 8 of 12 comfortable months.

3. 3. 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.

4. 4. Fukuoka

   Fukuoka, Japan: Japan's startup city, compact and coastal. It scores 67/100 under balanced weights, best for safety and healthcare and weakest on climate. About $1,408 a month for one person including rent, 81.9 Mbps measured download, the Digital nomad visa (Designated Activities) and 1 of 12 comfortable months.

5. 5. Ostrava

   Ostrava, Czechia: Post-industrial Czech city with rock-bottom rents. It scores 67/100 under balanced weights, best for safety and quality of life and weakest on climate. About $1,408 a month for one person including rent, 46.9 Mbps measured download, the Digital Nomad Program (long-term visa for business or other purposes) and 3 of 12 comfortable months.

6. 6. Pärnu

   Pärnu, Estonia: Estonia's summer capital, a spa town with a long sandy beach. It scores 66/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on climate. About $1,352 a month for one person including rent, 51.5 Mbps measured download, the Digital Nomad Visa (long-stay D visa for teleworking) and 2 of 12 comfortable months.

7. 7. Sofia

   Sofia, Bulgaria: Mountain-side capital with EU prices from a decade ago. It scores 66/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and cost of living and weakest on climate. About $826 a month for one person including rent, 49.3 Mbps measured download and 4 of 12 comfortable months.

8. 8. Bucharest

   Bucharest, Romania: Fast internet and low prices on the EU's edge. It scores 66/100 under balanced weights, best for internet and quality of life and weakest on climate. About $1,431 a month for one person including rent, 81 Mbps measured download, the Digital nomad long-stay visa (D/AS) and 5 of 12 comfortable months.

9. 9. 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.

10. 10. Chișinău

    Chișinău, Moldova: Green, cheap capital with wine country around it. It scores 64/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and internet and weakest on getting there & around. About $1,046 a month for one person including rent, 52.7 Mbps measured download, the Digital nomad temporary residence permit and 5 of 12 comfortable months.

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