Top 10 nomad cities under $2,500 a month

The full Top 10

#	City	Score	Monthly cost	Safety	Internet	US passport
1	Faro (Algarve) Portugal	72.8	$1,690	83	74	90 days
2	Budapest Hungary	71.9	$1,365	80	85	90 days
3	Lisbon Portugal	71.9	$2,456	83	71	90 days
4	Malmö Sweden	71.3	$1,923	83	85	90 days
5	Porto Portugal	71	$1,972	83	76	90 days
6	Taipei Taiwan	71	$1,817	86	73	90 days
7	Athens Greece	70.5	$1,542	76	72	90 days
8	Odense Denmark	70.4	$2,377	83	93	90 days
9	Valencia Spain	70.1	$1,915	76	74	90 days
10	Rome Italy	69.8	$2,202	81	67	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 116 that qualify, with balanced scores from 70 to 73. The 10 with a city-level price run from $1,365 to $2,456 a month for one person. They span Europe and Asia; 8 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. 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.

5. 5. 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.

6. 6. 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.

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. Valencia

   Valencia, Spain: Barcelona's calmer, cheaper Mediterranean cousin. It scores 70/100 under balanced weights, best for healthcare and air quality and weakest on cost of living. About $1,915 a month for one person including rent, 42.6 Mbps measured download, the International teleworking visa (digital nomad visa) and 6 of 12 comfortable months.

10. 10. Rome

    Rome, Italy: History on every corner, chaos on every road. It scores 70/100 under balanced weights, best for healthcare and air quality and weakest on cost of living. About $2,202 a month for one person including rent, 35.3 Mbps measured download, the Digital nomad and remote worker visa and 6 of 12 comfortable months.

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