Top 10 cities with a digital nomad visa

The full Top 10

#	City	Score	Visa	Min income	Monthly cost
1	Faro (Algarve) Portugal	72.8	Digital nomad residence visa (D8)	$4,131/mo	$1,690
2	Budapest Hungary	71.9	White Card (digital nomad residence permit)	$3,368/mo	$1,365
3	Lisbon Portugal	71.9	Digital nomad residence visa (D8)	$4,131/mo	$2,456
4	Barcelona Spain	71.4	International teleworking visa (digital nomad visa)	$2,741/mo	$2,648
5	Porto Portugal	71	Digital nomad residence visa (D8)	$4,131/mo	$1,972
6	Taipei Taiwan	71	Digital nomad visitor visa	$3,333/mo	$1,817
7	Madrid Spain	70.9	International teleworking visa (digital nomad visa)	$2,741/mo	$2,535
8	Athens Greece	70.5	Digital Nomad Visa (Z.1)	$3,929/mo	$1,542
9	Valencia Spain	70.1	International teleworking visa (digital nomad visa)	$2,741/mo	$1,915
10	Rome Italy	69.8	Digital nomad and remote worker visa	$2,385/mo	$2,202

* 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 538 that qualify, with balanced scores from 70 to 73. The 10 with a city-level price run from $1,365 to $2,648 a month for one person. They span Europe and Asia; 10 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. 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.

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. 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.

8. 8. 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.

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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