Top 10 cleanest-air cities for digital nomads

The full Top 10

#	City	PM2.5 µg/m³	Score	Monthly cost
1	Nuuk Greenland	2.7	53.8	no data*
2	Faro (Algarve) Portugal	2.9	72.8	$1,690
3	Papeete French Polynesia	2.9	61.6	no data*
4	Hilo United States	3	56.2	$3,000*
5	Honolulu United States	3.1	68.1	$3,329
6	Murmansk Russia	3.5	47.8	no data*
7	Akureyri Iceland	3.7	62.9	$3,600*
8	Apia Samoa	3.7	54	no data*
9	Reykjavík Iceland	3.8	62	$3,689
10	Rovaniemi Finland	3.8	61.7	$2,950*

* 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 1,500 that qualify, with balanced scores from 48 to 73. The 3 with a city-level price run from $1,690 to $3,689 a month for one person. They span North America, Europe and Oceania; 1 of the 10 are in countries with a digital-nomad visa.

The ten, one by one

1. 1. Nuuk

   Nuuk, Greenland: Greenland's tiny Arctic capital, between fjord and mountain. It scores 54/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and safety and weakest on climate. 28.4 Mbps measured download and 0 of 12 comfortable months.

2. 2. 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.

3. 3. Papeete

   Papeete, French Polynesia: Tahiti's small, pricey capital, the hub for every other island. It scores 62/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and climate and weakest on getting there & around. 7.5 Mbps measured download and 9 of 12 comfortable months.

4. 4. Hilo

   Hilo, United States: Rainy, unhurried bay town on the windward side of Hawaii's Big Island. It scores 56/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on getting there & around. About $3,000 a month on the national estimate, 76.1 Mbps measured download and 1 of 12 comfortable months.

5. 5. Honolulu

   Honolulu, United States: Island living with US infrastructure. It scores 68/100 under balanced weights, best for climate and air quality and weakest on cost of living. About $3,329 a month for one person including rent, 65.1 Mbps measured download and 12 of 12 comfortable months.

6. 6. Murmansk

   Murmansk, Russia: The biggest city above the Arctic Circle, dark for weeks in winter. It scores 48/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and healthcare and weakest on climate. 36.9 Mbps measured download and 0 of 12 comfortable months.

7. 7. Akureyri

   Akureyri, Iceland: Iceland's capital of the north, a fjord town far from Reykjavík's crowds. It scores 63/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on climate. About $3,600 a month on the national estimate, 101 Mbps measured download and 0 of 12 comfortable months.

8. 8. Apia

   Apia, Samoa: Samoa's laid-back capital, where Sundays stop and the sea is close. It scores 54/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and safety and weakest on getting there & around. 6 of 12 comfortable months.

9. 9. Reykjavík

   Reykjavík, Iceland: Small capital at the edge of the Arctic. It scores 62/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on climate. About $3,689 a month for one person including rent, 91.8 Mbps measured download and 0 of 12 comfortable months.

10. 10. Rovaniemi

    Rovaniemi, Finland: Arctic Circle town of Santa, northern lights and a short tourist season. It scores 62/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on climate. About $2,950 a month on the national estimate, 54.3 Mbps measured download and 1 of 12 comfortable months.

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