Top 10 English-speaking cities for digital nomads

The full Top 10

#	City	English	Score	Monthly cost	US passport
1	Faro (Algarve) Portugal	very-high	72.8	$1,690	90 days
2	Lisbon Portugal	very-high	71.9	$2,456	90 days
3	The Hague Netherlands	very-high	71.6	$2,794	90 days
4	Malmö Sweden	very-high	71.3	$1,923	90 days
5	Porto Portugal	very-high	71	$1,972	90 days
6	Brisbane Australia	native	70.6	$2,758	eTA
7	Athens Greece	very-high	70.5	$1,542	90 days
8	Odense Denmark	very-high	70.4	$2,377	90 days
9	Perth Australia	native	70.2	$2,808	eTA
10	Amsterdam Netherlands	very-high	69.2	$3,530	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 431 that qualify, with balanced scores from 69 to 73. The 10 with a city-level price run from $1,542 to $3,530 a month for one person. They span Europe and Oceania; 4 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. 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.

3. 3. The Hague

   The Hague, Netherlands: International city with a North Sea beach. It scores 72/100 under balanced weights, best for quality of life and air quality and weakest on cost of living. About $2,794 a month for one person including rent, 91.1 Mbps measured download and 4 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. 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.

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. 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.

10. 10. Amsterdam

    Amsterdam, Netherlands: Bike-first canals and an international job market. It scores 69/100 under balanced weights, best for quality of life and air quality and weakest on cost of living. About $3,530 a month for one person including rent, 63.4 Mbps measured download and 4 of 12 comfortable months.

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