Top 10 fastest-internet cities for digital nomads

The full Top 10

#	City	Download	Upload	Score	Monthly cost
1	Aarhus Denmark	180.1 Mbps	69.9 Mbps	67.3	$2,575
2	Aalborg Denmark	178.2 Mbps	89.3 Mbps	65.4	$3,138
3	Lucerne Switzerland	147.3 Mbps	76.8 Mbps	67	$4,000*
4	Székesfehérvár Hungary	143.3 Mbps	22.6 Mbps	70.6	$1,450*
5	Victorville United States	138.8 Mbps	22.4 Mbps	60.6	$3,193
6	Irvine United States	131.9 Mbps	40.2 Mbps	65.7	$3,407
7	Wilmington (North Carolina) United States	125.1 Mbps	11.8 Mbps	61	$2,893
8	Daytona Beach United States	120.3 Mbps	14.7 Mbps	64.5	$2,981
9	Boulder United States	119.2 Mbps	17.3 Mbps	64.9	$3,156
10	Odense Denmark	118.8 Mbps	80.9 Mbps	70.4	$2,377

* 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 1,494 that qualify, with balanced scores from 61 to 71. The 8 with a city-level price run from $2,377 to $3,407 a month for one person. They span Europe and North America; 1 of the 10 are in countries with a digital-nomad visa.

The ten, one by one

1. 1. Aarhus

   Aarhus, Denmark: Denmark's second city with a beach and a big university. It scores 67/100 under balanced weights, best for internet and quality of life and weakest on climate. About $2,575 a month for one person including rent, 180.1 Mbps measured download and 2 of 12 comfortable months.

2. 2. Aalborg

   Aalborg, Denmark: North Jutland's student city on the Limfjord. It scores 65/100 under balanced weights, best for internet and air quality and weakest on climate. About $3,138 a month for one person including rent, 178.2 Mbps measured download and 2 of 12 comfortable months.

3. 3. Lucerne

   Lucerne, Switzerland: Lake-and-mountain postcard town, 45 minutes from Zürich. It scores 67/100 under balanced weights, best for internet and quality of life and weakest on cost of living. About $4,000 a month on the national estimate, 147.3 Mbps measured download and 1 of 12 comfortable months.

4. 4. Székesfehérvár

   Székesfehérvár, Hungary: Hungary's old coronation city between Budapest and Balaton. It scores 71/100 under balanced weights, best for internet and air quality and weakest on climate. About $1,450 a month on the national estimate, 143.3 Mbps measured download, the White Card (digital nomad residence permit) and 5 of 12 comfortable months.

5. 5. Victorville

   Victorville, United States: Mojave Desert commuter city at the top of the Cajon Pass. It scores 61/100 under balanced weights, best for quality of life and internet and weakest on getting there & around. About $3,193 a month for one person including rent, 138.8 Mbps measured download and 6 of 12 comfortable months.

6. 6. Irvine

   Irvine, United States: Master-planned Orange County suburb: safe, clean, expensive and car-dependent. It scores 66/100 under balanced weights, best for quality of life and internet and weakest on cost of living. About $3,407 a month for one person including rent, 131.9 Mbps measured download and 8 of 12 comfortable months.

7. 7. Wilmington (North Carolina)

   Wilmington (North Carolina), United States: Cape Fear river port with a historic downtown and beaches 20 minutes away. It scores 61/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on getting there & around. About $2,893 a month for one person including rent, 125.1 Mbps measured download and 4 of 12 comfortable months.

8. 8. Daytona Beach

   Daytona Beach, United States: Race city with a drivable beach and a quieter off-season. It scores 65/100 under balanced weights, best for quality of life and air quality and weakest on cost of living. About $2,981 a month for one person including rent, 120.3 Mbps measured download and 7 of 12 comfortable months.

9. 9. Boulder

   Boulder, United States: Flatirons trailheads and a college-town tech scene. It scores 65/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on cost of living. About $3,156 a month for one person including rent, 119.2 Mbps measured download and 4 of 12 comfortable months.

10. 10. 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.

Frequently asked