Top 10 small cities for digital nomads

The full Top 10

#	City	Population	Score	Monthly cost	Internet	Safety
1	Faro (Algarve) Portugal	68k	72.8	$1,690	74	83
2	Malmö Sweden	362k	71.3	$1,923	85	83
3	Porto Portugal	232k	71	$1,972	76	83
4	Odense Denmark	188k	70.4	$2,377	93	83
5	Colonia del Sacramento Uruguay	32k	68.5	$1,239	84	64
6	Honolulu United States	343k	68.1	$3,329	77	51
7	Zürich Switzerland	436k	67.5	$4,586	80	90
8	Aarhus Denmark	299k	67.3	$2,575	99	83
9	Split Croatia	161k	67.3	$2,092	75	80
10	Geneva Switzerland	204k	67.2	$4,259	89	90

* 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 971 that qualify, with balanced scores from 67 to 73. The 10 with a city-level price run from $1,239 to $4,586 a month for one person. They span Europe, Latin America and North America; 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. 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.

3. 3. 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.

4. 4. 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.

5. 5. Colonia del Sacramento

   Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay: UNESCO cobblestone town across the river from Buenos Aires. It scores 69/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and internet and weakest on getting there & around. About $1,239 a month for one person including rent, 82.7 Mbps measured download, the Digital nomad permit (Hoja de Identidad Provisoria) and 8 of 12 comfortable months.

6. 6. 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.

7. 7. Zürich

   Zürich, Switzerland: Immaculate, efficient, and eye-wateringly expensive. It scores 68/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on cost of living. About $4,586 a month for one person including rent, 64.3 Mbps measured download and 3 of 12 comfortable months.

8. 8. 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.

9. 9. Split

   Split, Croatia: Dalmatian coast base with a nomad permit. It scores 67/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on getting there & around. About $2,092 a month for one person including rent, 52.1 Mbps measured download, the Digital nomad temporary stay and 6 of 12 comfortable months.

10. 10. Geneva

    Geneva, Switzerland: International city on a lake, at Swiss prices. It scores 67/100 under balanced weights, best for air quality and quality of life and weakest on cost of living. About $4,259 a month for one person including rent, 93.5 Mbps measured download and 3 of 12 comfortable months.

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