Top 10 visa-free cities for a US passport

The full Top 10

#	City	Score	US passport	Monthly cost	Safety
1	Faro (Algarve) Portugal	72.8	90 days	$1,690	83
2	Budapest Hungary	71.9	90 days	$1,365	80
3	Lisbon Portugal	71.9	90 days	$2,456	83
4	The Hague Netherlands	71.6	90 days	$2,794	81
5	Barcelona Spain	71.4	90 days	$2,648	76
6	Malmö Sweden	71.3	90 days	$1,923	83
7	Porto Portugal	71	90 days	$1,972	83
8	Taipei Taiwan	71	90 days	$1,817	86
9	Madrid Spain	70.9	90 days	$2,535	76
10	Athens Greece	70.5	90 days	$1,542	76

* 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 816 that qualify, with balanced scores from 71 to 73. The 10 with a city-level price run from $1,365 to $2,794 a month for one person. They span Europe and Asia; 8 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. 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.

5. 5. 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.

6. 6. 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.

7. 7. 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.

8. 8. 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.

9. 9. 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.

10. 10. 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.

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