Increasing work flexibility, alongside rising numbers of ‘digital nomad’ visa schemes is allowing more and more citizens to pursue their dream of travelling the world without compromising on work. But with so much of the world to explore, which city is best to kickstart your nomad journey?
To find out, digital PR agency Reboot Online analysed factors such as the average nightly cost of an Airbnb, average download speed, safety, public transport, and the average cost of a meal and a pint.
Index: the top cities to live in as a digital nomad
| City | Country | Avg price/night in AirBNB (EUR) | Average broadband download speed (mbps) | Estimated number of co-working spaces | Safety score(/100) | % of population close to public transport | Cost of living score(/100) | Final nomad Score /10 |
| Bangkok | Thailand | 79.13 | 242.16 | 96 | 65 | 40.1 | 42.4 | 7.11 |
| Buenos Aires | Argentina | 66.10 | 114.5 | 52 | 55 | 68 | 27.5 | 7.00 |
| Madrid | Spain | 129.02 | 242.41 | 121 | 80 | 86.5 | 52.7 | 6.96 |
| Barcelona | Spain | 126.50 | 224.72 | 111 | 79 | 55.8 | 53.7 | 6.58 |
| Tokyo | Japan | 182.40 | 186.38 | 142 | 89 | 82.4 | 57.4 | 6.44 |
| Santiago | Chile | 88.20 | 187.82 | 52 | 66 | 91.2 | 43.1 | 6.36 |
| Lisbon | Portugal | 127.31 | 116.47 | 54 | 83 | 84.1 | 51.1 | 6.34 |
| Mexico City | Mexico | 96.25 | 72.55 | 184 | 42 | 27.5 | 47.3 | 6.31 |
| Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | 216.96 | 162.99 | 28 | 23 | 50.1 | 38.7 | 6.30 |
| Porto | Portugal | 91.80 | 163.34 | 16 | 71 | 89.2 | 45.6 | 6.22 |
*Not all factors have been included in the PR table- please see the full dataset here in the ‘overall’ tab- please note, this is for journalist reference use only and should not be distributed.
Bangkok, Thailand ranks in first position, with a final nomad score of 7.11 out of ten. With stunning temples at every turn, contrasted with the infamous Khao San road, loved by backpackers and nomads alike, you’ll be spoilt for choice living in the Thai capital. Bangkok ranked as having the second lowest average nightly Airbnb cost, while also faring extremely well when it came to WiFi performance. In particular, the location is perfect for budgeting digital nomads, having the lowest average price per meal at €2.57, meaning you can indulge in boat noodles and mango sticky rice until your heart’s content, without hurting your wallet.
Buenos Aires, Argentina ranks in second position with a nomad score of 7/10. with its European façade and Old-World charm. Having recently launched a digital nomad visa, it could be high time to add Buenos Aires to your workation list. The city has the lowest average cost for a pint of domestic beer (€1.41) and very reasonable average meal costs (€7.54). Buenos Aires also boasts the lowest average nightly Airbnb costs (€66), and 68% of the population live in close proximity to public transport, making travelling around the city an absolute breeze.
Madrid and Barcelona place consecutively in third and fourth positions, with Madrid scoring 6.96/10 and Barcelona scoring 6.58. With Spain’s digital nomad visa allowing people of various residencies to stay in the country for up to a year, both could be good options for those wanting to soak up some Spanish sun, tapas and sangria. While the two Spanish cities aren’t as suitable for budget travellers as Bangkok and Buenos Aires, both boast good average download speeds at 200mbps+, a significant number of coworking areas so that you can meet like minded nomads, and rank highly on the safety index. Madrid’s public transport system ranks higher than Barcelona, but does compromise when it comes to average temperature- Madrid sits at 15 degrees on average, while Barcelona sits at 18.2.
Tokyo, Japan ranks in fifth position with 6.44/10, and while this may be on the average traveller’s bucket list, it may be off the radar when it comes to desirable digital nomad locations. What nomads may lose in terms of higher average Airbnb nightly costs (€182), Tokyo more than makes up for it in terms of number of coworking spaces (142), safety index (89/100), public transport (82.4% of the population live nearby), and average meal prices (€6.11).
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