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REVEALED: The best cities for digital nomads worldwide

The best cities for digital nomads – Hoi An, Vietnam, crowned top 

  • New data has revealed the best cities for digital nomads to live and work in, with Hoi An, Vietnam, taking the top spot, with an index score of 73.94. 
  • Delhi, India, was identified as the second-best city for digital nomads, with a score of 73.77, followed by Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in third, with a score of 72.02. 
  • The research looked at criteria influencing the appeal of cities for digital nomads, such as internet speed, co-working spaces and visa options. 

With the increasing popularity of remote working, more and more people are looking to take advantage of their flexible circumstances by travelling more or moving somewhere new. 

In fact, as reported by WFH Research, 12.7% of Americans employed in full-time roles worked remotely as of 2023 – a statistic that is expected to increase to 22% by 2025, according to Upwork.  

With that in mind, digital nomad publication Freaking Nomads created an index of the best cities for digital nomads according to relevant criteria, such as broadband and mobile speed, cost of living, rent, and other expenses, proximity to co-working spaces and accessibility to remote working visas.  

Each city was scored on each factor and an appropriate weighting was applied to create a total index score out of 100. 

Coming out on top was Hoi An, Vietnam, with a score of 73.94 out of 100. A hidden gem on Vietnam’s coast, Hoi An ranked 3rd for cost of living with a score of 85.48 out of 100, and joint 34th for visa accessibility with 77.78 out of 100. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ancient city is home to well-preserved old buildings, colorful lanterns and winding streets that create a magical atmosphere. Hoi An’s quaint historic charm will appeal to digital nomads wanting to start afresh in a unique corner of the world. 

In second place was Delhi, India, with 73.77. India’s capital placed 1st for cost of living with 89.03 out of 100, and joint 34th for visa accessibility with 77.78. Delhi is a dynamic melting pot of culture that has something for everyone – from its vast historic attractions, such as the majestic Red Fort, to markets offering local artisan products and diverse food from all over India. 

Ranking third was Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with 72.02 out of 100. Malaysia’s capital city ranked joint 19th for visa accessibility with 83.33 and 21st or cost of living with 76.06. Known for its instantly recognizable skyline and the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur will appeal to digital nomads seeking a friendly and invigorating atmosphere that features traditional monuments and an impressive shopping scene. 

Da Nang, Vietnam, followed in fourth with an index score of 71.32. The busy metropolis ranked 10th for cost of living with 80.72 and 34th for visa accessibility with 77.84. Da Nang is popular for its dazzling coastlines and striking natural beauty, with landmarks such as the Marble Mountains providing breathtaking views for digital nomads to enjoy. 

Rounding out the top five was Mumbai, India, with a score of 69.81. The financial hub placed 18th for cost of living with 77.21 and 24th for coworking spaces with 61.15. As India’s most populous city, Mumbai is beloved for its expansive beaches, bustling street markets and delicious cuisine, cementing it as the perfect choice for digital nomads wanting to immerse themselves in a different environment. 

Top ten best cities for digital nomads 

Rank 

City 

Country 

Index score out of 100 

1. 

Hoi An 

Vietnam 

73.94 

2. 

Delhi 

India 

73.77 

3. 

Kuala Lumpur 

Malaysia 

72.02 

4. 

Da Nang 

Vietnam 

71.32 

5. 

Mumbai 

India 

69.81 

6. 

Buenos Aires 

Argentina 

69.40 

7. 

Bangkok 

Thailand 

68.15 

8. 

Santa Cruz de Tenerife 

Spain 

68.14 

9. 

Bucharest 

Romania 

67.99 

10. 

Las Palmas 

Spain 

67.89 

 

Placing sixth was Buenos Aires, Argentina, with a score of 69.40 out of 100. The capital city is known for its lively neighborhoods and its delicious food, offering a haven of passion and excitement for residents and tourists alike. The city will appeal particularly to those looking for somewhere with a distinctive Latin American flair.  

Following in seventh place was Bangkok, Thailand, with a score of 68.15. The capital of Thailand is home to ornate temples, delectable cuisine, and energetic street life. Bangkok’s dynamic atmosphere makes it a coveted hotspot for any digital nomad looking to embrace a heritage-rich city that uniquely blends modernity and tradition. 

In eighth was Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, with an index score of 68.14. Tenerife’s cultural center boasts a warm climate and relaxed island vibe ideal for any digital nomad wanting to indulge in sub-tropical surroundings. Santa Cruz is particularly notable for its annual carnival, which showcases colorful parades, music, dancing and costumes. 

Ranking ninth was Bucharest, Romania, with a score of 67.99. An artistic hub, Romania’s capital has plenty for digital nomads to explore, such as its elaborate and diverse architecture, an arts scene featuring some of the world’s best galleries, museums and theatres, and tranquil parks ideal for nature lovers. 

Completing the top ten was Las Palmas, Spain, which had an overall index rating of 67.89. Located on the island of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas boasts vibrant beaches, beautiful weather and stunning cultural attractions, such as the historic district of Vegueta, making it the perfect place for someone hoping to experience new surroundings while they work. 

Commenting on the findings, Irene Wang, co-founder of Freaking Nomads, said: 

While it may seem daunting at first, living a digital nomad lifestyle gives people the freedom to forge their own paths and enrich their lives with cultures they wouldn’t otherwise experience.  

Some people are put off by expenses and accessibility, but there are plenty of places with a lot to offer working professionals. Many of these will welcome remote workers with open arms and a sense of community. 

“Cities such as Hoi An, Delhi and Kuala Lumpur are ideal spots that have an ease of access and won’t break the bank. Their internet connection and co-working spaces also provide an infrastructure that allows digital nomads to flourish. 

“The monotony of day-to-day life can leave people feeling stagnant and uninspired, but travelling more, exploring curiosities or expanding our horizons doesn’t have to be limited to a vacation. Being a digital nomad provides endless possibilities, and these cities are sure to make anyone feel at home, no matter where they’re from.” 

ENDS 

If you use this story, please credit and link to https://freakingnomads.com 

Sources: IEEE ComSoc, Numbeo, Liberty Games, Freaking Nomads 

Methodology: Nine factors were used to compile the index in total. Factors then had a score applied from 0 to 10, with 0 being the worst and 10 being the best. A weighting was then assigned to each factor reflecting its importance within the analysis. The factors and their percentage weightings are as follows: 

 

  • Remote work visa ease of access (30%) 

  • Cost of Living Index relative to New York City (15%) 

  • Rent index relative to New York City (15%) 

  • Groceries index relative to New York City (10%) 

  • Restaurant price index relative to New York City (10%) 

  • Local purchasing power relative to New York City (5%) 

  • Number of coworking spaces per 100,000 residents (circa 2019) (5%) 

  • Average mobile data speed Mbps (5%)  

  • Average broadband speed Mbps (5%) 

 

Once the weightings were assigned, the total score for the factors was calculated, producing an overall index score out of 100 for each entry, upon which the final ranking is based.  

 

Top 100 cities for digital nomads 

Rank 

City 

Country 

Index score out of 100 

1. 

Hoi An 

Vietnam 

73.94 

2. 

Delhi 

India 

73.77 

3. 

Kuala Lumpur 

Malaysia 

72.02 

4. 

Da Nang 

Vietnam 

71.32 

5. 

Mumbai 

India 

69.81 

6. 

Buenos Aires 

Argentina 

69.40 

7. 

Bangkok 

Thailand 

68.15 

8. 

Santa Cruz de Tenerife 

Spain 

68.14 

9. 

Bucharest 

Romania 

67.99 

10. 

Las Palmas 

Spain 

67.89 

11. 

Tartu 

Estonia 

67.65 

12. 

Tallinn 

Estonia 

67.34 

13. 

Valencia 

Spain 

66.72 

14. 

Ankara 

Turkey 

66.13 

15. 

Colombo 

Sri Lanka 

65.85 

16. 

Guadalajara 

Mexico 

65.23 

17. 

Barcelona 

Spain 

65.05 

18. 

Tbilisi 

Georgia 

65.04 

19. 

Madrid 

Spain 

64.94 

20. 

Rio de Janeiro 

Brazil 

64.78 

21. 

Porto 

Portugal 

64.78 

22. 

Budapest 

Hungary 

64.05 

23. 

Riga 

Latvia 

63.83 

24. 

Zagreb 

Croatia 

63.23 

25. 

Istanbul 

Turkey 

62.56 

26. 

Mexico City 

Mexico 

60.91 

27. 

Ubud 

Indonesia 

60.37 

28. 

Thessaloniki 

Greece 

60.19 

29. 

Montevideo 

Uruguay 

59.59 

30. 

Lisbon 

Portugal 

59.44 

31. 

Athens 

Greece 

58.93 

32. 

Berlin 

Germany 

58.77 

33. 

Yerevan 

Armenia 

57.80 

34. 

Seoul 

South Korea 

57.48 

35. 

Hamburg 

Germany 

57.07 

36. 

Lyon 

France 

56.67 

37. 

Montreal 

Canada 

56.45 

38. 

Rome 

Italy 

55.98 

39. 

Toronto 

Canada 

55.14 

40. 

Milan 

Italy 

54.10 

41. 

Helsinki 

Finland 

52.26 

42. 

Oslo 

Norway 

51.39 

43. 

Beijing 

China 

50.88 

44. 

Auckland 

New Zealand 

50.58 

45. 

Chiang Mai 

Thailand 

49.39 

46. 

Dhaka 

Bangladesh 

49.06 

47. 

Kathmandu 

Nepal 

48.23 

48. 

Nonthaburi 

Thailand 

48.00 

49. 

Shanghai 

China 

47.66 

50. 

Alexandria 

Egypt 

46.70 

51. 

Tunis 

Tunisia 

46.20 

52. 

Cairo 

Egypt 

45.98 

53. 

Johannesburg 

South Africa 

45.94 

54. 

Nairobi 

Kenya 

45.53 

55. 

Kigali 

Rwanda 

44.94 

56. 

Algiers 

Algeria 

44.74 

57. 

Sofia 

Bulgaria 

44.22 

58. 

Bishkek 

Kyrgyzstan 

44.21 

59. 

Lima 

Peru 

43.67 

60. 

Manila 

Philippines 

43.64 

61. 

Rabat 

Morocco 

43.27 

62. 

Lagos 

Nigeria 

43.12 

63. 

Accra 

Ghana 

42.93 

64. 

Casablanca 

Morocco 

42.75 

65. 

Cape Town 

South Africa 

42.69 

66. 

Tashkent 

Uzbekistan 

42.46 

67. 

Warsaw 

Poland 

42.33 

68. 

Baku 

Azerbaijan 

42.07 

69. 

Muscat 

Oman 

40.56 

70. 

Kuwait City 

Kuwait 

40.17 

71. 

Santiago 

Chile 

39.51 

72. 

Belgrade 

Serbia 

38.30 

73. 

Phnom Penh 

Cambodia 

37.27 

74. 

Addis Ababa 

Ethiopia 

36.66 

75. 

Beirut 

Lebanon 

36.00 

76. 

Vilnius 

Lithuania 

35.89 

77. 

Manama 

Bahrain 

35.13 

78. 

Abu Dhabi 

United Arab Emirates 

34.66 

79. 

Doha 

Qatar 

34.50 

80. 

Santo Domingo 

Dominican Republic 

34.16 

81. 

Tulum 

Mexico 

31.96 

82. 

Stockholm 

Sweden 

31.64 

83. 

Manchester 

United Kingdom 

31.62 

84. 

Brussels 

Belgium 

31.40 

85. 

Port of Spain 

Trinidad and Tobago 

31.28 

86. 

Dubai 

United Arab Emirates 

31.24 

87. 

Antwerp 

Belgium 

30.11 

88. 

Melbourne 

Australia 

29.23 

89. 

Vienna 

Austria 

28.43 

90. 

Sydney 

Australia 

26.05 

91. 

Dublin 

Ireland 

25.77 

92. 

Copenhagen 

Denmark 

25.36 

93. 

Los Angeles 

United States 

24.84 

94. 

London 

United Kingdom 

23.58 

95. 

New York City 

United States 

16.41 

 

All the best,
Rachel Holland

 

rachel.holland@journoresearch.org

Phone inquires: +44208 050 0054

 

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