When I first started out as a digital nomad, I attempted to work in the most rogue of places. Havana, Cuba, probably topping that list. I learnt the hard way (and very quickly) just how important a good, stable internet connection and a work-friendly set-up are.
Be it accommodation that caters to digital nomads or access to well-equipped co-working spaces (or simply a good variety of work-friendly coffee shops). They are all pretty essential for remote work!
For all the destinations I visited that weren’t particularly digital nomad-friendly, I found an absolute digital nomad haven. Places so good that I’d return over and over. And still do!
In this article, I am going to list the best cities for digital nomads. You’ll discover some age-old favourites, like Chiang Mai, some newbies that I am loving right now, like Buenos Aires, and some underrated gems, like Taipei.
Ultimately, the best city for you and your digital nomad needs will be pretty subjective. But I hope this guide serves as the perfect starting point for your upcoming adventures!
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My criteria
I evaluated each city based on cost of living, visa options, internet and coworking availability, the strength of the nomad community, and the overall lifestyle. I also considered how easy it is to travel in and out, and of course, how the city feels to live in.
It is also challenging to avoid being subjective in a guide like this, so ultimately, this list includes the cities that I personally enjoyed the most – places where I felt at home as a 20- to 30-something solo female digital nomad. That being said, having spent sizeable chunks of time with other digital nomads from all walks of life, I can say that these places are loved by many!
To keep things simple, since everyone’s spending habits are different, I put together these tiers for cost of living (which you’ll see used under each digital nomad city below) based on my own experience alongside data I collected from other digital nomads on nomads.com:
| Tier | Price for a comfortable lifestyle |
|---|---|
| £ | $800–$1,200 per month |
| ££ | $1,200–$2,000 per month |
| £££ | $2,000+ per month |
| ££££ | $3,000+ per month |
The best cities for digital nomads
With 7 years of digital nomading under my belt, I’d love to share all my favourite cities and destinations. Each with its own unique blend of community, lifestyle, and culture.
For all my fellow vegan readers, make sure to check out my favourite vegan-friendly destinations as well.
Da Nang, Vietnam
- Cost of living: £
- Visa options: 90-day e-visas (and you can do border runs), some countries are visa-free for 45 days
- Internet & coworking: WiFi is ok, plenty of coffee shops to work from.
- Lifestyle: Beach life, plenty of bars and cafes, various meetups, and tasty, cheap food.
I am a huge fan of Vietnam as a whole. It is one of the countries where I’ve spent most of my digital nomading life, pretty much on par with Mexico.
I am obsessed with the food (which is also very cheap) and the people. Plus, you can get some pretty fancy accommodation for very little money. With a mixture of co-living spaces and Airbnbs in most destinations.
The city I’ve probably spent most of my time in is Da Nang, a central coastal city close to Hoi An. The long beach is barely used, and is great for relaxing on and can be great for beginner surfers (of which I’m eternally stuck as being).
I also lived in Ho Chi Minh City for well over a year and loved life there. The internet is better, and it will only cost slightly more for accommodation here. That being said, it is a big city and not for everyone.
Keep in mind that you may need to apply for an e-visa to visit. I’m from the UK and can get 45 days visa-free, but for 90 days, I also need to apply for an e-visa.
Mexico City, Mexico
- Cost of living: ££
- Visa options: 180 days visa-free for many countries and a Temporary Resident Visa.
- Internet & coworking: WiFi is decent, but it can cut out, and plenty of co-working/co-living spaces and cafes.
- Lifestyle: Bustling city with lots going on all the time, e.g. dance classes in the local parks. Incredible food and a thriving digital nomad community.
If I were to move to any city abroad, it would have to be Mexico City. It truly has it all – insane food, a great coffee scene, lots of art, decent nightlife, wine bars, breweries, and all the street food you could ever ask for.
Moreover, it is great for digital nomads. There are a handful of coliving options, like Outsite, plus co-working spaces. Although, I spend most of my time there circling all the great work-friendly coffee shops. Check out all my favourite spots for oat flat whites.
When you aren’t working, there are many great things to do in Mexico City. Including checking out all the museums, art galleries, lucha libre, mezcalerias, street food stalls, and much more. And if you want a quick beach break, you can head over to Playa del Carmen, Los Cabos, or Tulum.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Cost of living: ££
- Visa options: Digital nomad visa of up to 180 days or visa-free tourism stays of up to 90 days.
- Internet & coworking: The Internet is decent, but not the best. Plenty of coffee shops to work from.
- Lifestyle: Beautiful city with a lot going on, great food (although a bit trickier for vegans like myself), with cheap yet amazing accommodation.
I am in love with Buenos Aires. It is such a beautiful city that reminds me of many European cities (which is no surprise considering their Italian influence).
I never typically heard Buenos Aires being brought up amongst digital nomads I met, but I have overheard more and more people talking about it recently. I also only recently visited and can see why it is fast becoming a hotspot. There is a great mixture of culture, beautiful places to explore, and great cafes and bars.
Plus, you can’t beat some matecitos (yerba mate) in the local park during work breaks!
The best bit, because Argentina is south of the equator, their summertime happens whilst Europe is going through winter. So if you love spending time in Europe but hate the winter, then head to Buenos Aires between December to February for that hit of sunshine and warmth.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Cost of living: ££
- Visa options: 5-year digital nomad visa, which lets you stay for periods of up to 180 days at a time.
- Internet & coworking: Ok internet, but patchy at times. Great for co-working spaces and work-friendly coffee spots.
- Lifestyle: Two sides to the city, can be very relaxing with days filled with yoga and coffee shop hopping, or going on crazy nights out. Loads of digital nomads here with regular meetups.
Chiang Mai is one of the classic digital nomad hotspots. In fact, it is popular with nomads, expats and tourists alike. Thailand has great visa options, with up to 5 years for digital nomads. Plus, it is close to so many other great places (like Vietnam), so border runs are generally a lot more interesting.
I used to swap between Chiang Mai and different places in Vietnam. Flights between the two are pretty affordable, with many decent direct routes depending on where you are in Vietnam.
It is also a hub for remote workers, so you can expect plenty of great coffee shops and co-working spaces. Plus, there are loads of great bars and restaurants (check out my favourite vegan spots).
Ever so slightly more expensive is the capital city of Thailand, Bangkok. It is another great digital nomad city, if you are into big bustling cities (like me!)
Taipei, Taiwan
- Cost of living: £££
- Visa options: Digital nomad visa for 3-month stays, extendable by another 3 months. Varying tourist visas.
- Internet & coworking: Decent internet, depending on where you are. Fair few co-working spaces due to the local entrepreneur scene.
- Lifestyle: Big city life, great bars and restaurants. Beautiful city surrounded by nature.
I always jump at the chance to go to Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan. It never used to be seen as much of a digital nomad hotspot, but I have noticed an increase in people heading there.
It is a thriving modern city, which I prefer over other key cities across Asia, like Singapore. The food is insane (make sure to check out stinky tofu), the people are lovely, and you just feel like you are part of something exciting.
The nightlife is great, I particularly love all their speakeasy bars. Moreover, there are plenty of coworking offices dotted around the city.
If you fancy exploring the country a little, you can use their version of the bullet train, which is cheaper than in Japan. There are many great places to discover, but do keep in mind that you’ll find less English speakers the further south you go.
Medellin, Colombia
- Cost of living: ££
- Visa options: Digital nomad visa for stays of up to 2 years, plus visa-free tourist stays.
- Internet & coworking: Ok internet, but patchy at times. Plenty of coffee shops and coworking/co-living spaces.
- Lifestyle: Busy city with lots going on. Great bars and nightlife, but also decent coffee shops and restaurants.
Medellín in Colombia is another popular digital nomad spot, with a fair few coliving spaces dotted across the city. In both the popular areas, Laureles and El Poblado. Plus, you’ll find a good variety of coffee shops and coworking spaces as well.
It is a beautiful city surrounded by sweeping green hills (which I’ve heard are great for paragliding). You can stick around in the popular spots, or explore more of the city on their cable car line.
I enjoyed Medellín a lot more than Bogotá, which felt a little boring at times. But I must admit that as a solo female traveller, I did feel uncomfortable in some areas at times. Particularly when doing tours of the downtown.
Lisbon, Portugal
- Cost of living: ££££
- Visa options: Digital nomad visa of up to 1 year, or a residency permit that can be renewed for up to 5 years. Plus, EU Schengen rules apply here.
- Internet & coworking: Great internet and plenty of coworking and coliving spaces.
- Lifestyle: Great European city vibes, lots of amazing bars and restaurants.
Lisbon is a very popular digital nomad hotspot in Portugal. To the extent that there has been some backlash from the local community. But I guess that is a topic for another time!
There are a bunch of coliving and coworking spaces here, great food, a vibrant nightlife, and lots of coffee shops and restaurants. The weather is great in Spring, Summer and Autumn. Plus, if you don’t want to leave Europe in winter, it is a lot milder than places in the north of Europe.
I love how vibrant and fun Lisbon is. But also love how easy it is to get to the coast from there, so you can split your time in Portugal between the city and smaller beach towns.
Popular cities I haven’t included
This list isn’t exhaustive. There are definitely many other digital nomad-friendly cities out there. In fact, there are a few popular spots that I have purposefully left off this list. Here are a few, along with my reasons for not including them:
- Bali, Indonesia: Bali usually tops most digital nomad destination lists. I have spent a fair amount of time on the island, in different spots, working remotely. It is a beautiful place. But it is completely overrun with digital nomads. I’d prefer to visit other islands within Indonesia. But if this sounds like your thing, then check it out! Just be respectful to the locals and their traditions, and support local businesses wherever possible.
- Italy: I have been a digital nomad in Italy, specifically in Florence, which I didn’t find particularly well-suited for remote work. There were very few work-friendly coffee shops or co-working spaces. It definitely gives off more holiday vibes than a digital nomad destination. But with Italy’s digital nomad visa, I do believe it is worth trying out either Rome or Milan for big city vibes, or one of their less-touristy beach locations.
- Spain: I have been to Spain on numerous occasions, including Madrid and Barcelona. Like Italy, I’ve been a digital nomad in Spain, but only in Madrid. It is a great city, but far from my favourite. I love Barcelona, but I haven’t tried being a digital nomad there yet!
- Georgia: I keep hearing so many great things about this country, particularly the city of Tbilisi. It is supposed to be beautiful, affordable, and very work-friendly. It is on my visit list.
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