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Not all locations are created equal when it comes to working nomad life. As the world (and governments) attempt to catch up to the online work and travel lifestyle, it can be challenging to find a good location to settle in for a bit.

Which is why I asked my fellow working nomads, “Which are the best cities for Digital Nomads and why?” Here’s what they had to say!

Note: Cities are grouped by continent and then listed alphabetically.

Collage of different cities that are best for digital nomads to live and work from

EUROPE

BUCHAREST, ROMANIA

Bucharest, Romania was one of the best places I experienced for digital nomad life during my six month trip through Europe. The cost of living was far lower than countries in Western Europe and I found that the quality of life was just as high.

A pretty little passageway covered with loads of colorful umbrellas at Pasajul Victoria
A pretty little passageway covered with colorful umbrellas at Pasajul Victoria

As an online English teacher, I need a quiet place to teach and high internet speeds. I could easily grab a cute apartment in downtown that was walking distance to everything that met these specifications. Oh, and my place cost half of what it would other cities around Europe.

Bucharest is known for having quick internet speeds and a charming cafe culture. Because there are so many nice cafes to pick from, I never felt the need to use a co-working space. The old town is home to famous and totally instagram-worthy bookstores, homey pubs, and modern rooftop bars. With its live street music performances, colorful graffitied streets, and its surprising number of green spaces, Bucharest feels quirky, edgy, and cool.

The other thing I loved about Bucharest was that it’s a convenient travel hub. You can fly to other parts of Europe for cheap on local budget airlines or you can stay local and explore the vast diversity of Romania by train.

Even after spending several weeks based in Bucharest, I still feel like there is so much more to explore. I can’t wait until my travels take me back to this special place.

— Nicola of See Nic Wonder

Land your dream remote job today and start working from anywhere!

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

Bustling Budapest is growing into a popular destination for digital nomads and expats due to its vibrant culture, international atmosphere and it catering to remote workers at numerous of locations throughout the city. Budapest has everything- fast, reliable internet, cafes with quiet corners and comfortable sitting for hours plus affordable shared work spaces.

Buildings and river view from the top of Matthias Church in Budapest, a great city for nomad living
View from the top of Matthias Church in Budapest

WiFi hotspots can be found everywhere around the city from shopping malls to parks, such as in front of the Parliament. Internet is stable, fast and furious. 

Criteria for working at a café are: internet connection, big tables, fair prices, appropriate noise level, available sockets and no pressure to frequently order something. If you prefer local cafes instead of fast-food restaurants or Starbucks, here are my recommendations: 

Best Cafés to work from in Budapest

Fekete Café – Small artisan café with a cute little sitting area in the courtyard. Central location, fast internet. 

People sitting and talking with one another at a coffee shop in Budapest
Fekete Café

Cserpes Tejivó – several spots throughout Budapest, great coffee, sandwiches and salads with reliable internet. 
Szimpla Kert – the most famous ruin bar shows its much calmer side during the day. 
Madal Café – they have 3 branches across the city, the one on Szabadság Square is the most laptop-friendly of them. 
Aquarium Klub – open space area during the day with tables, couches and free, very fast internet right in the city center. 

Some other recommended places: Magvető, Espresso Embassy, Budapest Baristas, Tamp & Pull, My Little Melbourne 

Best Co-Working Spaces in Budapest

There is no shortage of average priced (around 100€ per month for a semi-permanent spot) co-working spaces in Budapest.

Check out these recommendations:

  1. Mosaik
  2. Kaptár
  3. Loffice 
An open door of the library with the sight of people sitting at tables inside
Szabó Ervin Library (inside)

And for the most unique and quiet experience, try Szabó Ervin Library. 

For the price of a coffee, you are able to use the quiet rooms of the most beautiful library of Budapest. It is located in the Palace Quarter and it is itself situated in a wonderful palace. 

Budapest is a pretty affordable for digital nomads, I wouldn’t call it a “budget destination” though. Also, while Hungary is member of the EU, it has not adopted the Euro yet: one Euro is roughly 300 Hungarian Forints. 

Also, if you are looking to get connected in the city check out these Facebook Groups: “Budapest Digital Nomads” and  “Digitális Nomádok” (posts are usually in Hungarian, but everybody has a good command of English).

Katalin of Budapest Connection

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

Denmark is a beautiful country and the capital, Copenhagen. It has the charms of a small city with all the amenities of a European capital. For so many reasons, Copenhagen is one of the best places for digital nomads.

For starters, Copenhageners love coffee, so there is no shortage of coffee shops to spend your workday. You could go months without visiting the same one twice, but there are certainly favorites among digital nomads. One of the most popular is Bang & Jensen (Istegade 130) in the Vesterbro neighborhood. It’s popular for the spacious interior, food and coffee options and friendly staff. 

Bay area with boats and buildings in Copenhagen
Nyhavn harbor in Copenhagen

Other popular coffee shops for digital nomads have multiple locations around the city. They include Original Coffee, The Coffee Collective, Espresso House and Coffee Industry Sweden. Prices in Copenhagen aren’t as favorable as some cities in Europe, but that is to be expected in Scandinavia. Specialty coffee will generally cost around 50 Danish Krowns or 7 euro.

If you’re looking for a more studious work environment to work from, The Royal Library is a perfect option. Known as The Black Diamond (Søren Kierkegaards Plads 1) this beautiful piece of Danish architecture has many rooms to work from. There is a cafe and you can reserve meeting rooms when needed.

In Copenhagen, you can also find a cheap virtual office or even traditional office space at a reasonable rate. One such company is Symbion, a start-up park and co-working space with four locations in the city. 

The thriving Danish start-up scene also makes Copenhagen ripe for working nomads. There are countless professional organizations and networking functions readily available in the city. Annual tech and startup conferences are held in Copenhagen as well. One example is TechBBQ each September. 

There are so many reasons to consider moving to Copenhagen for a digital nomad home. Most people find the best reason is the beauty of the city and the laid back lifestyle – the rest is just a bonus.

— Derek of Robe Trotting

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LISBON, PORTUGAL

Having won several World Travel Awards in recent years, Lisbon has become the new European hotspot that everyone is talking about!

Offering up fantastic weather (almost year-round), low cost of living, warm & hospitable people and the city itself with it’s stunning architecture, numerous viewpoints, green spaces and cosmopolitan vibe, Lisbon really does have it all! And it is exactly this appeal that has drawn Digital Nomads from all over the world to this western European gem.

Red flowers set in front of traditional style buildings in Lisbon, Portugal on a sunny day
Lisbon, Portugal a Digital Nomad Friendly City

Lisbon truly is the perfect city if you plan on working and living remotely. There are tons of great cafes to work from, co-working spaces as well as regular weekly Digital Nomad events hosted around the city.  Not to mention the annual Web Summit tech conference that has decided to make Lisbon it’s home too.

So, whether you are a freelancer, part of a tech start-up or simply a remote worker, there are fantastic of opportunities to network and make plenty of new nomadic friends along the way.

Nomad Community:

If you’re heading to Lisbon, you may want to join the Lisbon Digital Nomads Facebook group. And if you’re in need of a place to stay, why not check out NomadX, a company focused on helping Nomads find a the perfect apartment or co-living space, whilst also helping them settle into the local community.

Co-Working Spaces:

Since the Nomad boom has hit Lisbon, the city has seen a ton of co-working spaces pop up everywhere. Make sure to sign up for the Croissant program, if you haven’t already. When signing up you can view their pricing plans that allow you to use different co-working spaces across Lisbon, depending on the tier you chose.

Popular co-work spaces include Selina, Avila Spaces, IDEIAHub and Impact Hub Lisbon to name only but a few.

Large covered market with lots of people and vendors enjoying food and drinks
TimeOut Market in Lisbon

Other benefits of visiting Lisbon for your nomadic stay includes: widely spoken English throughout the city, plenty of activities to keep you busy outside of work and the wanderlust at bay, affordable gyms, yoga, dance studios and more!  

As you can see, Lisbon packs a mighty punch in terms of being a great city for any digital nomad to visit and work from. So, why not head on over to stunning Lisboa for a truly memorable nomadic experience like no other!

-Marco of the Travel-Boo

MADRID, SPAIN

Though not usually on digital nomads’ radar, Madrid, Spain is a fantastic city for the remote worker and traveler. Opportunities abound for networking, connecting, and thriving in this bustling yet affordable capital city.

A startups and digital nomad office owned by Google for working nomads
Google for Startups Campus, Madrid

Digital nomads will be excited to become a (free) member of Madrid’s Google for Startups Campus, one of only seven locations worldwide. The large coworking space holds many networking events as well as weekend workshops, talks, and more. There are also a number of other coworking spaces throughout the city, as well as a plethora of coffee shops that have popped up in the past few years.

In general, getting connected to the entrepreneurial community in Madrid is easy, thanks to the many active meetup groups and events. Madrid Blogger Network, a community not just for bloggers but content creators of all kinds, is one of the best of these groups, with quality events featuring a variety of expert speakers.

Being Spain’s capital, there’s no shortage of things to do or see in Madrid once your workday is over. Visit world-class museums, go hiking in the nearby mountains, see live music, or just spend the evening relaxing over tapas and a glass of wine. Vegetarians and vegans will be happy to know that Madrid is very veggie-friendly.

Last but certainly not least, Madrid is still very affordable compared to other major European cities like London or Paris, so you can stay a while without breaking the bank! And you’ll definitely want to, as Madrid’s central location makes it the perfect base for exploring Spain. The fantastic high speed rail network will take you to Valencia and Barcelona in 2-2.5 hours, and smaller traditional Spanish towns in much less time. Spain awaits!

— Sam of Alternative Travelers

MANCHESTER, UK

Manchester is a great city to visit and live as a digital nomad. The city has a lot to offer from regular meetups to perfect quirky cafes. I lived in Manchester on and off for five years, and loved every second of it. In my opinion, it’s the only city in the UK to challenge London in terms of what it can offer. It is one of the cheapest large cities in the UK and you can walk between many places in the city centre.

There are many spaces you can work in the city centre. I have to recommend the John Rylands Library. This library is part of the University of Manchester but is possible to visit even if you are not a student. It has a Hogwarts feel to it, and is an alternative place to work compared with the usual cafes. 

Large and exquisite library in Manchester to work and study from

If its cafes you like to work in, there is an endless supply. The best place to visit is the Northern Quarter in the city centre. It’s home to many cafes but I recommend Ezra & Gil. This quirky café does the best brunch and amazing coffees. Another option is Ziferblat. This café charges per minute, with unlimited food and coffee. You do need to wash up after yourself, but it offers you a home from home.

The last option is for animal lovers… The Cat Café and Central Bark for cats and dogs respectively. These will both give you that animal fix, if you’re travelling long term.

Manchester has many users on Meetup. From blogging to marketing, it’s a useful way to meet people in the city. Manchester becomes alive at night, and so you will never be short of things to do. I recommend Rudy’s Pizza for dinner and Matt and Phreds for drinks and jazz afterwards. The city is very close to the Peak district which offers stunning walks and beautiful Estates, where you can become part of Pride and Prejudice yourself. 

— Hannah of Hannah’s Happy Adventure

VALENCIA, SPAIN

An inviting Mediterranean city, Valencia is just perfect for digital nomads and that’s because it gracefully combines great climate, culture, and gastronomy at affordable prices.

An alley with buildings and cafes in Valencia, Spain
Valencia, Spain

Co-working spaces started to sprout all around the city lately, but maybe more appealing than that, you’ll find the charming air-conditioned cafés or pretty terraces.

The Ruzafa neighborhood is quickly becoming a digital nomad hotspot, with its abundance of great cafés with free WiFi where you can enjoy good coffee and delicious sandwiches and cakes. 

In fact, Ruzafa is one of the best areas to stay in Valencia. It’s a gentrified neighborhood with an incredible number of Airbnbs and awesome apartments available for long term rental. The even better news is that they are offered at pretty affordable prices (roughly half to two-thirds of those in Madrid and Barcelona).

A quick browse on Meetup will also prove that Valencia is a great city for networking and I’ve seen multicultural groups meeting in the parks more than once.

As for unwinding, the cultural calendar is always filled up with fun activities suitable for all tastes and interests.

Valencia is a city ideal for anyone looking to have a great work-life balance. It’s a place where you can work hard, play hard, and all in all, live a lifestyle on their own terms.

Laura of Travelers Universe

Although Prague wasn’t included in this list, it’s a great place for remote working.
Check out the Digital Nomads Guide to Prague

ASIA/OCEANIA

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND

Chiang Mai has long been considered the top digital nomad destination in the world, and for good reason. The northern Thai city attracts both new and old nomads thanks to its near-perfect combination of affordability, Western amenities, and Southeast Asia exoticism. 

Food Chiang Mai is a great spot for digital nomads looking to save some money while they build their businesses. A meal of street food costs about 30 baht ($1). A meal at a local, non-westernized restaurant is only slightly more expensive, at about 40-60 baht ($1.3 – $2). As with most places, Western food is the only thing that’s going to really hurt your wallet.

Cafes
If you do most of your work at a cafe, Chiang Mai is a great spot to be. There are tons of cafes in the city, from budget to high end. A coffee at a cafe will run about 30-60 baht, depending on the quality.

Ristr8o and Ristr8o Lab are world-famous cafes, but not always great for working, as they’re quite small. Wake Up is a chain of cafes that caters mostly to university students. The coffee and drinks are mediocre but they’re open 24 hours and offer a really work-centric vibe. Rustic & Blue in the Nimman area is the place to go if you’re seeking out Bali-vibes and smoothie bowls while you work.

Coworking
Punspace is the original coworking space in Chiang Mai. They’ve now expanded to two locations, one in Nimman and one near Tha Phae Gate. There’s a great community at Punspace, making it an excellent spot to meet other digital nomads.

Mana Coworking is a fairly new coworking space in the Nimman area. Mana is small, well lit, and usually pretty quiet. They charge by the day or by the hour.

CAMP is a sort of cafe x coworking space hybrid. Located on the top of Maya mall, CAMP is a popular place for students and coworkers. Wifi is limited to 2 hours at a time and requires a 50 Baht purchase, so it’s not really ideal for a full workday.

The Hub is a coworking space with a unique design and a strong commitment to sustainability. The space is smaller and seating can be quite intimate. The hub offers daily, weekly, and monthly pricing.

There is a strong digital nomad presence in Chiang Mai, making it easy to meet like-minded people. The most recent Nomad Summit was held in Chiang Mai and there are several large, extremely active Facebook groups for nomads in the city.

On your days off, there are tons of beautiful, ornate temples throughout the Old City to check out, including Wat Chedi Luang. The most popular temple in the city is Doi Suthep, a mountaintop temple that offers stunning views of the valley below. Those staying long term in Chiang Mai would be wise to take weekend trips to nearby Chiang Rai – home of the famous White Temple – and Pai.

— Zach of The Uncommon Pursuit

Find out if the Digital Nomad Lifestyle is for you!

DA NANG, VIETNAM

Da Nang, Vietnam is an absolute gem for digital nomads. Always on an endless search for a place that is just the right balance of everything we’re looking for. Of all the cities we’ve lived in as Digital Nomads, this city ticked the most boxes for us. 

Bay area with huge dragon steel structure on the bridge and people watching sunset in Da Nang, Vietnam for the ultimate freedom location lifestyle

First of all, the rent is super cheap and the apartments are modern and new. We were about 15 minutes walk from the beach for about $400. You can find the best prices on the Facebook group “Housing/Apartment for Rent in Da Nang.”

The only downside is that it isn’t super cheap to fly out of Da Nang. However, because Da Nang is located right in the middle of Vietnam you can easily bus to either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City and fly from there to anywhere in Asia for dirt cheap! 

The most important to all working nomads – wifi. Luckily it is easy to find great internet that is stable. We always check the wifi before committing to an apartment and in case you’re looking for a co-working space, you could try DNC.  

If you love California, then this place is definitely for you. There’s a boardwalk that goes alongside the long stretch of My Khe Beach with tall buildings on one side and the incredible bay on the other. 

Food in Vietnam is delicious and cheap, easy to order-in with the Grab App for only 75 cents. But if you’re not in the mood for Vietnamese food, they actually have amazing expat food as well! The best pizza we’ve had in Asia was right here, at the L’Italiano Da Nang. If it wasn’t perfect enough already, wait for this….THEY HAVE TACOS. Like, really good tacos and nachos at Tacos DaNang for way cheap. 

There’s also tons to do nearby. You can check out the giant caves and temples at the Marble Mountains, head over to Hoi An to get tailor-made clothes and see the lanterns, or even just motorbike around the peninsula in Da Nang to get amazing views of the beaches below. And my personal favorite, Sunworld amusement park!

And the best part? It’s still pretty unknown. There are plenty of expats there, but it is a Vietnamese city through and through, which is the reason you move to Vietnam, right? 

Overall, our living costs were extremely low at about $850 a month for both of us! Which could be the most convincing reason of them all to move to Da Nang ASAP. 

— Dayna of Happily Ever Travel

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GOA (State), INDIA

Goa is called the Sunshine State of India, and despite its beautiful beaches, proud heritage and colourful culture, digital nomads have not thronged here for the longest time. This was due to low internet speeds. BUT all of that has changed! Now you can say hello to one of the best (if not THE best) digital nomad destination in India. 

A co-working space with lights and fuchsia couch in  Barabor: A co-working space in Betim, Goa
Barabor: A co-working space in Betim, Goa

I worked out of Goa for 6 months in the beginning of 2019 and the reason I chose it is too many to enumerate. But I will try. 

  • Real estate prices are really reasonable, you can score yourself a stay in a Portuguese home for a quarter of what you would pay for a studio in the city. 
  • Many co-working spaces have come here in the recent past. 91 Springboards, Mozaic Coworking, and Barabor to name a few. Imagine beautiful design, cosy nooks, great coffee and efficient internet. 
  • Community spaces which enhance the whole experience of living in Goa. Movie screenings, gig nights, drum circles, meditation classes, clay workshops.
  • All kinds of interest groups can find a home here. And that’s what makes Goa a great bet.

Go for all these reasons plus the beaches, the paddy fields, the monsoon seasons, the local markets, and the friendly locals. The travel nomad in you won’t be disappointed.

— Sudeepta of Moonlitekingdom

HANOI, VIETNAM

Vietnam makes it onto this list a few times for a reason: it’s one of the world’s most affordable countries to live (hello one dollar pho for dinner) and is well-connected in terms of wireless internet connectivity. And it’s no different in the capital city of the country, Hanoi.

Kitchenware stores with load of aluminum kitchenware and a person wearing Vietnamese traditional hat standing in front of the stores and beside his scooter
Aluminum kitchenware stores at a sidewalk in Hanoi

The city offers incredibly high speed internet at rock bottom prices; even a standard mobile simcard gives you 12 GB of data for less than 5 US dollars, and broadband rates are even lower.

What makes Hanoi particularly great for digital nomads, of course, is the frenetic yet sociable lifestyle in the city. Down every winding alleyway is a cheap hostel, filled with other travellers and nomads to network with. And most streets boast a number of coffee shops and cafes where you can sip your coconut latte and surf the free wifi in comfortable surroundings.

A railway in Hanoi Vietnam in between houses, stores and cafes and people sitting outside houses or cafes sitting and talking
Hanoi, Vietnam

We particularly liked working out of Joma Bakery, a café of Canadian origin that also boasts similar stores across Laos (we tried and loved them in Luang Prabang and Vientiane too). Walking into Joma’s large dining area, you’ll meet a number of other ‘wireless workers’; all deep into their laptop or on conference calls to faraway places.

We spent many hours there nursing our (delicious) iced mochas and tucking into their selection of cakes, salads and wraps (try the Breakfast Burrito). They offer free water, topped up every few hours, as well!

Other great spots include Cong Caphe, a chain of coffee shops which have a delicious egg coffee, Hoa 10 Gio Floral Café and Gardenista, which is literally an indoor garden setting for when you can pull your eyes away from your computer.

Lee of Travel Scribes

Before you leave, be sure to get your Digital Nomad insurance

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

Kuala Lumpur is arguably one of the most well connected spots in Southeast Asia, it’s metropolitan, affordable, and has flights to almost anywhere. Honestly, it’s a digital nomad’s dream place to work! KL has everything for everyone, whether you’re looking for a slice of nature to escape to whilst you work through your writer’s block, or you’re wanting a swanky place to network with other business executives, there’s ample options for both and any in between.

Picture of a potted plant on a desk with an office in the background at a coworking space in Kuala Lumpur
Coworking space Faux Space in Kuala Lumpur

One of my favourite things about KL, is how easy it is to get around, the MRT/LRT network is incredible, and if all else fails, GRAB (our version of Uber), is a pretty cheap alternative.

As Southeast Asia is quickly becoming a digital nomad hub, KL has made sure it doesn’t get left behind, co-working spaces and cafes have been popping up all over the place in recent years, and having tested a few myself, I’ve found them a really great place to work in and meet new people!

When you’re not busy tapping away at your keyboard, I highly recommend exploring the food scene in KL, it’s one of the most culturally diverse, flavourful scenes in the world. Food prices have a massive range, you could get a full meal for $1 at your local mamak (kind of a local food street stall restaurant mash up) or treat yourself to an incredibly fancy meal at nobu, hidden on one of the levels of the twin towers.

Whatever it is you need, KL will provide.

— Nadia of Eco Wonderland

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA

One of my favorite nomad living locations so far has been Seoul! It has a little bit of everything coffee cafes & coworking spaces, fast wifi, bustling city life, affordability and plenty of activities to keep you busy outside of work!

There were a plethora of coffee shops to work from in the city and definately some interesting finds! And if you want some extra companionship be sure to check out the animal cafes with everything from cats to dogs to birds to racoons and meerkats (seriously!)

The city of Seoul with tall buildings and mountains in the background taken by a Digital Nomad working in the city
Seoul, South Korea

On top of the many locations to work, Seoul is pretty affordable. Housing costs the most, but if you find a good place to stay than the day to day living in Seoul can be done affordably, especially if you local Korean food.

While it is a very large city, it’s easy to get around on the subway or city buses. Everything runs pretty regularly and just the sheer number of bus lines makes it easy to get where you want to be. This makes it really nice when you want to explore or work from a different part of town.

I mainly walked everywhere and stayed within a 30 minute radius of my housing while there and I still don’t think I even scratched the surface of what was available. Because the city is built up it’s really easy to miss everything on offer!

Astronomer Cafe Seoul
Astronomers Coffee Shop in Seoul

Seoul is also a city that stays up late and gets started around 9am. This was the biggest surprise for me and something I really had to get used to as I’m used to getting started around 8am. So if you are night owl or just don’t like getting your day started too early – Seoul is the best city for the digital nomad lifestyle.

-Tayler from Traveling Tayler

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

As the most popular city for backpackers and holidaymakers in Australia, Melbourne is a buzzing and vibrant city with entertainment for all. From a beautiful art scene lining the busy streets, to an underground bar and club life once the sun goes down. Melbourne city has it all.

Standing on a bridge overlooking the Yarra River and the skyrises of Melbourne on a nice but cloudy day is one of the best cities for digital nomads
City of Melbourne and the Yarra River

This leaves one question for many nomads looking to live and work in the city: “what is it like to work in Melbourne?”

What makes Melbourne special is how Digital Nomad friendly it has become. With a large number of co-working spaces around the city, a huge and vibrant cafe culture to be enjoyed and even free spaces for wifi and charging scattered around the town, there is a place for everyone to work online.

The perfect example of a Melbourne co-working space is the hugely popular and international working hub, WeWork. Situated right in the city centre, this nomad friendly spot offers free wifi, laptop friendly work spaces, the option of a private room and even free teas, coffees and beer! Other spaces offering similar packages are Cluster, Revolver and Gravity Co-Working.

An office in Melbourne with long green couch and other office furniture
WeWork Office in Melbourne

There is, however, a charge for all of this good stuff, meaning that for startups it is not the best option. If this is you then fear not, as Melbourne has plenty of other digital nomad friendly spaces for those on a budget. The best of which, we found, was one of the many libraries scattered across the city and suburbs. Once again, you will get free access to a fast wifi, charging points and laptop friendly work spaces. 

These also offer a quieter place to work than some of the busy co-working spaces in the city. If the outdoors is more your scene, then Melbourne has one of the highest ratios of green space to city in the world. During the warm, Melbourne summers, taking your laptop to the local park for inspiration is the best way to get work done on the road.

Gemma of Highlands 2 Hammocks

AFRICA

Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town is the perfect place for digital nomads who love outdoor stuff, water activities, good weather and great wine. The blogging community in Cape Town is quite active so it’s easy to find people in the same niche and to connect with them. There are many great coffee shops and co-working spaces for online entrepreneurs where you can meet new people.

A busy bay in Capetown with yacht and boats on the water and people walking, sitting and talking, as well as cafes, buildings and marts
Capetown Sea Point

As digital nomads living in Cape Town most of the year (summer season) we have our favorite areas in the city that we can recommend as perfect locations for digital nomads; Bloubergstrand for those who like surfing, kitesurfing, and other water activities. Seapoint is ideal for bloggers who want to stay near the ocean and close to the center of the city. For those who prefer to stay in a fancy area close to the sea, Camps Bay is the place to be.

Out of the mentioned areas Bloubergstrand in general and Big Bay, in particular, are our favorite locations; at the beach with awesome spots for surfing and kitesurfing, close to many restaurants and bars, supermarket nearby.

A beach in Cape Town with blue-green water and with people sitting and walking on its white sand shore
Blouberg Beach, Cape Town

A typical digital nomad day in Cape Town looks like this; get up in the morning and have a nice cup of coffee, we usually go to one of the take-away places nearby and drink coffee at the beach. Later, we go for a run, come back and work for five-six hours with a break for lunch or surfing (if the conditions are really good). In the evening we go to watch the sunset at the beach and meet up with our friends in a bar.

When we want to have a day off we usually visit one of the wine routes around Cape Town and do wine tasting and dining enjoying the incredible scenery and the sunny weather. Yes, the weather is another important reason Cape Town is great for digital nomads, it’s warm (very hot in January-February) and sunny most of the year, basically from October till May you can enjoy being outside. Renting a place in Cape Town is quite affordable but it’s significantly cheaper to rent a place for a couple of months than on a daily or weekly basis.

— Alya of Stingy Nomads

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AMERICAS

LIMA, PERU

When looking for digital nomad cities, Peru should definitely be on your list. With its vibrant culture, ever growing start-up scene and flourishing co-working spaces such as Residencia Coworking. You’ll find it easy to meet other people who are not fluent Spanish speakers. One particular neighborhood that is getting popular and more digital nomad friendly is Barraco, which is considered one of the main hipster areas in Lima.

People sitting and walking at the park in Barranco neighbourhood, Lima
Barranco neighbourhood, Lima

Here you can find various cafes, including Starbucks, that offer a speedy internet connection. It is a great place to be able to connect with locals and to avoid the hordes of tourists found in Miraflores, plus the local food is incredible. It’s also worth noting that residents of 98 countries can currently travel and remain in Peru for up to 183 days. So if you’re thinking of setting up a base for the foreseeable future, Lima is a great option. 

You can find AirBnbs that offer long term rents so no need to commit to annual residence contracts while you get acquainted with the city. When you want to take a break from work, you can easily go backpacking in Peru as there are many travel experiences to get involved with. Whether it’s a trip to Cusco or Arequipa, which are both popular tourist destinations, you’ll find plenty of organized tours available so you can just sit back and enjoy the experience.

So, will you consider Lima as a digital nomad city for your work and travel lifestyle? Unlike other major cities in South America Lima is an affordable and inspiring city that is becoming more attractive for digital nomads to reside in.

— Daniel of Layer Culture

Medellín, Colombia

Medellín is fast becoming a hub for digital nomads. Known as the Silicon Valley of South America, it’s a hot-spot for entrepreneurs and start-ups looking to connect with others and take advantage of the cheap cost of living and operating a business in Colombia.

The city enjoys a lot of domestic and foreign investment due to its reputation as the leader of innovation in the region – and even globally. In 2013, the Wall Street Journal named Medellín as the most innovative city in the world.

Sunset and buildings at Medellín, Colombia
Medellín, Colombia

Medellín has a wealth of interesting cafés and dedicated co-working spaces. These are mostly situated in the area of El Poblado, which is where you’ll find a thriving community of digital nomads and expats, but there is also a growing number to be found elsewhere, such as in Laureles. Expect beautifully designed, comfortable workspaces surrounded by the buzz of people smashing through their tasks around you.

For many nationalities, the 3 month visa can be extended to 6 months for a small fee without having to leave the country and return. Flights within Colombia are incredibly cheap, so a weekend break can take you from the Caribbean to the Amazon in just a couple of hours. If you don’t want to travel so far, there are plenty of small, traditional Colombian towns to visit by road just outside of Medellín. A popular pastime for urban Colombians is to rent a finca (farmhouse) and spend the weekend with friends out in the countryside.

And if all this doesn’t convince you, Medellín doesn’t have conventional seasons; the temperature stays about the same gorgeous 27-28 degrees Celsius (80-82F) all year round, with just the level of rain increasing during certain months. For this, it’s called the Land of Eternal Spring!

— Lauren of Cuppa to Copa Travels

There has been a lot of coffee talk in this post… get some here.

OMAHA, NEBRASKA, USA

Omaha may be a city that you don’t know much about.  Our fabulous city is located in the middle of the USA in the state of Nebraska.  We’re the biggest city in the state, with almost 1 million people in the greater Omaha area.  People who visit our city are always surprised at how much Omaha has to offer.  

Omaha’s a great place for digital nomads for a variety of reasons:  

Location – we’re in the middle of the country.  It’s easy to get anywhere from Omaha since we’re so centrally located.   

Affordability:  There’s a ton of affordable housing options in Omaha.  You can score a nice 2 bedroom apartment for $900-$1000 per month.  If you’re looking to buy, the median price of a single family home in Omaha is only about $177,000 -so it’s super affordable!

Co-Working Spaces:  Omaha has the usual coffee houses like Starbucks, and we also have some great  local cafes that are great spaces to work from. Check out Crane Coffee for a solid place to get some work done.  Also for a collaborative meeting place for larger groups, head over to Do Space located in central Omaha at 72nd & Dodge.   Do Space is a non-profit community center for technology that offers classes and meeting space for all kinds of groups.  

Fun:  After work, there’s tons of fun things to do in town.  My favorite place in the city is the area South of downtown known as the Old Market.  This area is home to many historic warehouses that have been converted into shops and restaurants.  The ambiance is great and the shops are super unique. You’ll find everything from antique stores to handmade jewelry to clothing boutiques.  

Omaha has quite a few different entertainment districts where you can eat and drink all night.  In addition to the Old Market, check out the Blackstone District for creative cocktails as well as awesome Mexican food at Mulla, pizza at Dante and homemade ice cream at Coneflower Creamery.  In Benson, you can go bar hopping on Maple street and try the ramen at Ika Ramen!

Sarah Morgensen of The Prosperous Blonde

PORTLAND, OREGON, USA

If there’s one thing that’s almost synonymous with the digital nomad lifestyle, it’s coffee shops. If you’re looking for a new city to base yourself in for a while that can provide an endless supply of amazing cafes, what better place than one of the coffee capitals of the world, Portland, Oregon.

Our favourite spots to set up the laptop for a few hours include Coava, Heart Coffee, and Upper Left Roasters, however the city is littered with great cafes, and half the fun is going for a stroll and seeing what you find.

If you’re looking for more facilities on offer other than a cafe, the city is also home to a range of exceptional coworking spaces, including WeWork, HatchLab, and Collective Agency. 

A picture of Portland Oregon at night with building and street lights shining bright
Portland, Oregon

One of the main attractions for many people living in Portland is its proximity to nature. With a short drive you can reach a huge variety of natural environments ranging from coastal rainforests, to rivers and lakes, to mountains. Popular activities include hiking, mountain biking and kayaking.

It would be a crime to discuss Portland and not mention it’s beer. With over 32 breweries within the city limits, they produce some of the most celebrated beer in the country. Summer is the best time to experience the beer culture in Portland with numerous festivals taking place to celebrate this important aspect of the city.

Summer in Portland is characterised by warm, hot weather, perfect for exploring the wide range of outdoor activities on offer in the city’s surrounds. Winter, on the other hand, is cold and wet. November to January in particular sees a lot of rain so if you’re planning on being in town during these months be sure to pack some waterproof shoes and a good jacket.

Where Portland may fall short for some people is on the affordability side. Accommodation options can be limited as it isn’t traditionally a travellers destination, meaning you may end up paying a bit more here than in more visited US cities. A cup of coffee will set you back around $3.50 – $4.00

-Sam from the Adventure Lab

What do you think?

Share in the comments what city you think is the most digital nomad friendly!


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