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Best Cities for Digital Nomads In 2024: The Ultimate Guide

Freedom

November 6, 2024

The digital nomad movement gathered pace during the pandemic. Many countries rolled out their version of the digital nomad and remote work visas to attract the ever-increasing number of digital nomads to their shores.

Today, digital nomads contribute around US$787 billion to the global economy annually, and with the rise in companies offering more remote roles, there’s never been a better time to unshackle yourself from your desk and go nomadic.

Where should you go, though, if you’re seeking a hotspot to live out the ultimate nomadic lifestyle?

Bali, Lisbon and Medellin – they all top our list of the best digital nomad cities to help you pick your next destination.

7 Pros and Cons of Digital Nomad Visas

Best Cities for Digital Nomads in Asia

Digital Nomads, Bali

Asia offers beautiful beaches, vibrant cities and, often, a lower cost of living. Here are our top picks for the best Asian cities for digital nomads.

Bali, Indonesia

Rice terraces, lush green forests, infinity pools, and more – Bali has got everything a digital nomad would want in a city.

Bali is the ultimate digital nomad hotspot with beautiful coworking spaces designed to let you work in tranquillity, scenic places to explore, speedy WIFI and one of the best digital nomad communities you’d find anywhere.

Ubud and Canggu are the favourites among the nomad community thanks to their perfect blend of nature, people, activities and nightlife.

In 2021, the Indonesian government announced plans to introduce the Bali Digital Nomad Visa , allowing remote workers to live and work in Bali tax-free for five years.

The program sounded too good to be true since most digital nomad visas are valid for up to a year. Maybe that’s why the program is still in the works and has not been launched.

For now, Bali lovers can explore this vibrant island via visa-on-arrival (30 days) or B211A visa (60 days), both of which are renewable.

In essence, Bali ticks all the boxes for the ultimate digital nomad destination, but we’re still waiting for that digital nomad visa to launch. 

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Situated in Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is an ancient city with hundreds of temples and a beautiful mountainous landscape.

Over the years, Chiang Mai has transformed from a quiet religious town to one bustling with digital nomads from all over the world looking to enjoy the city sights while working remotely.

Chiang Mai has all the digital nomad essentials – cool cafes, hostels, speedy internet, delicious street food, and coworking spaces.

Asian countries can sometimes be disappointing regarding visa and residency options, but that’s not the case with Thailand. Thailand has a range of residency and visa options for foreigners looking to stay in the country for various reasons.

The most recent addition is the Thai Long-Term Visa (Thailand Golden Visa), allowing four categories of foreigners to live and work in Thailand for ten years.

Digital nomads can also apply if they meet the set criteria. If you want to visit Thailand through this route, you can read the details in our article about the Thailand Golden Visa.

Digital Nomads, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia’s capital and largest city, famous for the Petronas Twin Towers, colonial architecture and a vibe that keeps you hooked. It’s also one of the fastest-growing cities in Asia.

The city has no shortage of coworking spaces and hostels to facilitate digital nomads. Moreover, the MDEC is establishing nomad hubs and communities to make the country’s ever-increasing pool of digital nomads feel at home.

Malaysia has a digital nomad visa called the DE Rantau Nomad Pass. It’s a multi-entry renewable visa that allows foreign remote workers to live and work in Malaysia for 3 to 12 months.

If you want to explore other long-term options, you can look into the MM2H program, which allows foreigners to live in Malaysia for ten years. You can read the details about the program in our ultimate guide about the MM2H visa .

Digital Nomads, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam. It’s the perfect spot for digital nomads looking to stay in a bustling city with all the amenities of life. However, it can get very crowded and chaotic.

Ho Chi Minh City is a very affordable city compared to other digital nomad hotspots. It has a low cost of living, plenty of hostels, and cafes.

Vietnam is also an excellent investment spot, with a consumer base of nearly 100 million. Lately, a lot of capital is being transferred from neighboring China to Vietnam owing to the increasing costs in China, making Vietnam of great interest to entrepreneurs and investors.

Best Cities for Digital Nomads in Europe

Europe offers magnificent cities, diverse cultures and a high quality of life. If you’re a digital nomad, here are some of the best European cities to set up base.

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal

Digital nomad hubs in Europe are usually heavier on the pocket than their Asian counterparts, but they also offer great value for money.

Lisbon is one such example. Quite affordable by European standards, Lisbon is as digital nomad-friendly as it gets. You’ll find coworking spaces in almost every neighbourhood, the internet speed is excellent and there are plenty of events for remote workers to meet up and mingle.

Portugal’s digital nomad visa allows digital nomads to work remotely from Portugal for a year if their monthly income is at least €3,280. Worried about the tax burden?

You are exempt from paying any Social Security during your first year as a remote, freelance worker in Portugal. You also receive a hefty 50% exemption on your income taxes during your first year, followed by a 25% reduction during the second year.

For people looking for something more elaborate than a nomad visa, Portugal has the D7 visa. It allows financially independent non-EU citizens to live in Portugal for two years, and the permit can be renewed for another three years.

Permanent residence and citizenship are possible after five years.

Tbilisi, Georgia

Tbilisi, Georgia

One of our favourite Eastern European spots, Tbilisi , is the perfect blend of ancient and modern.

Tbilisi scores pretty high in all the good domains, like digital nomad community, internet speed, natural beauty, unique architecture, and more. Moreover, living in Tbilisi won’t come with a heavy tax burden – something you can’t say about most of Europe.

Georgia has a very liberal immigration policy. Citizens of over 90 countries can travel visa-free to Georgia and stay there for up to a year. Moreover, digital nomads can benefit from programs like the Individual Entrepreneur scheme to pay taxes as low as 1%.

Georgia, especially Tbilisi, attracts foreign entrepreneurs, investors and digital nomads with its thriving investment opportunities, real estate market and friendly business environment.

Valletta, Malta

Valletta, Malta

Valletta is the capital of the Mediterranean island nation of Malta. The walled city is famous for its museums, palaces, and majestic churches. 

Millions of foreigners visit Malta annually for its year-round sun, excellent living standards, unique architecture, and diverse community. 

Moreover, Malta is the first EU country to have a nationwide 5G network, so you can forget about having internet issues while living a digital nomad life there.

The Maltese digital nomad visa, Nomad Residence Permit (NRP), is a one-year renewable visa enabling remote workers from third countries (non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss nationals) to legally live and work (remotely) in Malta.

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is the capital and the largest city in the Czech Republic. The best thing about Prague is its location.

The city and the country are quite international, thanks to its popularity with tourists and its location in the heart of Europe . Germany, Austria, Poland and Slovakia border the Czech Republic.

The city is as charming as it gets with its vibrant culture, ancient architecture, fantastic entertainment scene and delicious food. It’s also a UNESCO monument and one of the world’s most popular tourist spots.

Prague is home to a thriving entrepreneur scene and has welcomed digital nomads from all over the world for many years. You’ll find plenty of cool cafes and coworking spaces in Prague, which are filled with one of the most diverse expat communities you’ll ever encounter.

Belgrade, Serbia

Belgrade, Serbia

One of the most underrated European capitals, Belgrade will instantly make you fall in love with it. If you’re a digital nomad who parties as hard as you work, you’ll love Belgrade.

As the Bohemian capital of former Yugoslavia, the city is known for having some of the best nightlife in all Europe.

Belgrade has many aspects that make it one of our favourite Balkan spots. The city has many coworking spaces, but as a digital nomad, you’ll love the vibe of Serbian cafes.

They can get pretty loud, but if you find one that suits your work requirements, you’re bound to be a regular. And then there’s Serbian dining which is as, if not more, renowned than its nightlife.

Living in Serbia doesn’t come with a heavy tax burden either since its tax rates are among the lowest in Europe. Moreover, the cost of living is also pretty affordable.

Best Digital Nomad Cities in Latin America

Central and South America offers some of the most exciting and vibrant cities in the world. Here are our top options for digital nomads.

Medellin, Colombia

Medellin, Colombia

What do you get when you combine excellent weather, a cosmopolitan lifestyle, and a growing IT hub? Lots of digital nomads.

That’s exactly what Medellin gets each year. The city is dubbed ‘The City of Eternal Spring’ due to its amazing weather throughout the year.

Colombia is a country transformed. Now, several cities in the country are among digital nomad favourites in the region. The affordable cost of living in Colombia is one of the biggest reasons digital nomads flock to the country.

Medellin has many cafes and coworking spaces where you can enjoy delicious Colombian coffee and go about your workday. The city also boasts a sizable digital nomad community.

A Colombian digital nomad visa allows remote workers with a monthly income of around US$800 to work remotely from Colombia for two years.

Moreover, Colombian non-residents are only taxed on their locally sourced income.

San Jose, Costa Rica

San Jose, Costa Rica

San Jose is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica, a country known for its rich biodiversity, lush green forests, volcanoes, stunning beaches, and the pura vida lifestyle.

The city is a central transportation hub and the political and economic centre of the country. San Jose boasts diversity in many aspects, from lifestyle to neighbourhoods. Whether you want city life or a quiet workplace, the city will provide you with plenty of options.

Thanks to the central location of San Jose, you’ll always be close to other wonders of Costa Rica and can explore many other scenic spots on your free days.

Before the Costa Rican digital nomad visa was introduced, many digital nomads used to visit the country on a tourist visa and do border runs to extend their stay. 

Now, the digital nomad visa allows location-independent workers with a monthly income of US$3,000 to stay in Costa Rica for a year as long as they work remotely.

Costa Rica has over half a million expats, thanks to its territorial tax regime, low cost of living, and natural beauty.

Tulum, Mexico

Tulum, Mexico

How can we forget Mexico on any list discussing digital nomad hotspots? 

Thanks to its rich culture, exotic cuisine, vibrant entertainment scene, excellent nightlife, and stunning views, digital nomads have always flocked to the country.

Tulum is a major city in Mexico known for its beaches, stunning lagoons, Mayan ruins, and diverse community. 

At first glance, the city looks like it was made for tourists, digital nomads, and expats. There is no shortage of cafes, coworking spaces, and resorts where you can work while enjoying the best of views.

Mexico doesn’t have a digital nomad visa. However, digital nomads can apply for Mexico’s Temporary Resident Visa, which allows them to live and work remotely from Mexico for six months to four years, depending on their nationality.

You will find plenty of digital nomads and expats in Tulum and Mexico is frequently ranked among the top ten countries where expats are happiest with work, life, and cost of living.

The country taxes non-residents on their Mexico-sourced income, so you can save a lot in taxes by earning a foreign income.

Best Digital Nomad Cities In The Caribbean

Most digital nomads dream about working from a hammock on a tropical beach, and where better to do that than the Caribbean? Here are some of the best cities to set up a base as a digital nomad.

Nassau, The Bahamas

Nassau, The Bahamas

Located on New Providence Island in the Bahamas, Nassau comprises over 70% of the country’s population. The city is known for its busy port, beautiful beaches, hilly landscape, colonial architecture, and paradise-like views.

The country and the city have never been strangers to a consistent stream of tourists, investors and digital nomads. In fact, tourism is the largest sector in the Bahamas and brings in the majority of the revenue.

Foreigners go to the Bahamas to enjoy the tropical paradise and, of course, the tax-free lifestyle.

The Bahamas is a famous tax haven with no personal income tax, corporate income tax, capital gains tax, sales tax, withholding tax, gift or inheritance tax, or other probate fees.

Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) is the Bahamas’ version of a remote-work visa. The BEATS program allows workers and students to work or study remotely from the country for up to 12 months. The program has no minimum income requirements and can be extended twice.

Bridgetown, Barbados

Bridgetown, Barbados

Bridgetown is the capital and largest city of Barbados, famous for its colonial architecture and proximity to one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world.

Barbados was the first country in the Caribbean region to introduce a digital nomad visa. The visa is called the Barbados Welcome Stamp.

It allows remote workers and digital nomads with an annual income of US$50,000 to work remotely from Barbados for a year. Welcome Stamp holders are exempt from paying income tax in Barbados for a year.

Many digital nomads with an entrepreneurial mindset visit the country for its corporate tax rate, which ranges from 1% to 5%.

The country’s internet and mobile services are among the region’s fastest and most reliable, so you don’t have to worry about missing a meeting because of a spotty connection.

Best Digital Nomad Cities In The Middle East

Finally, the Middle East can also be an attractive destination for the right type of digital nomad.

Dubai, UAE

Dubai, UAE

If skyscrapers, desert safaris, and a luxurious lifestyle is your thing, you’ll love Dubai. 

Dubai has literally everything you’d need as a digital nomad. The city has plenty of state-of-the-art coworking spaces, cafes, an abundance of shopping malls filled with the best things money can buy, lightning-fast internet speed, and much more

Dubai’s digital nomad visa, Work Remotely from Dubai, allows foreigners to work from Dubai for a year as long as they can prove that they work for a foreign employee.

The best thing about Dubai is that it needs no introduction. It is world-renowned for its jaw-dropping architecture, gigantic malls, ultra-luxurious vibe, and of course, tax-friendly regime.

Each year millions of entrepreneurs, investors, and digital nomads visit Dubai to enjoy all of the above features and more.

Best Cities for Digital Nomads 2024: FAQs

Where do nomads live?

Popular destinations with digital nomads include Bali, Chiang Mai, Lisbon and Medellín, which all offer affordable living and vibrant communities for expats and nomads. More and more countries offer digital nomad visas designed to allow remote workers to live and work in the country for extended periods.

How to be a digital nomad?

A digital nomad is someone who works remotely using digital tools, allowing them to live a location-independent lifestyle. The ideal jobs for digital nomads are those that can be done remotely, such as software development, content writing, digital marketing, graphic design, consulting and project management.

Do digital nomads need work visas?

Whether or not digital nomads need a work visa depends on the country and the nature of the work. Some countries require a work visa if you’re earning income locally, while others offer special digital nomad visas for remote work.

Do digital nomads pay tax?

Yes, digital nomads are generally required to pay taxes, but the specifics depend on their citizenship, residency status and where their income is earned. Tax obligations can vary significantly by country.

Tax residency is typically determined by the location where a person spends a significant amount of time per year. This is not tax advice, and we always recommend speaking with a tax advisor.

What are the best jobs for digital nomads?

A suitable job for digital nomads is one that can be performed remotely, offers flexible hours, and doesn’t require a permanent physical presence in one location.

What are some popular job categories for digital nomads?

Popular categories include IT and programming, writing and content creation, digital marketing, graphic design, consulting, teaching and tutoring online and virtual assistance.

What are the typical requirements for obtaining a digital nomad visa?

Digital nomad visa requirements usually include proof of remote employment or self-employment, health insurance, a valid passport and often a clean criminal record.

Who is eligible for the Spain digital nomad visa?

Applicants who are considered eligible for the Spain digital nomad visa include non-EU citizens who are employed by a company outside of the country or who are self-employed with clients primarily located outside Spain.

Can the Italy digital nomad visa lead to permanent residency?

While the Italy digital nomad visa itself may not directly lead to permanent residency, it can be a step towards other residency options if you meet additional criteria over time.

The Future of Digital Nomading

Not everyone likes to stick to one city for all their lives and go on a vacation for only two weeks a year. With the rise in remote working and digital nomadism, more and more people are packing their bags and exploring the world while performing their work responsibilities.

As evident from the rising number of digital nomads and countries rolling out digital nomad visas, this trend will only increase.

Looking to spread your wings and explore the world? Picking the right destinations makes all the difference.

At Nomad Capitalist we’ve helped thousands of high-net-worth individuals move offshore, legally reduce their taxes and go where they’re treated best. Contact us today to learn more.

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