In the post-Covid world, the bar for quality of work life has been dramatically raised. And as professionals, especially younger ones, demand flexibility on work hours and location, employers must choose whether to keep up with the new requirements. At stake are mass layoffs, as Apple experienced when its hybrid work model was met with employee resistance. Now established as a standard practice for many employees, and with the number of freelancers on the rise globally, remote work is one of those changes inherited from the Covid-19 pandemic that seems destined to stick. The workforce is starting to looking at foreign cities as a base for their work activities, with the generalized hope of gaining the assurance of a better lifestyle.
The best cities for digital nomads
If you could work from any city in the world, which one will you choose? We selected 10 that offer the best benefits to remote workers, with particular attention to creatives.
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- Gaia Lamperti
- 13 September 2022
More and more governments, from Portugal to Bali and Argentina, are now offering convenient entry visas featuring a set of benefits and financial support for remote workers, and coworking spaces are popping up at crazy speed in urban centres worldwide.
There are already 35 million of digital nomads across the globe and they are expected to hit a billion by the end of the decade, a wave driven by advances in technology as much as by the new work culture that allows employees to ‘work from anywhere’.
But how to decide from where? Usually, the elements attracting the nomad workers community to a particular destination include a mixture of affordable lifestyle, good weather, visa benefits, presence of cosmopolitan, vibrant neighbourhoods, efficient mobility, good broadband coverage, and a pre-existing community of expat peers of the same background/ecosystem.
Our selection includes some of the best cities to work from, especially for those in the creative industry who have an eye for design. Not only do these destinations tick all the boxes that ensure smooth work routines, but also offer alternative lifestyles, interesting communities, great urban development and, more broadly, are keeping up with the needs of the future of work.
Opening image: Bangkok, Thailand. Courtesy Tandreas Brucker via Unsplash
A large English-speaking workforce, flight connections with the rest of Asia, and affordable housing are the big plus of this colourful city with futuristic architecture and an old soul. In 2021 Kuala Lumpur ranked first in InterNation survey for expats’ destinations with particular mentions to the welcoming population, closeness to top natural spots and beaches as well as the country0s favourable economy.
Increasingly, Austin, Texas has been hosting its own digital nomad community attracted by the city’s music scene, incredible restaurant offers and great housing options. It is perceived as more approachable than other US cities, a ‘cooler, more affordable LA’, that offers hip coworking spaces and cafes for working days as well as plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities over the weekends and a huge international airport to easily fly anywhere.
During the pandemic, Buenos Aires has completed its transformation into one of the most liveable city in LatAm investing in greener transports like its now world-famous bike lanes in the city centre, more sustainable lifestyles and electric public transport. The country is now experimenting a digital nomad visa that already helps over 2,000 travellers to move to the city every month.Expect to find a melting pot of creatives, a surf friendly environment, and hike opportunities.
This island is home to one of the first digital nomads villages, attracting creatives, entrepreneurs and the startup community from all over the world. The village is designed as a one-stop ship for remote workers offering them support to settle in, access to infrastructures to work from, daily organised social activities, a welcoming community, and no less important the good old island party life.
The first impression Dubai gives is really that of a city of the future, thanks to its renown reputation as a financial and tech hub and its latest push into the crypto space with government-backed initiatives within this market. The city was one of the first urban centres to extirpate the pandemic, which quickly turned it into a destination for many who wanted to escape global lockdowns elsewhere. Dubai’s similar timezone to Europe, its favourable flight connections to Asian and African countries, tax benefits and the international community make it into a great city to kick off a business or just start a new life.
Mexico City makes a fantastic place to live for history, cultural opportunities, progressive politics which are the best in Latin America like same sex marriage and vibrant restaurant scenes. Many look at it also for its proximity to the US tech scene and the fastest broadband coverage in the country, which turn it into a sort of cheaper Silicon Valley.
Bali is a classics for digital nomads and the island’s beauties as well as the low cost of life in Indonesia are well known among globe trotters. Changgu is probably one of the favourite destinations, especially among Australians, due to its hip vibe, surf culture and vibrant nightlife. The country’s government has recently further encouraged long-term visitors by announcing a new visa specifically designed for digital nomads that offer them multiple entry benefits making it easier to live the dream of working from one of its beach towns, between one yoga session and the other.
Who wouldn’t dream to live in Venice, at leats for a while? Now is getting easier than ever to experience that for remote workers, as the lagoon city, studded with crumbling palazzi and half-used spaces, becomes a laboratory to experiment with new ways of working. The local government initiative Veniwhere is trying to attract young professionals and freelancers in a bid to repopulate the historic centre. The project helps them get easy access into Venetian life with apartments viewings, support to navigate the health system, connection with workspaces, language classes and recreational amenities off the beaten tourist paths.
Ranked second best city in the world for digital nomads in a new study by The Instant Group, Bangkok scored well in key areas like affordability, weather, broadband speed, scenery, and transport. Its bustling food markets with one of the best street food scenes in Asia, more than 15,000 high-speed WiFi hotspots available, great transport options and some of the lowest fees for coworking spaces in the business district make the quality of life one of the best in the region, even compared to Chang Mai, Thai’s former Mecca for digital workers. Following the success, Thailand is launching a 10-year "golden visa" scheme aimed at wealthy foreigners, primarily those employed in tech sectors - although is just a matter fo time before the risk for further gentrification becomes real.
A mixture of Turkish and Austrian influences make up the rich historic culture of this Eastern European capital which, combined to an unexpected low cost of life and accommodation, have quickly turned it into a cosmopolitan digital nomads hotspots. Budapest is particularly efficient when it comes to coworking spaces availability, transport passes and fun opportunities. A big plus its thermal baths culture, a relaxing end to any working week.