Top 7 Cities Perfect for Digital Nomads: Discover the World While You Work

Life as a digital nomad has become an increasingly popular lifestyle for many who want to escape the regular 9 to 5 grind. But where would you go if you wanted to explore the digital nomad experience? Well, read on to find out our top 7 cities perfect for anyone looking to explore remote work opportunities.

What is a digital nomad?

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However, before we dive into the top 7 cities perfect for digital nomads, let’s first address the elephant in the room: What is a digital nomad?

To keep things simple, a digital nomad often refers to anyone who works online from anywhere of their choice. This allows them to discover the world while continuing to earn a living. Whether it’s to fund their travels or they’d prefer to work outside the office, many find living the digital nomad lifestyle a refreshing way to experience their day-to-day.

Just imagine – one moment you’re in a meeting with your colleagues or clients, and you could be sipping on a coconut on the beach or people-watch by a cute café in a little town the very next.

The uptick in this trend has seen many countries offering a digital nomad visa, allowing remote work seekers to explore their favourite destinations while working. This special document also allows eligible visa holders to stay in the country for a longer duration than the usual holidaymaker’s visa.

What makes a city the perfect city for digital nomads?

To help illustrate what makes these cities perfect for digital nomads, we explored some of the most important things to consider when transitioning into remote work. While living as a digital nomad isn’t new, this lifestyle has only gained recent popularity and boomed particularly post-pandemic. So, here’s how we decided on this list:

Do these cities accept digital nomads?

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As Malaysians, we’re blessed to hold a strong passport that grants us visa-free entry to most countries. However, the rules and regulations may change during your visit if you plan to become a digital nomad in certain cities. This is why it’s crucial to explore if your country of choice offers a digital nomad visa – a new document that many places are now offering.

Holding a digital nomad visa not only allows you to stay in a country for a longer period but can also be helpful when filing for better tax schemes. Do note that different countries may impose different requirements when applying for this visa, and we recommend researching them as much as possible.

Do these cities offer a sustainable cost of living?

Understanding the cost of living of a digital nomad city is important to us as you’ll be staying put for an extended period. Beyond expenditures such as daily meals and transportation, we think it’s just as crucial to learn more about accommodation prices and the availability of homes around these cities.

Exchange rates that fluctuate on a daily basis should also be taken into consideration when deciding on the perfect city, especially when you’re just starting out.

Do these cities have difficult language barriers that make connecting challenging?

One of the perks of living as a digital nomad is the opportunity to meet new people and connect with them as you go. But this can be a challenge if the city of your choice comes with a strong language barrier, making communication difficult even for simple things like running errands in the supermarket.

As such, we’ve explored cities that boast friendly communities and fewer opportunities for language difficulties. Most countries we’ve curated have locals who are great in English, allowing you to make friends right from the get-go!

Do these cities offer fast and strong internet connection speeds everywhere you go?

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Finally – and perhaps most importantly when finding the perfect city for digital nomads is to know if the city offers fast and strong internet connection speeds. This shouldn’t only apply to the major city areas, but also to the outskirts in case you’d like to explore while working. As a digital nomad, there’s nothing worse than to be disconnected when you have a deadline to catch up to.

We also recommend looking up the best service providers before you travel, allowing you to plan for connectivity beforehand. With plenty to choose from in any of these cities we’ve curated, we can only imagine the excitement you would be feeling in becoming a digital nomad next.

Well, are you ready to take this unique step in your career? Then here are our top 7 cities perfect for digital nomads! Lisbon, Portugal

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As the capital of Portugal, Lisbon has every reason to take one of our spots as a city that is perfect for digital nomads. Famed for its hilly, coastal skylines, Lisbon offers plenty of gorgeous views wherever you turn. With pastel-covered floors and a historic charm, many digital nomads often find it difficult to move on from this city.

Looking to take a break from working too hard? Lisbon is never short of picturesque beaches to help wash away your worries, and the great weather year-round makes living a digital nomad lifestyle here a fairly easy transition.

And despite all these positives, what surprises many is how the cost of living in Lisbon remains reasonably affordable. From private apartments to adventurous hostels, Lisbon is a city ideal for both fresh and seasoned digital nomads. Furthermore, the locals and tourists are extremely friendly in the city and you’re never short of co-working spaces with great internet connection anywhere you go.

For those looking to dip their toes in the vibes of the city before making the long-term move, why not book yourself an 11-day Country Roads of Portugal excursion by Insight Vacations? Trekking through some of the most beautiful sights in Portugal, this city and countryside escapade will leave you wanting more of Lisbon and its surroundings, making your digital nomad destination an inevitable choice!

Chiang Mai, Thailand

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Closer to home, Chiang Mai in Thailand has recently become an up-and-coming digital nomad destination. Home to a variety of co-working spots and community-building opportunities, we think Chiang Mai is a great place to start if you’ve only just dabbled into the digital nomad lifestyle.

Offering a perfect balance of work and play, you’ll find that you’re never too far from the city vibes when you’re in Chiang Mai. But this doesn’t mean you’re removed from the beautiful nature that Thailand has to offer. For example, the Sri Lanna National Park which is located just an hour away is home to lush greenery, trekking routes, waterfall views, and more.

It’s also no secret that Thailand is a foodie’s heaven, and Chiang Mai is no different. With affordable and delicious meals waiting in every corner, the city is undoubtedly one of the perfect cities for digital nomads to stay in.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

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Located in the southern end of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is a technological powerhouse that no digital nomad would want to miss. With steadily fast internet connections, plenty of co-working spaces, and great café scenes, it often feels like Ho Chi Minh City was built for this new era of a working lifestyle.

By staying put, you’ll soon uncover the beauty of this buzzing city that never stops. However, you’re always just a step away from the gorgeous outskirts whenever you seek peace and quiet after a long day of work, giving every resident the perfect work-life balance without having to go too far or spend too much.

Speaking of spending, have we already mentioned the affordable cost of living for anyone coming into Ho Chi Minh City? With sights to uncover and networks to connect with anywhere you visit, we can’t recommend this city enough for anyone looking to embark on a digital nomad journey.

Budapest, Hungary

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Known as the capital of Hungary, Budapest is made of a unique combination of 3 cities that make one. Aptly named Buda, Pest, and Obuda, these cities are located by the banks of the Danube River and strategically connected via old bridges. And for many digital nomads, this amazing culmination of Budapest is exactly what attracts them here.

With a bustling scene of young crowds and tourists alike, Budapest is home to many talents from various industries. Networking with like-minded individuals is simple, and can be an important point to helping you succeed in your journey of living life while earning from remote work. Thanks to its stable and speedy internet connection across the city, Budapest is quickly earning a top spot as a city perfect for digital nomads.

Off the clock, there is plenty of beautiful architecture to explore around all 3 cities. From old-school museums to modern twists in the bar and club scenes, Budapest is a surprising spot that’s always open and ready for everyone to discover.

Genoa, Italy

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While in Italy, head on over to the northwestern region of Liguria and you’ll find the port city of Genoa – or Genova to the locals, nestled within. Famed for its centuries-old maritime trade, this old town is often slept on by digital nomads when picking a place to be. However, Genoa is more than prepared to welcome those who are adventurous enough to explore. Offering a special digital nomad visa, let us tell you more reasons why this city is perfect for digital nomads.

Unlike most destinations, Genoa is an ungentrified spot for digital nomadic lifestyles, so you can expect affordable costs when it comes to setting up a base. The city itself is close to many gorgeous spots in its surroundings, making it perfect for those weekend trips when you’re looking to trade hard work for a little rest and relaxation.

And while it doesn’t attract tourists like many major Italian cities, the internet speed in Genoa is surprisingly fast. This makes the city perfect for digital nomads who constantly need to stay connected, but now with unbelievably breathtaking views.

Valencia, Spain

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With every mention of Spain, you’ll often hear travellers recommend Madrid. It doesn’t come as a surprise though, as this central capital is where you’ll find elegant boulevards and expansive European art curations. However, if you’re looking for a city in Spain to live as a digital nomad, then we’d propose Valencia instead.

Set on the southeast coast of Spain, Valencia is the country’s third-largest city. It offers gorgeous beaches and architecture across the city, with great weather year-round. Spiking at 30 degrees at its highest in summer or 8 degrees at its lowest in winter, Valencia is the ideal spot for remote work enthusiasts with a hunger for laid-back atmospheres and authentic Spanish experiences.

Spain has also introduced a digital nomad visa in 2023 – a move that’s seen as a welcome gesture to all digital nomads in their beautiful country.

Taipei, Taiwan

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And finally, fresh on the list of the perfect cities for digital nomads is Taipei, Taiwan. With their digital nomad visa being introduced in early 2025, the city hasn’t become as popular for remote talents just yet, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t launch your career here.

On the contrary, this is a great opportunity to be a pioneer digital nomad within the city. With plenty of co-working spaces fitted with great internet speed to help build community, Taipei is famed for its unique culture. English is widely spoken and understood here, so you’ll rarely bump into communication issues in the city.

As a bonus, Taipei offers a fantastic food scene for anyone living across the city. From street food bites to fine dining cuisines and more, many who have been in Taipei simply can’t wait to return to soak in more of this city.

Of course, we understand that committing to a digital nomad lifestyle can be daunting. This is especially true if you’ve never even visited the country before. To help with this transition, why not book yourself a vacation to familiarize yourself with the city and its surroundings?

At Holiday Tours, our holiday advisors are dedicated to helping you tailor the trip of your dreams – be it to rest and relax or to explore what could be your next chapter in life. Reach out to us today, and let us take care of the rest!