Best cities with an actual digital-nomad visa
Plenty of "nomad hotspot" lists include places where staying legally for a year is impossible. This one filters to countries that issue a remote-work or digital-nomad visa first, then ranks what is left.
The ranking
| # | City | Match | Monthly cost | Left over | Why it ranks here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dubai United Arab Emirates | 84% | $3,417 | $4,583 | 4,583 USD/month left after costsConnectivity scores 100/100Affordability scores 78/100Safety scores 88/100 |
| 2 | Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates | 82% | $2,960 | $5,040 | 5,040 USD/month left after costsConnectivity scores 96/100Affordability scores 80/100Safety scores 92/100 |
| 3 | Valencia Spain | 77% | $1,912 | $3,221 | 3,221 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 80/100Safety scores 80/100Beach access scores 100/100 |
| 4 | Barcelona Spain | 77% | $2,519 | $2,614 | 2,614 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 75/100Beach access scores 100/100Climate fit scores 79/100 |
| 5 | Lisbon Portugal | 75% | $2,416 | $2,001 | 2,001 USD/month left after costsEnglish usability scores 82/100Safety scores 78/100Climate fit scores 83/100 |
| 6 | Tallinn Estonia | 74% | $1,840 | $4,433 | 4,433 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 83/100Safety scores 84/100English usability scores 80/100 |
| 7 | Porto Portugal | 73% | $1,925 | $2,492 | 2,492 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 77/100Safety scores 80/100Climate fit scores 77/100 |
| 8 | Tokyo Japan | 73% | $2,588 | $1,781 | 1,781 USD/month left after costsConnectivity scores 88/100Safety scores 94/100Healthcare scores 88/100English usability is weak here (30/100) |
| 9 | Osaka Japan | 72% | $2,202 | $2,167 | 2,167 USD/month left after costsConnectivity scores 86/100Safety scores 92/100Healthcare scores 86/100English usability is weak here (26/100) |
| 10 | Seoul South Korea | 72% | $2,363 | $2,909 | 2,909 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 77/100Safety scores 86/100Healthcare scores 88/100English usability is weak here (44/100) |
| 11 | Auckland New Zealand | 71% | $3,179 | $2,545 | 2,545 USD/month left after costsEnglish usability scores 100/100Beach access scores 85/100Connectivity is weak here (40/100) |
| 12 | Madrid Spain | 70% | $2,369 | $2,764 | 2,764 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 76/100Safety scores 76/100Climate fit scores 77/100 |
| 13 | Paris France | 70% | $2,694 | $1,764 | 1,764 USD/month left after costsConnectivity scores 76/100Healthcare scores 90/100 |
| 14 | Kuala Lumpur Malaysia | 68% | $1,171 | $4,313 | 4,313 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 85/100English usability scores 84/100 |
| 15 | Split Croatia | 68% | $1,754 | $2,918 | 2,918 USD/month left after costsAffordability scores 80/100Safety scores 86/100Beach access scores 100/100Connectivity is weak here (16/100) |
The top five, in detail
Zero income tax and a remote-work visa; housing, schooling and the car you will need eat most of the tax saving.
Dubai’s tax profile at roughly 20% lower housing cost, with a quieter, more family-oriented and more car-dependent city.
Beach, bike lanes and Barcelona weather at roughly two-thirds the cost — the current value pick of coastal Spain.
The default European nomad base: sun, coastline, a dedicated remote-work visa — and rents now priced for foreign income.
Other guides
Frequently asked
How was this best cities with an actual digital-nomad visa list produced?
It is a calculation, not an opinion. Each of the 70 cities in the dataset is scored 0–100 on ten dimensions, weighted by the criteria for this guide (Remote-work visa available; Money left over on a $96,000 salary; Broadband speed; English proficiency; Safety), and ranked on the weighted average. Costs are measured against a $96,000 gross salary taxed under each country's own rules.
What household does this price?
1 adult, in a 1-bed, city centre, at a moderate lifestyle, without a car. You can change all of that in the live tool.
What is the number one cities with an actual digital-nomad visa?
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with a 84% match and a modelled monthly cost of $3,417 for this household. Zero income tax and a remote-work visa; housing, schooling and the car you will need eat most of the tax saving.