Cheap cities that still have fast internet
The cheapest cities in the world are often the ones where a video call drops twice an hour. Weighting connectivity as heavily as cost surfaces the places where both hold.
The ranking
| # | City | Match | Monthly cost | Why it ranks here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 81% | $3,676 | Connectivity scores 100/100Safety scores 94/100English usability scores 92/100No remote-work visa route |
| 2 | Dubai United Arab Emirates | 80% | $3,417 | Connectivity scores 100/100Safety scores 88/100English usability scores 88/100 |
| 3 | Stockholm Sweden | 78% | $2,723 | English usability scores 96/100Safety scores 84/100No remote-work visa route |
| 4 | Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates | 78% | $2,960 | Connectivity scores 96/100Safety scores 92/100English usability scores 86/100 |
| 5 | Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR | 77% | $3,435 | Connectivity scores 96/100Safety scores 86/100No remote-work visa route |
| 6 | Copenhagen Denmark | 76% | $3,274 | English usability scores 94/100Safety scores 88/100No remote-work visa route |
| 7 | Valencia Spain | 75% | $1,912 | Affordability scores 79/100Safety scores 80/100Healthcare scores 84/100 |
| 8 | Tokyo Japan | 74% | $2,588 | Connectivity scores 88/100Safety scores 94/100Getting around scores 94/100English usability is weak here (30/100) |
| 9 | Osaka Japan | 74% | $2,202 | Connectivity scores 86/100Safety scores 92/100Getting around scores 91/100English usability is weak here (26/100) |
| 10 | Barcelona Spain | 74% | $2,519 | |
| 11 | Doha Qatar | 74% | $2,777 | Connectivity scores 80/100Safety scores 92/100English usability scores 80/100No remote-work visa route |
| 12 | Tallinn Estonia | 73% | $1,840 | Affordability scores 80/100Safety scores 84/100English usability scores 80/100 |
| 13 | Bucharest Romania | 73% | $1,331 | Affordability scores 89/100Connectivity scores 84/100 |
| 14 | Lisbon Portugal | 73% | $2,416 | English usability scores 82/100Safety scores 78/100 |
| 15 | Madrid Spain | 72% | $2,369 | Safety scores 76/100Getting around scores 91/100 |
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.
Capped childcare fees and universal healthcare make family costs unusually low relative to the headline tax rate.
Dubai’s tax profile at roughly 20% lower housing cost, with a quieter, more family-oriented and more car-dependent city.
A ~15% effective tax ceiling and superb transit, paid for entirely in square metres.
Other guides
Frequently asked
How was this cheap cities that still have fast internet 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 (Median broadband speed; Total monthly cost; Safety; English proficiency), and ranked on the weighted average. Cost is scored relative to the rest of the shortlist.
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 cheap cities that still have fast internet?
Singapore, Singapore, with a 81% match and a modelled monthly cost of $3,676 for this household. The best-run city in Asia with low taxes and top-tier healthcare — housing and car ownership are the exceptions.