It feels like new digital nomad visas are popping up every month. One month it’s Portugal, the next it’s Spain, and tomorrow it’s South Africa.
To help you keep track of which countries offer these visas, there are several websites available. Investopedia is my favorite so far, as it’s very concise and has a world map.
Not surprisingly, there are more and more articles with the title, “The best city for digital nomads!” Of course, each article has a different best city, and “the best” really depends on your specific situation and what you are looking for.
However there’s a recent study I found particularly interesting and want to share with you. IWG, a flexible workplace company, compared 26 cities around the world and scored them from 1 to 10 in the following categories:
- Climate
- Culture
- Accommodation
- Transport
- Food and drink
- Happiness
- Broadband speed
- Availability of flexible workspace
Based on the above, the “best” city is Barcelona, Spain. Here’s their reasoning:
- Easily attainable visa: it’s a low threshold and quick acceptance process
- Affordable cost of living: around $2000 USD / month for rent and living expenses
- Excellent weather: 300 days of sun per year
- Immersive cultural experience: lots to do and lots of history
The takeaway
If you didn’t already know, I’m biased towards Spain. I love so many things about it! This article feeds my confirmation bias, so I’m required to share the love. Perhaps you’ll visit one day and love it too 🙂