Best places for digital nomads to stay in 2025

Choosing where to stay is one of the biggest decisions for digital nomads. A city can shape your productivity, your social life, and even your savings. Some destinations stand out because they offer affordable housing, reliable internet, and welcoming communities. Others attract nomads with culture, food, or nature. The landscape changes every year as new hubs rise and old favorites adapt. In 2025, the best places for digital nomads reflect both traditional hotspots and emerging cities. To put these destinations into context, the complete guide on digital nomad accommodation explains how housing shapes the overall nomadic lifestyle.

What makes a city attractive for digital nomads

Not every city suits remote workers. The key factors that nomads consider include:

• Internet quality: Reliable Wi-Fi is essential for work.
• Housing costs: Accommodation usually takes the biggest part of the budget.
• Community: Meeting other nomads or locals helps avoid isolation.
• Safety: A safe environment makes it easier to stay long-term.
• Visa options: Some countries now offer special digital nomad visas.
• Lifestyle balance: Access to nature, good food, and cultural life adds to the experience.

When these elements align, a city can become a nomad hotspot.

Top destinations for 2025

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon remains one of the strongest hubs for nomads in Europe. The city combines historic charm with a modern digital ecosystem. Housing ranges from co-living houses to private rentals, and the local community is active with regular meetups.

• Internet: Strong and widely available.
• Average rent: $900–1,200 for a one-bedroom flat.
• Highlights: Sunny weather, good food, safe environment, easy connections to Europe.
• Downsides: Rising housing costs due to popularity.

Bali, Indonesia

Bali is often the first name mentioned when nomads talk about Asia. Ubud and Canggu are especially popular. The island mixes affordable living with a vibrant coworking scene. Villas and co-living spaces make accommodation easy to find.

• Internet: Good in most hubs, but can be unstable in remote areas.
• Average rent: $400–700 for a private villa or apartment.
• Highlights: Wellness culture, community, nature.
• Downsides: Crowds in peak season, visa runs for long stays.

Medellín, Colombia

Known as the “City of Eternal Spring,” Medellín has become a leading hub in Latin America. The cost of living is low compared to North America or Europe, and co-living options are expanding.

• Internet: Reliable and fast.
• Average rent: $500–800 for central apartments.
• Highlights: Mild weather, growing tech scene, friendly locals.
• Downsides: Safety can vary by neighborhood.

Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City is massive, dynamic, and full of life. It attracts nomads with culture, food, and an expanding coworking scene. Certain neighborhoods like Roma and Condesa are favorites.

• Internet: Strong and consistent in central areas.
• Average rent: $600–1,000 depending on district.
• Highlights: Culture, food, easy travel links.
• Downsides: Noise and traffic can be overwhelming.

Dakhla, Morocco

Dakhla is a more unusual choice but growing in appeal. This calm city in southern Morocco is famous for kitesurfing and peaceful surroundings. While not as developed as Lisbon or Bali, it offers something different: quiet, nature, and focus.

• Internet: Improving, with reliable options in the city center.
• Average rent: $300–500 for apartments.
• Highlights: Ocean, sports culture, affordable housing.
• Downsides: Smaller community, limited nightlife.

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest has become a favorite in Central Europe thanks to affordable housing and strong internet. The city has coworking spaces and a fun social life.

• Internet: Excellent speeds across the city.
• Average rent: $600–900.
• Highlights: Central location in Europe, cultural mix, thermal baths.
• Downsides: Cold winters compared to southern Europe.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai has been a pioneer in the nomad movement. It is affordable, calm, and rich in coworking cafes. While Bali is more famous now, Chiang Mai still offers a strong base for those who prefer a smaller city.

• Internet: Reliable, strong in cafes and coworking spots.
• Average rent: $300–500.
• Highlights: Low cost, calm pace, large nomad community.
• Downsides: Air pollution in burning season.

Cost comparison

City	Avg. Monthly Rent (USD)	Internet quality	Community size	Lifestyle score
Lisbon	900–1,200	Excellent	Large	High
Bali	400–700	Good	Large	High
Medellín	500–800	Excellent	Medium+	High
Mexico City	600–1,000	Excellent	Medium+	High
Dakhla	300–500	Good	Small	Medium+
Budapest	600–900	Excellent	Medium	High
Chiang Mai	300–500	Excellent	Large	High

This table shows how costs and quality vary. Europe is more expensive but offers strong infrastructure. Latin America and Asia balance lower prices with growing communities. Emerging places like Dakhla give unique lifestyle value at lower costs.

Visa-friendly destinations

Some of the best cities are also in countries offering digital nomad visas.

• Portugal: The D7 visa allows remote workers to stay long-term.
• Indonesia: Plans for a five-year digital nomad visa are under discussion.
• Colombia: A new digital nomad visa was launched in 2022.
• Mexico: Offers temporary residence visas up to four years.
• Morocco: Currently no special visa, but stays up to 90 days are common.

These options make it easier to plan long-term stays instead of worrying about constant renewals.

Lifestyle balance

A great city for nomads is not just cheap or connected. It must also provide balance.

• Work: Access to coworking spaces and strong internet.
• Social life: Communities, meetups, events.
• Well-being: Nature, sports, healthy food.
• Culture: Local traditions, history, and art.

Lisbon scores high on all these points. Bali offers wellness and creativity. Medellín combines tech and friendly culture. Each city brings a different balance that fits different personalities.

Emerging destinations to watch

Some cities are not yet major hubs but may grow in 2025 and beyond.

• Tbilisi, Georgia: Low costs, friendly visa, growing coworking scene.
• Da Nang, Vietnam: Affordable housing, ocean, good internet.
• Cape Town, South Africa: Stunning nature and improving nomad community.
• Buenos Aires, Argentina: Cultural hub with low costs due to currency exchange.

These cities might attract nomads looking for alternatives outside the mainstream.

Practical tips when choosing a city

1. Compare the cost of living beyond rent, including food and transport.
2. Look at seasonal changes. Some places are perfect in winter but crowded in summer.
3. Test short stays before committing to long-term rentals.
4. Join online groups for local nomads to get updated advice.
5. Balance your goals. If you need deep focus, choose calmer cities. If you want networking, go for larger hubs.

Conclusion

The best places for digital nomads in 2025 are a mix of classic hubs like Lisbon, Bali, and Chiang Mai, and newer options like Dakhla or Mexico City. Each destination has its own strengths, from cost savings to culture. The choice depends on what matters most: community, comfort, or lifestyle balance. For those interested in keeping housing affordable, it is worth reading more about cheap accommodation for digital nomads to learn strategies that apply across all these cities.