Japan has three cities in the global top 10 for remote workers, while Barcelona and Madrid lead Europe in a new ranking of the best cities for digital nomads.
Aerial view of Tokyo cityscape with Fuji mountain in Japan/By: tawatchaiprakobkit/iStock
The rise of remote work has changed the way many travellers think about longer stays. Reliable internet is essential, but affordable living, places to work, cultural attractions, nightlife and even the weather can all influence whether a city is a good base.
A new ranking from independent VPN review platform VPN JPN assessed 104 major cities worldwide, scoring them on factors including work-friendly venues, entertainment, cultural attractions, internet speeds, affordability and the number of comfortable working days.
The study initially considered 150 of the world’s largest cities before excluding 46 for various reasons. Each destination received an overall score out of 100.
According to EuroNews, cities across Asia dominate the list, with three Japanese destinations among the top 10.
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1. Seoul, South Korea
Seoul takes the top spot with a score of 73.60.
The South Korean capital performs particularly well for remote workers, with a high concentration of places to work and a strong selection of entertainment and cultural venues.
It also records the fastest internet download speed among the top 10 cities at 69.27 Mbps. Seoul’s affordability score suggests prices are about 36% lower than the US benchmark used by the study.
2. Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo follows closely behind with a score of 72.61.
While it has slightly fewer places to work than Seoul, Tokyo stands out for what happens after the laptop closes. The city has the highest concentration of going-out venues in the top 10, as well as an impressive number of cultural attractions.
For digital nomads looking for a big-city experience with plenty to explore after work, Tokyo offers a particularly strong combination.
3. Hanoi, Vietnam
Hanoi ranks third with 71.86.
The Vietnamese capital records the highest concentration of places to work among the top 10, with 96.88 per square kilometre. It is also one of the most affordable destinations on the list.
Its climate gives it another advantage, with 180 comfortable working days recorded by the study. Internet speeds, however, are considerably slower than those in Seoul and Tokyo.
4. Taipei, Taiwan
Taipei scores 70.98 to take fourth place.
The city combines a strong selection of workspaces with plenty of restaurants, nightlife and cultural attractions. Prices are also considerably lower than the US benchmark used in the research.
5. Osaka, Japan
Osaka rounds out the top five with a score of 70.15.
Like Tokyo, Osaka benefits from Japan’s strong internet infrastructure and extensive entertainment options. It has more than 350 going-out venues per square kilometre, second only to Tokyo among the leading destinations.
Spain leads Europe’s digital nomad destinations
Europe has two representatives in the global top 10, with both coming from Spain.
6. Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona ranks sixth with a score of 68.11.
The Catalan capital has fewer work-friendly venues than several Asian cities above it, but performs well across other categories.
Spain also records the fastest national upload speed among the top 15 destinations in the study. Barcelona has plenty of entertainment and cultural options, as well as 164 comfortable working days.
7. Madrid, Spain
Madrid follows in seventh place with 66.67.
Madrid and Barcelona share the same national internet and price-level scores, but Barcelona edges ahead thanks to its slightly higher concentration of workspaces, entertainment venues and cultural attractions.
Madrid also records fewer comfortable working days than Barcelona.
São Paulo and two more Asian cities complete the top 10
São Paulo takes eighth place, also scoring 66.67.
Its biggest advantage is the weather. The Brazilian city records 252 comfortable working days – the highest figure among the top 10. Prices are also around 53% lower than the US benchmark.
Japan appears for a third time at number nine, with Nagoya scoring 64.97.
Nagoya benefits from Japan’s strong internet infrastructure, although its weather score is weaker than those of several other leading destinations.
The final place in the top 10 goes to Ho Chi Minh City, which scores 64.28. Like Hanoi, it combines relatively low living costs with a strong concentration of places where remote workers can work and socialise.
For travellers considering a workcation or a longer stay abroad, the ranking highlights just how competitive Asian cities have become – with Japan, Vietnam, South Korea and Taiwan all featuring prominently.
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