Best places in the world to work remotely
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If you’re struggling to keep pace with rising property prices and fancy an adventure, why not consider working from a different country this year? NomadList, set up by Amsterdam entrepreneur Pieter Levels, has compiled a list of the best cities to live and work remotely, scoring cities on factors including monthly cost of short-term living, transport, internet speed, safety level and density of WiFi-connected coffee shops. The ranking is updated hourly, taking into account fresh data.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Cost of living: £772 a month
Malaysia’s capital city has been named the best place for shopping in the world (at least, according to Jimmy Choo’s shoe designer). Kuala Lumpur is cheap for overseas visitors, and the cost of living is low. Malay, English, Cantonese and Mandarin are all spoken here. You can find shared office space for an average of £81, or a 1-bed apartment to rent will cost around £406.
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Cost of living: £695 a month
A city steeped in history, Siem Reap was the centre of the great 12th-century Khmer civilisation that built Angkor Wat and dozens of other temple collections. This city in northwestern Cambodia ranks highly on Nomad for quality of life and its friendliness to visitors. Rent is £245 a month and you can eat out for around £2.60.
Sofia, Bulgaria
Cost of living: £948 a month
The capital of Bulgaria is rising up the ranks when it comes to both tourism and as a place to work. The main languages are Bulgarian, Turkish and Roma - however, many locals speak English. Sofia’s key selling point is its tax rate - just 10pc for individuals and corporations. The city is friendly to foreigners and average rent is £256 a month. Average WiFi speed is 40 megabits per second.
A Coruna – Galicia, Spain
Cost of living: £1,236 a month
This port city in northern Spain is known for its long urban beaches. A Coruna is packed with shops, cafés, tapas bars and restaurants and is home to around a quarter of a million people. Rent is £217 and the average tax rate is 26pc. Average internet speed is 30Mbps.
Hanoi, Vietnam
Cost of living: £691 a month
Vietnam’s small capital city is a mixture of modern highways and traditional infrastructure. English is widely spoken and the city is friendly to foreigners. Shared office space can be rented for just £32 a month. A 1-bed apartment will set you back £314 a month.
Mar del Plata, Argentina
Cost of living: £808 a month
Mar del Plata is the second largest city in the Buenos Aires Province. Located on the coast, it benefits from long beaches and stunning landscape. Mar del Plata has a lower cost of living than other Argentinian cities like Buenos Aires. Average monthly rent is £154 and the average tax rate is 22pc.
Penang, Malaysia
Cost of living: £683 a month
Penang is the busiest place in Malaysia. Its population is diverse in ethnicity and culture and Malay, English, Cantonese, Mandarin are all spoken here. The average rent is under £334 and shared working space can be rented for £81. Individual tax rate is a maximum of 26pc.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Cost of living: £1,445 a month
Despite having a relatively high cost of living, San Juan in Central America is tempting workers and tourists with a combination of tropical weather, numerous festivals and a swathe of high-end resorts and restaurants. Puerto Rico is a territory of the US, so uses the dollar and benefits from sophisticated American infrastructure. Its culture is fundamentally Hispanic, with Spanish the first language. Average monthly rent is £467 for a 1-bed place.
Prague, Czech Republic
Cost of living: £756 a month
Gleaming software company offices and fashion chains are interspersed with fabulously restored Baroque architecture and cobbled lanes of Old Town in Prague. Average monthly rent is £301 for a 1-bed apartment in the city centre, while a basic meal out can be found for £3.30. Average WiFi speed is good at 40Mbps.
Pai, Thailand
Cost of living: £672 a month
This small town in northern Thailand, near the Myanmar border, has low monthly rent and the cost of living is very cheap – eating out will cost you around 70p. Co-working space is relatively expensive at £307 - and you can rent a 1 bed apartment for £205 a month.
Phuket, Thailand
Cost of living: £664 a month
Another place in Thailand completes the top 3. Phuket, the country’s largest island, is one of Thailand’s most popular tourist destinations. A basic meal costs £1.30 and you’re bound to have warm weather, with temperatures of around 30°C all year round. However, free WiFi availability is given just 2 stars out of 5, and speed is 20Mbps.
Bangkok, Thailand
Cost of living: £903
The cost of living in Bangkok is relatively high compared to other Asian cities. However, it ranks highly for level of safety, free WiFi access and for being friendly to foreigners. Individual tax rate is 18pc.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Ranked top place by NomadList, this city in northern Thailand has a low cost of living, a warm climate and you can rent shared working space for an average of £71 a month. Chiang Mai is known for its cafe culture, with many places offering free WiFi and good air conditioning. Average WiFi speed is 20Mbps. The city has an active blogging community, and many Asia-based freelancers come here when needing some space to finish projects. A basic meal will set you back £1.30. Rent for a 1 bedroom apartment in the city is £205.
