Tallinn named best city for remote workers

Tallinn has been named the best city for remote workers in a new ranking.

The Estonian capital topped the list thanks in part to its new “digital nomad” visa, which allows workers to move there for a year provided they meet certain criteria.

Big 7 Travel, which came up with the top 50 list, also cited Tallinn’s “booming” digital economy and its low cost of living, with rent in the city centre costing around $500 (£370) a month.

In at number two was the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, which has also introduced a remote worker visa during the pandemic.

In addition, it’s set up for remote workers thanks to various coworking spaces around the city, plus housing is much cheaper than in western European cities.

Belgrade in Serbia, Bali in Indonesia, and Chiang Mai in Thailand came in third, fourth and fifth respectively.

No UK cities make the top 50, though a number of other European destinations do, including Porto and Lisbon in Portugal, Berlin in Germany, Budapest in Hungary and Madrid in Spain.

Big 7 Travel said it compiled the list based on affordability, internet access, coworking spaces, expat-friendly communities and took into account destinations that had specific digital nomad visas.

Various countries have launched these special visas over the last year, as the pandemic forced many people to work remotely – and showed that it was entirely possible for many jobs to be done from anywhere in the world.

Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda and Barbados have all introduced their own versions, in addition to Estonia and Georgia.

Top 50 cities for digital nomads

1. Tallinn, Estonia

2. Tbilisi, Georgia

3. Belgrade, Serbia

4. Bali, Indonesia

5. Chiang Mai, Thailand

6. Berlin, Germany

7. Singapore

8. Buenos Aires, Argentina

9. Hanoi, Vietnam

10. Ljubljana, Slovenia

11. Vancouver, Canada

12. Saint Petersburg, Russia

13. Istanbul, Turkey

14. Austin, Texas

15. Shanghai, China

16. Thessaloniki, Greece

17. Malta

18. Vilnius, Lithuania

19. Playa del Carmen, Mexico

20. Kyiv, Ukraine

21. Krakow, Poland

22. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

23. Bermuda

24. Antigua and Barbuda

25. Tokyo, Japan

26. Seoul, South Korea

27. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

28. Marrakech, Morocco

29. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

30. Tel Aviv, Israel

31. Porto, Portugal

32. Madrid, Spain

33. Quito, Ecuador

34. Santiago, Chile

35. Lima, Peru

36. Bangkok, Thailand

37. Aruba

38. Budapest, Hungary

39. Medellín, Colombia

40. Taipei, Taiwan

41. Melbourne, Australia

42. Cape Town, South Africa

43. Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain

44. Zurich, Switzerland

45. Barbados

46. Lisbon, Portugal

47. Prague, Czech Republic

48. Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain

49. Mexico City, Mexico

50. Wellington, New Zealand

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