The Best Cities & Locations To Work From Remotely

Published: 20th February 2023

If you're an entrepreneur, freelancer, or remote employee, you've probably fantasized about working from exotic places like a tropical beach. This dream is ubiquitous—but it doesn't have to be a fantasy.

Man laughing pointing with finger

The line between fantasy and reality is becoming blurred for many seasoned professionals and job seekers who are looking for more flexible work options.

"81.21% of candidates in March 2022 chose "work from anywhere schemes" as their top benefit when searching for a new role."

- flexa.careers - Flexible Working Insights 2022

There are plenty of places where remote workers can find beautiful views, affordable housing, good food, and good internet access to help them get their work done. In addition, many countries are opening up their visa requirements for remote workers and digital nomads, making it easier to stay in one place for an extended period of time.

We've put together this list of our favorite cities and places where you can work remotely and enjoy a rich culture at the same time. We have looked at 3 costs that are important to consider when deciding where to conduct a workation or when you are looking into finding the best places to work remotely for a month or longer:

🏠 Average monthly rent - as an indicator for housing costs. Of course, this will differ depending on the time spent in a location

📶 Average internet speed - in order to know whether remote work is possible or a struggle

Regular cappuccino - the fuel and lifeline for many remote workers

All prices are converted to USD $ at the time of writing.

We’ve uncovered some exciting locations you most likely wouldn't have considered before. Let's get into it by traveling to some of the best places to live and work remotely. 

How about visiting;

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Temple in Chiang Main, Thailand

🏠 Average monthly rent: 302 $ for a 1-bedroom in the city center

📶 Average internet speed: 🚀Fast - 17 Mbps

Regular cappucino: 1,55 $

Chiang Mai is one of the best places to work remotely in Southeast Asia. The city is a major hub for expats and has a large community of English speakers, making it easy to find colleagues or collaborators who can help you with your work or project. In fact, Chiang Mai has many coworking spaces where you can connect with other remote workers and entrepreneurs. The cost of living is also low compared with other popular destinations in Southeast Asia such as Bangkok and Singapore. 

Medellin, Colombia

Downtown Medellin, Colombia

🏠 Average monthly rent: 302 $ for a 1-bedroom in the city center

📶 Average internet Speed: 🐌 Slow - 5 Mbps

☕ Regular Cappucino: 1,19 $

Medellin is a great place to work remotely because of its affordable prices and the fact that you can get around without speaking Spanish (which does not mean you shouldn’t learn it!). The city is full of great museums, restaurants, and nightlife that will make your visit a memorable one.

Lisbon, Portugal

Tram in Lisbon, Portugal

🏠 Average monthly rent: 1,011 $ for a 1-bedroom in the city center

📶 Average internet speed: 🚀Fast - 30 Mbps

☕ Regular cappucino: 1,87 $

Lisbon is a great place to work remotely, especially if you love seafood. The city's gastronomy is heavily influenced by its proximity to the ocean. As a result, there are several local dishes that will make your mouth water. Internet speeds here are generally fast and will allow you to host video calls without issues.

Cape Town, South Africa

Topview Capetown, South-Africa

🏠 Average monthly rent: 680 $ for a 1-bedroom in the city center

📶 Average internet speed: 🐌 Slow - 6 Mbps

☕ Regular cappucino: 1,75 $

Cape Town is a beautiful and vibrant city that offers a great climate and an abundance of natural beauty. The city has four distinct seasons: summer from December to February, winter from June to August, spring from September to November, and autumn from March to May. If you’re looking for a peaceful place away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, Cape Town may be the perfect location for you to work remotely. The beaches here are widely considered to be some of the most beautiful in the world.

Bali, Indonesia

Jungle view Bali, Indonesia

🏠 Average monthly rent: 490 $ for a 1-bedroom (average price for the island)

📶 Average internet speed: 🚀Fast - 27 Mbs (Ubud)

Regular cappucino: 2,09 $

Bali might be the most famous place to work remotely. The people are friendly, the weather is nice and the food is delicious. Bali has many coworking spaces where you can work in a relaxed environment. There is a huge remote worker and expat community with regular events and gatherings, making it easy to find like-minded people on the go. If you are planning to visit Bali for an extended period of time, there are many places that will be able to accommodate you.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Downtown Playa del Carmen, Mexico

🏠 Average monthly rent: 813 $ for a 1-bedroom in the city center

📶 Average internet speed: 🐌 Slow - 6 Mbps

☕ Regular cappucino: 2,29 $

Playa del Carmen is the best place to work remotely in Mexico, especially for those who love to have the beach right at the door of their city apartment. The weather is nice and warm year-round, which makes it a perfect place to enjoy your day off from work. Playa del Carmen has many shared office spaces where you can work in a relaxed environment. There are also many long-term places to stay in Playa del Carmen if you want to visit for a while and not just work there. If you're looking for something more urban, head to Mexico City or Guadalajara — both have huge populations but are still relatively affordable places.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Downtown San Juan, Puerto Rico

🏠 Average monthly rent: 2,108 $ for a 1-bedroom in the city center

📶 Average internet speed: 🚀Fast - 19 Mbps

☕ Regular cappucino: 3,19 $

San Juan, Puerto Rico

San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico and a magical place to live. The city is filled with coworking spaces, cafes, and restaurants that are perfect for working remotely. If you're looking for inspiration when trying to get work done in your remote office, San Juan has plenty of cultures that will inspire you. It's a safe city with an affordable cost of living that makes it easy to afford living there while doing work remotely!

Budapest, Hungary

Skyline Hungary, Budapest

🏠 Average monthly rent: 425 $ for a 1-bedroom in the city center

📶 Average internet speed: 🚀Fast - 30 Mbps

☕ Regular cappucino: 1,61 $

Budapest is a city that has a lot to offer, with a rich history and culture. Not only is it one of the most affordable cities in Europe, but you'll find plenty of coworking spaces and cafes to choose from when working remotely. The variety of delicious food options makes this city an obvious choice for anyone looking to work online while traveling.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Night Market Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

🏠 Average monthly rent: 428 $ for a 1-bedroom in the city center

📶 Average internet speed: 🚀Fast - 11 Mbps

☕ Regular cappucino: 2,60 $

Kuala Lumpur is an ideal place to work remotely with a vibrant startup scene. You'll get to enjoy Malaysian food (which is delicious), meet friendly locals, and explore the city's beautiful architecture. Plus, if you're into tech startups or want to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes in one of these companies, Kuala Lumpur is home to several accelerators in this space. 

Are you dreaming of an exotic location?

Here Are Some Unobvious Places That Can Also Be Great Locations To Work Remotely

When you think of working in a new place the first thing that comes to mind is to check out a co-working space. There are indeed many amazing coworking spaces that you can even book ahead as a working retreat.

Some locations you might have never considered for remote work, although they could be your ideal spot. We have compiled a list of three potential new ideas for you:

1. A Campervan can be a great way to explore new places whilst working and being on the road

2. Hiking up a mountain can be a great way to work at a place where no one else is. Just make sure you bring your own strong mobile internet connection.

Workplace on a mountain hill

3. In a Park might not come to mind for working remotely, but with the right setup it can be nice to get work done surrounded by nature 

Sky view on a park

Keep in mind that you should be able to stay productive while working remotely as your main goal is to get work done.

The Best Places To Work Remotely Are The Ones That Suit You 

We hope you’re inspired to visit some of these places — or at least think about how they could work for your remote workplace. If anything, we think the best takeaway is that there are so many great locations out there with high-speed internet, good coffee, and incredible scenery that you can take advantage of as a remote worker. What are you waiting for? Get out and explore!

Take your workplace interactions to the next level with Doozy's Team Socials Feature, facilitating seamless communication and fostering a tighter-knit community among team members - sign up for free today and discover a better way to engage!

Image Credit

Jesse K.
Author

Jesse K.

Jesse helps companies working remotely create a social connection by providing trending topics & inspiration via remotenactive.com

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