Rankings
Best Cities for Remote Workers by Cost
This cost-first ranking favors lower overall cost, lower rent pressure, and manageable monthly transport benchmarks. It does not yet include visa rules, internet quality, taxes, or coworking availability.
Scoring model
Remote-worker score combines overall affordability, rent relief, and transport affordability. It is designed for early city screening, not as a full quality-of-life ranking.
| Rank | City | Country | Remote score | Cost index | Rent index | Transport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia | 72 | 37.4 | 13.8 | MYR 50 |
| 2 | Chengdu | China | 70 | 28 | 9.6 | CN¥165 |
| 3 | Da Nang | Vietnam | 69 | 26.2 | 11.2 | ₫100,000 |
| 4 | Hangzhou | China | 68 | 35.1 | 15 | CN¥120 |
| 5 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | 67 | 50.6 | 17.6 | $20 |
| 6 | Chiang Mai | Thailand | 66 | 32.6 | 10.3 | THB 1,800 |
| 7 | Ho Chi Minh City | Vietnam | 64 | 34 | 14 | ₫200,000 |
| 8 | Shenzhen | China | 63 | 37.4 | 17.5 | CN¥150 |
| 9 | Medellin | Colombia | 63 | 37.2 | 14.3 | COP 200,000 |
| 10 | Guangzhou | China | 63 | 35 | 16 | CN¥200 |
| 11 | Panama City | Panama | 62 | 53 | 26 | $30 |
| 12 | Malaga | Spain | 61 | 52 | 29 | €40 |
| 13 | Porto | Portugal | 61 | 50.5 | 30.5 | €40 |
| 14 | Valencia | Spain | 61 | 50.3 | 31.1 | €35 |
| 15 | Bangkok | Thailand | 59 | 41.4 | 19.6 | THB 1,155 |
| 16 | Beijing | China | 59 | 37.6 | 23.5 | CN¥240 |
| 17 | Shanghai | China | 58 | 39.4 | 22.7 | CN¥250 |
| 18 | Lisbon | Portugal | 56 | 54.2 | 38.6 | €40 |
| 19 | Madrid | Spain | 54 | 60 | 36.2 | €35 |
| 20 | Vienna | Austria | 53 | 66 | 31 | €51 |
| 21 | Taipei | Taiwan | 53 | 54.7 | 19.6 | NT$1,200 |
| 22 | Budapest | Hungary | 53 | 52.6 | 20.5 | HUF 8,950 |
| 23 | Mexico City | Mexico | 53 | 45.9 | 28.1 | MX$400 |
| 24 | Tokyo | Japan | 51 | 54.2 | 24.3 | ¥10,000 |
| 25 | Barcelona | Spain | 50 | 63 | 43 | €40 |
| 26 | Berlin | Germany | 48 | 70.7 | 34.3 | €63 |
| 27 | Seoul | South Korea | 48 | 62.5 | 22.1 | ₩62,000 |
| 28 | Austin | United States | 47 | 68.1 | 45.6 | $41 |
| 29 | Toronto | Canada | 43 | 65.8 | 36.7 | CA$156 |
| 30 | Munich | Germany | 42 | 76.1 | 45.4 | €58 |
| 31 | Abu Dhabi | United Arab Emirates | 42 | 52.7 | 48.8 | AED 300 |
| 32 | Paris | France | 41 | 78 | 38.9 | €91 |
| 33 | Vancouver | Canada | 41 | 68.5 | 44.6 | CA$117 |
| 34 | Chicago | United States | 38 | 74.6 | 53.2 | $75 |
| 35 | Auckland | New Zealand | 38 | 70 | 39 | NZ$215 |
| 36 | Melbourne | Australia | 36 | 77.1 | 41.1 | A$155 |
| 37 | Dubai | United Arab Emirates | 34 | 61.8 | 56.9 | AED 350 |
| 38 | Dublin | Ireland | 33 | 76.7 | 59.7 | €96 |
| 39 | Hong Kong | Hong Kong | 30 | 73.8 | 55.5 | HK$600 |
| 40 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | 29 | 82.6 | 60 | €105 |
| 41 | Los Angeles | United States | 29 | 82.4 | 66.6 | $72 |
| 42 | Seattle | United States | 28 | 89 | 57 | $99 |
| 43 | Copenhagen | Denmark | 28 | 85.7 | 46.1 | DKK 750 |
| 44 | Sydney | Australia | 27 | 78.1 | 56.1 | A$200 |
| 45 | Miami | United States | 26 | 84.8 | 65.5 | $113 |
| 46 | Boston | United States | 24 | 85 | 74.6 | $90 |
| 47 | Singapore | Singapore | 23 | 88.2 | 65.8 | SGD 128 |
| 48 | London | United Kingdom | 21 | 87.1 | 62.4 | £172 |
| 49 | San Francisco | United States | 19 | 95.2 | 76 | $86 |
| 50 | New York | United States | 3 | 100 | 100 | $144 |