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Are you a digital nomad who has become disillusioned with the American dream, and perhaps you are thinking of moving across the pond to the Old Continent, where crime rates are lower, the cities are indisputably more beautiful and the quality of life is higher?
We got you.
Options abound, from the cosmopolitan United Kingdom to the balmy, laid-back Mediterranean island of Malta, but not all European countries are exactly affordable – even by American standards – nor will they welcome visitors in the medium to long term.
Offering a lower cost of living, a lot of of cultural valueand even easier paths to permanent residency, these are the top 5 European countries for digital nomads straight away:
Czech Republic
Located right in the center of Europe, the Czech Republic is home to Prague, a capital with a rich medieval heritage, with a spire-studded Old Town and cobbled streets leading to castles and imposing Gothic churches dating back centuries – long before America even existed. existed. organized.
With a population of just over 10 million inhabitants, spread over cities that could easily belong in one country medieval fantasy novel – look up Cesky Krumlov – this overlooked country offers pints for beer-thirsty nomads for $3 and mid-range meals in local eateries for as cheap as $10.
The rent is also considerably cheaper than in Western Europe.33% cheaper than Paris– and nomads have reported that they can live in Prague without brushing up on their non-existent Czech (apparently local English fluency has improved).
If an American digital nomad enters the Czech Republic as a tourist, he can only get in for just 90 days out of a 180 day periodalthough a one-year, renewable visa is available more prosperous workers who earn more than $6,000 per month.
Portugal
The westernmost of the European countries, Portugal, governs 1,815 miles of Atlantic coastline and two paradisiacal archipelagos surrounded by the azure sea, and it is the birthplace of the social media hit pastel de nata, the iconic custard tard and octopus-based polvo a lagareiro.
Apart from the coastal views and great cuisine, it’s best known for its vibrant towns and laid-back atmosphere, with the Baroque wonders of Lisbon and Porto, the sun-drenched Algarve and the wild island of Madeira immediately coming to mind as nomadic hotspots.
Portugal stands out as much as the least expensive Western European country: If you are a nomad on a budget, you can find this one easily pastelarias serves lunch menus for $7, and outside the major conurbations (read Lisbon) rentals start from just $450.
Like the Czech Republic, Portugal is a member of Schengen, so you can only stay in the country as a visitor for 90 days within a rolling six-month period. On the other hand, it is much easier to qualify for their DNV because the financial requirements are set in a brown color acceptable $3,510.
Albania
Tucked away on the Balkan Peninsula, and officially Europe’s most affordable sunny destination as rated by Travel Off Path experts, Albania is an underrated gem stretching across the turquoise Adriatic Sea with paradisiacal beaches and resort zones galore.
The main leisure destination, the informal seaside resort of Ksamil, was mentioned one of our own top digital nomad destinations for 2024and when it comes to café culture, we doubt any other European city could beat the Albanian capital Tirana and its work-friendly bistros.
Other nomad paradises include Shkoder, a compact city famous for its hilltop Rozafa fortress and a compact, restored Old Town, filled with charming cafes that rival those of Tirana, the whitewashed Ottoman-era Berat, and the stone Gjirokaster, a UNESCO World Heritage Site settlement. in southern Albania.
Between the cheap rent – $453 for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center – and the affordable food – a three-course meal at a local restaurant for two people costs just $37 – you’ll find comfortable living in Albania for less than $2,000 per month is perfectly feasible.
Most importantly, Albania is a kind of nomadic motherland, thanks in large part to its incredibly generous visa policy: all tourists can stay for 90 days, regardless of the time they spend in other European countries, and Americans in particular get a whole year visa-free.
Hungary
The second highest mapped European country on the Nomad list In the rankings, Hungary is best represented by Budapest, the stately capital straddling the fast-flowing Danube River, with a skyline dominated by palatial complexes, Baroque masterpieces and soaring domes.
It is undoubtedly the best equipped city for digital nomads based in Hungary, with its abundance of coworking spaces and priceless cultural offerings, but that’s not to say the country as a whole is short on infrastructure, let alone natural beauty.
Outside of Budapest, Hungary’s top attraction is Lake Balaton, also known as the Hungarian Sea, a large body of water surrounded by holiday homes, luxury villas and fully furnished AirBnB stays that offer an escape from the hustle and bustle. hustle and bustle of Budapest over a long weekend.
If instead you’re looking for mid-sized cities that aren’t as touristy as the capital, but still have a bit of a social scene, Hungary’s second largest conurbation, Debrecen, and deeply historic Pécs, on the border with Croatia, surrounded by green mountains, are your top choices.
North Macedonia
The unexpected winner, North Macedonia, is another seriously overlooked Balkan country, this time landlocked, which never really saw a tourism revival in the aftermath of the Yugoslav war of the 1990s, despite being is completely safe to visit and just as fascinating as Croatia or Slovenia.
Interestingly, it seems that it has found its calling as a digital nomad hub, and is currently the number one European country on the leading platform for digital nomads, which is not only praised for its cultural wealth; the charming lakeside town of Ohrid is magical. But especially affordability.
If you live in Skopje, the North Macedonian capital, and probably the city with the highest concentration of kitschy statues and quirky cafes in the world, you could live less than $1,352 per monthor even $836 if you’re really frugal.
Rental prices in Skopje are average 81% cheaper than in Western European cities – a one-bedroom apartment in the city center can be shockingly cheap if you sign a local contract – and meals in cheap local restaurants are unlikely to cost you more than $7.
Nomads also love Macedonia for the same reason they’ve been flocking to neighboring Albania lately: it’s not a member of the Schengen area, so the restrictive 90-day rule does not apply– they get three independent months here, and obtaining a residence visa is relatively easy.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
