Indonesia – Canggu (Bali)

Best countries for remote work

Remote employment, freelance and online business allow you to combine career and travel. Moving to another city or country helps not only see new things, but also improve the quality of life. In this article we talked about the best countries for remote work..

Where to look for countries for remote work

Rating of countries and cities based on service data Nomadlist. This is a crowdsourcing base that constantly analyzes thousands of settlements in the world and compares them in dozens of indicators. The portal shows the best places on the planet for work and leisure, and also brings together hundreds of thousands of working travelers as a social network. The reputation of each city is determined by user ratings..

The service focuses on such indicators as:

• approximate cost of a month of residence;
• Internet speed;
• weather;
• air quality;
• choice of entertainment;
• security level;
• the quality of life;
• suitability for walks;
• suitability for remote work;
• friendliness to foreigners;
• level of English proficiency;
• racial, sexual, gender loyalty.

The site collects some of these parameters automatically from open sources, for example, air quality. But most of the indicators are determined by the users themselves..

In addition to dry schedules, the site suggests a favorable time for a trip, taxi services, online stores, sites for rental real estate, addresses of coworking, coffee shops and all that may be useful to a freelancer employee.

1. Indonesia – Kanggu (Bali)

• Visa: not needed (up to 30 days)
• Best season: June-August
• Time difference with Moscow: -5 hours

Kanggu is a cozy beach area that is part of the state of Bali in Indonesia. A good place to stay for a couple of months and enjoy the warm sea, quiet atmosphere and amazing sunsets.

A month of comfortable staying here costs about $ 1.244. On average, a hotel costs $ 445 ($ 21 / night), and a month’s rent through Airbnb costs $ 1,159 ($ 38 / night). Those who want to use coworking will have to spend another $ 250.
The main advantage of Kanggu is a pleasant atmosphere, ecology, the ability to disconnect from business and relax. There is safe traffic, a friendly and tolerant population, high-speed Internet (20 Mbit / s).

Among the minuses it is worth noting poor health care, average standard of living. Outside the tourist infrastructure, it’s hard to find English-speaking people or pay with a card.

2. Thailand – Bangkok

• Visa: not needed (up to 30 days)
• Best season: November-March
• Time difference with Moscow: -4 hours

Bangkok is the largest city of this country for remote work, which is very interesting in terms of tourism and offers a developed modern infrastructure for a freelancer. The city is characterized by convenience for walking, a large selection of entertainment, rich nightlife.

For almost all the basic indicators that are rated in the Nomadlist, Bangkok is one of the best cities in the world. There are many places for favorable work, health care, fast Internet (27 Mbit / s), good attitude towards women and LGBT people (though, racial tolerance is marked as low). Thailand’s domestic situation is stable, safe on the streets.

At the same time, in Bangkok, you will have to be very careful on the roads and encounter translation difficulties – the local population does not know English well.

The average monthly cost of living is $ 1.443. For hotel accommodation you need $ 800 ($ 37 / night), and through Airbnb – $ 1.342 ($ 44 / night). Access to coworking – $ 142 / month.

3. Argentina – Buenos Aires

• Visa: not needed (up to 90 days)
• Best season: February-May and August-December
• Time difference with Moscow: +6 hours

The capital of Argentina offers good conditions for wintering in warm places. This city has a lot of entertainment for tourists, nightlife, the beaches of the bay of Rio de la Plata.

In Buenos Aires, the average level of English, safe traffic on the road, a stable situation inside the country, tolerance of the population, high standard of living. Nomadlist users rate their enjoyment of staying in this city as maximum. True, you have to put up with not the highest quality Internet (6 Mbit / s) and do not forget about the level of security.

On average, $ 1.332 is needed for a month in the capital of Argentina. The hotel will cost $ 1,080 / month ($ 51 / night), and accommodation with Airbnb – $ 885 / month ($ 29 / night). Coworking Center Service – $ 57 per month.

4. Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh

• Visa: not needed (up to 15 days)
• Best season: July-January
• Time difference with Moscow: -4 hours

Ho Chi Minh is a historical pearl and center of business life of this country for remote work. If the high temperature does not scare you all year round, then there is everything you need for comfortable work. Good air, a large selection of cultural and historical sights, entertainment venues, security and low prices for accommodation and food.

True, difficulties are possible due to poor health care and a small number of English-speaking people. The Nomadlist community also believes that Vietnamese are intolerant of LGBT people and other races..

For one month of life in Ho Chi Minh you need, on average, $ 1,070. The hotel costs $ 787 / month or $ 37 / night, housing with Airbnb – $ 885 / month or $ 29 / night. Coworking – $ 86 / month.

5. China – Shanghai

• Visa: required
• Best season: April-May and October-November
• Time difference with Moscow: -5 hours

Shanghai is the industrial and economic center of China, as well as the most populated city in the world. According to Nomadlist users, almost everything is good in it: security, interesting nightlife, quality healthcare. There is no problem finding a place to work for a couple of hours, or a point with free Wi-Fi. Shanghaiers are hospitable, treat women and representatives of other nationalities well.

Among the shortcomings, there is a weak Internet speed (9 Mbps), poor English, intolerant attitude towards LGBT people.

A month of life in the largest metropolis in the world costs $ 1.851. The hotel costs $ 880 / month or $ 41 / night, housing with Airbnb – $ 1.312 / month or $ 43 / night. Coworking – $ 179 / month.

6. Germany – Berlin

• Visa: national or Schengen
• Best season: May-September
• Time difference with Moscow: +2 hours

Countries for remote work can not do without European states. The first in the ranking among them is Germany and its capital, Berlin. It is one of the model cities for the working traveler. Berlin pleases with a developed transport and social infrastructure, strong security and healthcare, a huge selection of day and night entertainment, and a standard of living.

But for all this you have to pay decently, put up with a temperate European climate and not the most ideal air. And in the city there are not enough free Wi-Fi points.

On average, life in Berlin costs $ 2.930 / month. Location at the hotel costs $ 1.937 / month ($ 91 / night), at Airbnb – $ 1.891 / month ($ 62 / night). To work from coworking you need $ 181 per month.

7. Portugal – Lisbon

• Visa: Schengen
• Best season: March-November
• Time difference with Moscow: +3 hours

Lisbon has many benefits that are important to expats and freelancers. This is a Mediterranean climate, access to a clean ocean, a good standard of living, security, Internet – 21 Mbit / s. They speak English, understand Spanish. The city has many beautiful locations for day walks and nightlife venues.

The main disadvantages of Lisbon are health care, average racial tolerance and relatively high cost of living. For one month you need approximately $ 2.364. Hotel accommodation costs $ 2.218 per month or $ 104 per night. Airbnb housing is much cheaper: $ 1.708 and $ 56 respectively. Coworking services – about $ 169 / month.

8. South Korea – Seoul

• Visa: not needed (up to 60 days)
• Best season: May-October
• Time difference with Moscow: -6 hours

Seoul is one of the world’s economic centers with excellent security and good health care. True, the range of entertainment is strongly biased towards restaurants and nightclubs. Nomadlist users find it difficult to find a suitable area for a walk.

Seoul has many convenient places to work, inexpensive coworking ($ 90 / month), affordable Wi-Fi, high-quality Internet (20 Mbps), but few English-speaking people and relatively expensive life. The average monthly cost is $ 2.267. Hotel accommodation costs $ 1.752 ($ 82 / night), and through Airbnb – $ .1434 ($ 47 / night).

9. Spain – Valencia

• Visa: Schengen or national
• Best season: March-May and August-October
• Time difference with Moscow: +2 hours

Valencia – a large Spanish city on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, the center of the province of the same name. This is a beautiful place with a rich history and excellent conditions for a working traveler..

According to Nomadlist, in Valencia almost everything is fine. Night entertainment, level of English proficiency and tolerance are not ideal.

A month of living in Valencia costs about $ 2.526. The hotel will have to spend $ 2.191 ($ 103 / night), and on Airbnb – $ 1.068 ($ 35 / night). Coworking – $ 222 / month.

10. Hungary – Budapest

• Visa: Schengen or national
• Best season: May-July and September-October
• Time difference with Moscow: +2 hours

Budapest deserves a place in this ranking as a developed European capital with a moderate cost of living. Monthly expenses are $ 2.228. Moving into a hotel for a long time is unprofitable – $ 2.404 / month ($ 113 / night). Better to find something on Airbnb – $ 1.861 / month ($ 61 / night). A coworking job costs $ 155 / month.

The main advantages of the Hungarian capital: safety, entertainment, lots of attractions and locations for walking. Easy to find a place to work with a laptop.

The disadvantages include unsatisfactory medical care, low racial and sexual tolerance, and poor knowledge of the English language..

11. Singapore

• Visa: required
• Best season: February-June and October-November
• Time difference with Moscow: -5 hours

An ultra-modern city-state and one of the best places for online business. In Singapore, good Internet (76 Mbps), an excellent selection of coworking ($ 219 / month), high security on roads and streets.

Among the shortcomings of this country for remote work, there is a large air pollution, hot and rainy climate, and possible difficulties in communication. The population does not have racial prejudices and treats women well, but does not favor the LGBT community.

The estimated cost of living in Singapore is $ 2.941. Hotel accommodation is relatively inexpensive for such a metropolis – $ 1.405 / month ($ 66 / night). And housing with Airbnb is decently more expensive – $ 2.135 and $ 70 respectively.

12. Serbia – Belgrade

• Visa: not needed (up to 30 days)
• Best season: May-October
• Time difference with Moscow: +2 hours

Serbia, led by its capital, is rightfully included in this rating about the best countries for remote work. Belgrade is a contrasting and dynamic city with a rich history, convenient infrastructure and low cost of living by European standards. The main advantages of the city, Nomadlist users call safety on the roads and on the streets, active nightlife, excellent Internet (32 Mbit / s), local knowledge of English.

Serbs are tolerant of other nationalities, respectful of women, but not particularly friendly with the LGBT community. And in Belgrade, polluted air and imperfect medicine.

A month of life here costs about $ 1,548. The price difference between the hotels and Airbnb is small: $ 1.208 and $ 1.251 per month or $ 57 and $ 41 per night, respectively. Affordable coworking – $ 99 per month.

13. Poland – Warsaw

• Visa: Schengen or national
• Best season: May-September
• Time difference with Moscow: +2 hours

Warsaw is an inexpensive European city located in the heart of Eastern Europe. It is distinguished by clean air, a large selection of places for walking and leisure, safety in the city and on the roads. According to Nomadlist users, Warsaw would do well to diversify nightlife and make more free Wi-Fi on the streets. Although they distinguish that the Poles are hospitable and have a good command of English.

The city is convenient for those who often make business trips. Chopin Airport serves many flights from Europe, including low-cost airlines.

A month in Warsaw costs about $ 1,782. Hotel for a month costs $ 1.250, on Airbnb – $ 1.098. Ability to work from coworking – $ 133 / month.

14. Bulgaria – Sofia

• Visa: Schengen or national
• Best season: April-June and September-October
• Time difference with Moscow: +1 hour

The capital of Bulgaria is a good place for those working travelers who like to walk along the beautiful streets and see the sights. It is easy to find a cafe or restaurant here to eat inexpensively and solve work issues on the Internet. The city has a lot of free Wi-Fi, low crime and safe traffic.

It is important to note that in Sofia the environment and poor medical infrastructure suffer. In addition, members of the Nomadlist community believe that Bulgarians are extremely intolerant of other races, nationalities and LGBT people..

A month in Sofia costs $ 1.369. Airbnb rentals cost $ 1,037 ($ 34 / night) on average, and hotel stays cost $ 827 ($ 39 / night). Coworking Cost – $ 157.

15. Czech Republic – Prague

• Visa: Schengen or national
• Best season: May-September
• Time difference with Moscow: +2 hours

The advantage of the Czech Republic as a country for remote work is expressed in its capital. One of the most romantic cities in Europe and the world provides excellent conditions for both Internet business and comfortable living. In Prague, safe, clean, beautiful, high standard of living and good internet (12 Mbps). There is a huge selection of establishments for work, leisure and nightlife. And at the weekend you can arrange a day trip to other Czech cities or to natural attractions.

According to nomadists, it would not hurt the Czechs to do more Wi-Fi in the city, it is better to learn English and become more tolerant of people of other nationalities and views.

Life in the Czech capital costs about $ 2.807 per month. A stay at the hotel costs $ 2.214 ($ 104 / night), and on Airbnb $ 3.111 ($ 102 / night). Coworking – $ 176 per month.