Over the past year, Spain has consistently ranked on numerous lists as one of the best, if not the best, destination for digital nomads, and a new report published by Remote.com suggests this is still the case.
According to the report, the Spanish capital Madrid has been crowned the best city in the world for remote work in 2024. The capital city has helped position Spain at the forefront of the digital nomad trend.
The study evaluated a variety of factors including internet infrastructure, openness, quality of life, incentives for remote workers, cost of living, safety, inflation, and attractiveness —ultimately placing Madrid at the top of the list.
In terms of “attractiveness”, Madrid’s appeal to remote workers is a combination of factors.
According to Remote.com, “Madrid offers the perfect combination of classical art, architecture, and cuisine, along with the ideal conditions for a remote worker visiting Spain. Nestled between the Guadarrama Mountains and the rivers of the Iberian Peninsula, Madrid is famous for its mix of medieval romance and modern sophistication.”
The city also ranked high for its ideal conditions for digital nomads. Spain offers low taxes and expat visa options targeted at freelancers and remote workers.
However, reaping the benefits of being number one for digital nomadism is tougher than it seems on paper. In Spain’s case, the country’s extreme popularity with digital nomads has forced policy makers to carefully consider the financial impact it has on locals. This reexamination of policies influenced Spain’s decision to announce that it was terminating its golden visa program — a policy which granted residency to non-EU investors purchasing property over €500,000 ($541,250).
Spanish tourism hotspots such as the Canary Islands face a fast-rising cost of living, which many locals blame on the influx of digital nomads to the island. Despite locals protesting soaring housing costs across the archipelago, the islands’ government has plans to invest €700,000 more in attracting digital nomads.
Even in the face of those protests and challenges, Spain’s thriving digital nomad scene is very much looked at as a blueprint for more than 50 countries that now offer digital nomad visas.
According to a report published by CNBC, one aspect where Spain has an advantage is catering to remote workers who can live comfortably while earning less than in their home countries. For example, expats in Madrid can enjoy a comfortable lifestyle due to the favorable cost of living and exchange rates.
The top 20 destinations for remote work included:
- Madrid, Spain
- Madeira, Portugal
- Toronto, Canada
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Tokyo, Japan
- Paris, France
- Portland, Maine
- Taipei, Taiwan
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Reykjavík, Iceland
- Berlin, Germany
- Oslo, Norway
- Helsinki, Finland
- Bern, Switzerland
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Sydney, Australia
- Valletta, Malta
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Des Moines, Iowa
Destinations like Madeira are ranked high because they offer “competitive tax rates, generous residency options,” startup communities, and many cater to the diverse needs of the global remote workforce.
