If you’ve been working in the online space recently, you may very well have come across the term digital nomad. Defined as someone who can earn their living online, and therefore choose where they work from, there’s been an explosion of these online wanderers around the globe ever since we all started working remotely.
This freedom to work from wherever you want, whenever you want, is often cited as the biggest appeal to becoming a digital nomad. But while some choose to work out of their favourite cafes, many opt to travel the world, bouncing from country to country, experiencing everything the world has to offer as they work.
If this sounds like an incredibly appealing lifestyle, then you’re not the only one strapping your metaphorical hiking boots on to start trekking the digital trail. But where is a budding digital nomad to start?
Maybe you already have a favourite country in mind, but if you’re unsure where to begin, don’t worry. We’ve collected data based on five key factors, including happiness ratings, internet access, positive social media sentiment around working from abroad and how rainy different countries around Europe are, so you can start your digital nomad journey off on the right foot.
The best countries for digital nomads in Europe
Based on our various scoring factors, the following five countries are the best places to get started if you’re thinking of becoming a digital nomad.
|
Rank |
Country |
Happiness Score |
Internet Download Speed (Mbps) |
Social Media Positive Sentiment (%) |
Cost Of Living With Rent (€) |
Number of Rainy Days |
|
1 |
Netherlands |
7.42 |
70.32 |
26.3 |
2115.66 |
130 |
|
2 |
Norway |
7.37 |
41.66 |
23.7 |
2096.64 |
116 |
|
3 |
Malta |
6.45 |
44.59 |
14.7 |
1573.11 |
59 |
|
4 |
Hungary |
6.09 |
40.79 |
16.3 |
853.37 |
86 |
|
5 |
Denmark |
7.64 |
123.96 |
9.5 |
1975.46 |
156 |
|
6 |
Spain |
6.48 |
23.41 |
16 |
1372.19 |
61 |
|
7 |
Sweden |
7.38 |
75.54 |
17.1 |
1632.73 |
163 |
|
8 |
Finland |
7.82 |
57.78 |
16.1 |
1644.92 |
181 |
|
9 |
Greece |
5.95 |
15.16 |
20.2 |
1070.48 |
97 |
|
10 |
Belgium |
6.81 |
47.24 |
18.1 |
1630.49 |
137 |
|
11 |
Slovenia |
6.63 |
35.04 |
19.2 |
1196.12 |
150 |
|
12 |
Germany |
7.03 |
29.64 |
12.4 |
1694.94 |
103 |
|
13 |
Italy |
6.47 |
12.71 |
13.7 |
1433.05 |
79 |
|
14 |
Switzerland |
7.51 |
110.77 |
8.49 |
3127.01 |
125 |
|
15 |
Czech Republic |
6.92 |
20.87 |
5.15 |
1269.97 |
87 |
|
16 |
United Kingdom |
6.94 |
27.23 |
12.5 |
1787.77 |
111 |
|
17 |
Romania |
6.48 |
33.49 |
5.56 |
840.77 |
111 |
|
18 |
Austria |
7.16 |
22.03 |
16.9 |
1611.28 |
160 |
|
19 |
Estonia |
6.34 |
27.26 |
21.8 |
1261.98 |
173 |
|
20 |
Poland |
6.12 |
26.18 |
19.5 |
1012.82 |
161 |
|
21 |
Portugal |
6.02 |
24.75 |
14.2 |
1259.46 |
114 |
|
22 |
France |
6.69 |
23.01 |
11.8 |
1624.08 |
113 |
|
23 |
Latvia |
6.18 |
31.38 |
19.4 |
1063.24 |
180 |
|
24 |
Slovakia |
6.39 |
27.03 |
10.8 |
1086.7 |
142 |
|
25 |
Luxembourg |
7.40 |
92.76 |
8.39 |
2597.95 |
177 |
|
26 |
Ireland |
7.04 |
23.36 |
13.2 |
2366.47 |
127 |
|
27 |
Croatia |
6.13 |
19.82 |
7.69 |
1037.45 |
130 |
|
28 |
Lithuania |
6.45 |
28.38 |
11.3 |
1219.14 |
175 |
|
29 |
Bulgaria |
5.37 |
20.74 |
7.83 |
845.27 |
118 |
1. The Netherlands
Perhaps it’s no surprise that one of the most tourist-friendly and culturally rich countries in the world is at the very top of our list. Boasting the third highest happiness rating on our list and having an excellent internet speed of 70.32mbps, the Dutch have digital working down.
Perhaps the only downside to living in Holland is the monthly cost of living, coming in at an average €2,115.66, but given this includes rent, food, and other amenities, it certainly could be worse considering how much there is to do in the lowlands.
2. Norway
Popping up to Scandinavia for our second-place country, Norway might not be the first place that springs to mind when you think about working abroad. But even though Norway’s internet speed is only an adequate 41.66mbps on average, their happiness score and positive social media sentiment rating all but offsets the potential for occasionally slow internet.
Interestingly, Norway also came in rather low for the average number of rainy days they experience. Of course, that could just be due to all the snow. But enjoying snowy vistas while you work is just an added benefit.
3. Malta
Malta might only be a tiny island off the coast of Sicily, but don’t let that fool you. Malta is a hub of tech and commerce, which is why it’s scored itself the third spot on our best countries list. With incredible weather all year round and a monthly cost of living of just €1,573.11, what more could you ask for?
Just bear in mind that, like Norway, the average internet speed in Malta is around 44.59mbps. But that just gives you more time by the pool as you wait for your connection to stabilise.
4. Hungary
Good internet speed is essential for a digital nomad, but if you want cheap living while you’re out and about, then Hungary is the place to be. With a monthly living cost of just €853.37 on average, Hungary shares the lowest average costs on our list alongside Romania and Bulgaria.
However, where Hungary stands out above its Balkan neighbours is in its positive social media sentiment and internet speed. Steps ahead of Romania and Bulgaria, this makes Hungary the Balkan country to visit first.
5. Denmark
Given how prominent the Scandinavian countries are when it comes to tourism, it’s no surprise we couldn’t finish our top 5 without including another. Denmark had the second highest happiness of any European country, just behind Finland, and the best internet speed of any country at a staggering 123.96mbps!
Like the Netherlands and Norway, living in Denmark is not cheap, but with the sheer beauty offered by the Scandinavian landscape, this is a price worth paying.
The worst places to work as a digital nomad in Europe
So, we know where you should start, but what countries are best avoided if you want to go there specifically to work?
1. Luxembourg
Although Luxembourg stands out as one of Europe’s most unique countries and has one of the highest happiness scores on our list, minimal positive social media sentiment and the second-highest cost of living per month sadly keep Luxembourg low in its overall score.
However, if you can afford the cost of living, Luxembourg does have excellent internet speed, so you’ll always be connected.
2. Ireland
Another surprise country at the base of our rankings, the Emerald Isle is certainly a popular place to visit on holiday.
However, like Luxembourg, Ireland suffers from a high average cost of living. Combine this with a surprisingly awful internet speed of just 23.36mbps and you’ll find yourself struggling for a connection far more than you’d like.
3. Croatia
But while Ireland’s internet speed is simply bad, Croatia’s is absolutely atrocious.
At a poultry 19.82mbps, Croatia has one of the worst internet speeds on our list. And while it might be cheap to live in Croatia, rainy weather and low positive social media sentiment mean your time is likely to be more frustrating than productive.
4. Lithuania
Again, Lithuania suffers from many of the same issues as Croatia. Rainy weather mixed with a slow internet speed and low positive social media sentiment means you’ll likely find you’re spending most of your time there trapped inside with a poor connection.
5. Bulgaria
Sadly, sitting at the bottom of our list is Bulgaria. While a spectacular country to visit on holiday, Bulgaria has the worst happiness score on our list for working. Their average internet speed is only 20.74mbps and the positive social media sentiment is lacking, so much so that not even their cheap living cost can offset these work-related issues.
What countries scored surprisingly low?
Now that you’ve read our list, you may have noticed that several big named countries failed to make the top five. Spain, Germany, Italy, the UK, and France all rank among the middle of our list, despite being tourist hotspots.
The main reason for this seems to be their internet speeds. In spite of their rich culture and modern infrastructure, all of these countries had an average internet speed below 30mbps.
However, while this speed is certainly workable, when combined with relatively high average monthly living costs compared to many other countries on our list, these countries simply don’t compare to our top 5.
So, with all this info to hand, you should have a good idea of where to start your digital nomad journey. Of course, if you’re planning on becoming a digital nomad, you’re going to need one very important piece of computer tech.
That’s where the Ebuyer team comes in. Our store is crammed with incredible deals on work laptops, wireless mice and keyboards, and even external HDDs, meaning you can find everything you need to start your online wandering life.
Start browsing today to find the right laptop for your needs and don’t forget to visit our blog for more tech insights and digital lifestyle tips.
