How to Choose Your Next City as a Digital Nomad: A Real Checklist(Part 1)

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Choosing your next city as a digital nomad can feel exciting… and overwhelming.

There are too many options, everyone's giving different advice, and Instagram makes every place look perfect.

But when you’re working full-time on the road, the city you pick can make or break your routine, your mood, and your productivity.

So here’s a real, practical, tool-backed checklist that helps you choose a city you’ll actually thrive in, not just visit for cute photos.


1. Cost of Living (Your Biggest Non-Negotiable)

Before falling in love with a city, check if your wallet will survive it.

The good news? You don’t have to guess.

Tools to Use

  1. Numbeo: Compare the cost of living between two cities

  2. Nomad List: Real-time prices from actual digital nomads

  3. Expatistan: Quick comparison charts

  4. Google Flights + AirDNA: Estimate travel and stay costs

What to Check

  1. Rent for a private room/apartment

  2. Food + coffee cost (because you’ll be working from cafés)

  3. Transport prices

  4. Mobile data + WiFi

  5. Any hidden costs (tourist taxes, visas, currency fees)

Rule:

If you can’t comfortably live there for 2–3 months, skip it. Digital nomad burnout starts with money stress.


2. Internet Quality (Your Actual Lifeline)

Your entire routine depends on stable WiFi. Not good WiFi, stable WiFi.

Tools to Use

  1. Speedtest.net: Check average speeds

  2. Nomad List WiFi scores

  3. Coworker.com: See coworking space options

  4. Local Reddit groups: “Is the WiFi reliable?”

What to Check

  1. Minimum 20–30 Mbps for calls

  2. Backup options: coworking spaces, cafés, mobile hotspot

  3. Internet outages (some cities have daily downtime)

  4. WiFi troubles can ruin your productivity and your mood. Pick cities where digital infrastructure is dependable.


3. Safety (Especially at Night)

Instagram doesn’t show this part, but safety changes everything:

your comfort, your routine, your mobility, and your mental state.

Tools to Use

  1. Numbeo Safety Index

  2. US & UK Travel Safety Advisories (even if you’re not from there)

  3. Google “Is (this city) safe for solo travelers/digital nomads?”

  4. TikTok search: “safety in this city”

What to Check

  1. Night safety

  2. Women’s safety (if applicable)

  3. Pickpocketing hotspots

  4. Scams

  5. Emergency services

If you can’t walk comfortably after 8 PM, you won’t enjoy living there.


4. Community & Digital Nomad Culture

The biggest mistake digital nomads make?

Choosing a city where they feel lonely.

Tools to Use

  1. Facebook Groups (“Digital Nomads in (city)”)

  2. Meetup (events, language exchanges, cowork sessions)

  3. Nomad List Community Score

  4. Hostels + co-living reviews on Booking/Airbnb

What to Look For

  1. Are people friendly?

  2. Can you meet others easily?

  3. Are there coworking meetups?

  4. Are there enough long-term travelers?

A strong community keeps you motivated, grounded, and sane.


5. Visa Restrictions (Your Stay Length Matters)

Don’t pick a city and then realize you can only stay 15 days.

Your productivity drops when you're constantly planning border runs.

Tools to Use

  1. Sherpa (visa check tool)

  2. iVisa

  3. Official government tourism sites

What to Check

  1. Visa-free length

  2. Digital nomad visa options

  3. Extension rules

  4. Border run restrictions

Aim for countries where you can stay 30–90 days without stress.

If you’re liking this checklist so far, you’ll definitely want to continue. The next set of tips goes even deeper into choosing the right digital-nomad city.

Head over to Part 2 to read the rest; we go deeper into community, co-working culture, long-term costs, visa clarity, and safety tools that actually work.

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