According to a new global index by Hotel with Tub, a charmingly odd name, Bangkok has emerged as the digital nomad’s capital of 2025. Scoring a near-perfect 91/100, it’s a place where skyscrapers hum above street food stalls and return tickets are rarely one-way. With 23 million annual visitors and an 18% return rate, it’s less a layover and more a lifestyle.

Thailand isn’t just dipping a toe in this ranking, it’s doing a full cannonball. Seven cities in the top 100 speak to the country’s magnetic pull: a heady blend of cost-effective living, sensory-rich culture and infrastructure that gets under your skin.

On the other end of the spectrum, Weligama, a surfy town on Sri Lanka’s beachy southern coast, floats in as the most affordable destination at just $624/month for solo living, without sacrificing sea breeze or soul. Unsurprisingly, New York City lands with a thud at the priciest perch: solo monthly costs exceeding $7,600, family life tipping past $12,000.

Hotel with Tub‘s team analysed 1,370 destinations, layering insights from Nomad List, Numbeo, and even Instagram hashtags. The scoring matrix balanced affordability, safety, infrastructure, quality of life, and digital buzz, because when it comes to remote living, both spreadsheets and serendipity matter.

The top 10 cities for digital nomads in 2025

1. Bangkok, Thailand

Affordable, electrified, and effortlessly connected: Bangkok’s solo living costs hover around $1,537/month. Add in flawless Wi-Fi, sizzling street markets, and 37.2 million Instagram tags, and you’ve got a city that doesn’t just host you—it hugs you back.

2. Dubai, UAE

Sunny, safe, and with one of the world’s best foodie and leisure scenes, Dubai’s costs are steeper ($3,156/month solo), but with 167 million hashtags and a 16% return rate, it’s clearly a favorite for those who prefer their workations with a splash of luxury.

3. London, UK

An old soul with a digital heart. London is pricey ($5,937/month solo), but the timeless UK capital continues to enchant with its cultural heft and online omnipresence, 190 million tags worth.

4. Tokyo, Japan

Clean, punctual, colourful, ultra-modern and pulse-quickening. With solo costs around $3,284 and a 17% return rate, Tokyo is where nomads go to feel truly plugged in.

5. Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

Call it Korat. At just $1,062/month, it’s the most budget-friendly in the top 10 for the best cities for digital nomads in 2025, and proof that Thailand’s magic isn’t confined to Bangkok and its beachy islands.

6. Seoul, South Korea

Neon calm and fiber-fast internet, South Korea’s capital of Seoul is enchanting travellers from across the globe, and making itself a hub for digital nomads. $2,561/month for solo nomads, 27.2 million hashtags, and K-culture aplenty.

7. Taipei, Taiwan

Effortlessly balanced. A city that offers calm with a buzz, Taipei clocks in at $2,330/month and a healthy 14% return rate.

8. Barcelona, Spain

Sun-drenched, soulful, and creatively charged, Catalonia’s capital Barcelona is a favourite with holidaymakers, and now digital nomads. And it’s not hard to see why. $5,509/month gets you tapas, talent, and 78 million hashtags’ worth of wanderlust.

9. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Elegant yet electric, the city of Tango and Malbec, steak and soul. For $1,600/month, Buenos Aires gives you café culture, wide boulevards, and an 18% chance you’ll never want to leave.

10. Tbilisi, Georgia

Affordable, safe, and on the rise, it’s easy to see why Tbilisi is capturing the attention of digital nomads. It has a growing cultural, coffee shop and foodie scene, with hipster wine bars and concept stores popping up at rapid speed, along with some trendy boutique hotels. Plus, it’s a short drive to some famous snowy mountains and ski resorts in ski season. With a 17% return rate and growing digital momentum (4.1M hashtags), Tbilisi is no longer a secret, it’s a signal.

Read more: the digital nomad’s guide to the ‘greatest city on earth’

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