In 2026, your office could well be wherever your laptop happens to be.
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A new ranking has revealed the best European countries for digital nomads in 2026, weighing up everything from rent and groceries to Wi-Fi speeds, coworking spaces, safety and visa rules.
LEI register, a global database system, looked closely at 40 countries across the continent using 19 distinct metrics to determine the best location for remote workers.
English proficiency, healthcare and local events were also examined to rank these nations – and Estonia came out on top.
The best European countries for digital nomads
One of three Baltic states, Estonia scooped the first place spot, thanks to affordable living costs, solid infrastructure, and a digital nomad-friendly attitude.
A one-bedroom apartment in an Estonian city centre comes in at an average of €573 per month, while groceries for a month will set residents back around €247.80.
Internet speeds are decent, safety is the highest across all countries, and digital nomad visas last a year and cost €85.
Next in the ranking is Iceland. Despite the fact it’s one of the most expensive destinations – monthly rent is an average of a steep €2,098, while groceries cost €541.62 – it ticks numerous boxes.
It has the highest internet speed of any country, as well as the most coworking spaces and Airbnb availability. It was also found to be very safe and plays host to countless events.
In third place is Portugal, a long-time favourite with digital nomads thanks to its excellent internet speeds, high English proficiency and the availability of visas.
While a one-year digital nomad visa costs €80, rent in the city centre is relatively high, at an average of €919 per month. Nevertheless, the country is so well set up for remote workers when it comes to infrastructure that it remains a favourite choice for many.
Montenegro is fourth in the ranking, in part because it has an extremely affordable visa fee, at just €26 and the visa lasts for up to 730 days – the longest period of all nations included in the study.
Rent here averages €576, while groceries cost around €211.22 every month. It does fall down on healthcare, but Airbnb availability is second on the list, meaning it’s ideal for digital nomads on a modest budget.
Rounding out the top five is Croatia, which offers the second-longest visa period at 540 days.
It also has the third-highest safety rating, as well as the fourth-highest Airbnb availability per capita. City centre rental properties go for an average of €663, and monthly groceries come in at €232.46. While English proficiency here is high and there are plenty of events, internet speeds leave a lot to be desired and are the slowest on the list.
Completing the top ten are Slovenia, Czechia, Spain, Lithuania and Romania. All offer pluses and minuses depending on what a particular digital nomad is hunting for, but all make reliable choices if you’re unsure where to start.
The worst choices in Europe for digital nomads
At the other end of the scale, there are five nations which some digital nomads may wish to avoid, according to the ranking.
Ireland came in dead last, despite the fact it placed fourth for English proficiency, and also has solid offerings in events and coworking spaces.
It falls down in high rent and less than ideal safety and healthcare rankings. Most importantly, though, is its lack of a digital nomad visa, which means it’s not easy to make Ireland your base.
Switzerland is in second-to-last place and it also has no digital nomad visa available. It also has high grocery costs and rent is an average of €1,785, but fast internet, safety levels and high availability of coworking spaces go in its favour.
Following hot on Switzerland’s heels are Belarus and Bosnia and Herzegovina. While they’re both significantly more affordable than the central European nation, neither offers a digital nomad visa.
Belarus is particularly poor when it comes to internet speed and coworking spaces, and while Bosnia and Herzegovina isn’t too pricey, it also offers some of the weakest infrastructure on the list.
Also – perhaps surprisingly – in the bottom five is France. While it remains the most visited country globally by tourists, it’s not an ideal choice for digital nomads.
While it has excellent healthcare and internet speeds, it doesn’t offer a visa for workers, English proficiency is low and its safety index is the absolute worst in the ranking.