Poland dominates as destination in new digital nomad ranking

The southern Polish city of Krakow has been ranked the best city in Europe for remote work, with Warsaw taking second place.

The ranking has been compiled by PlayersTime, highlighting a strong presence of Central and Eastern European destinations, which dominate the top 10 thanks to their affordability and quality of life. According to the platform, the region offers a compelling combination of cost efficiency and livability for digital workers.

“Central Europe is the sweet spot for digital nomads,” PlayersTime said, citing the region’s “unbeatable mix of affordable accommodation, cheap food, reliable Internet and physical and social safety.”

Following Krakow and Warsaw, the ranking places Budapest, Prague, and Tallinn among the top five. Other popular destinations such as Madrid and Seville were outperformed, while Dubrovnik secured a place in ninth.

Warsaw stood out for its affordability, with PlayersTime estimating average monthly living costs—including housing, food, transport, and internet—at around €1,265. Krakow’s monthly expenses were slightly higher at €1,423.12, but the city ranked first overall due to stronger safety scores and particularly low food costs.

The platform noted that Krakow had “the lowest food costs among the cities in the top 10,” contributing to its leading position.

By contrast, Western European cities were significantly more expensive. Dublin topped the list for highest monthly costs at €4,725, followed by Reykjavik at €4,673 and Amsterdam at €4,192.

PlayersTime analysts emphasized that the value offered by Central and Eastern Europe extends beyond housing and food, particularly when it comes to digital infrastructure.

“Cities in Central and Eastern Europe offer some of the best value for money when it comes to cheap, yet fast and reliable Internet access, combining relatively low monthly broadband prices with competitive connection speeds,” the platform said.

Public transport costs also varied widely across the continent. Prague was ranked the most affordable city in this category, with a monthly pass costing €22.56, compared to London, where the equivalent cost reached €297.16.

The ranking reflects broader changes in work patterns across Europe since the COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated the adoption of remote and hybrid working models. Although comprehensive data remains limited, research from the London School of Economics shows that nearly one in five European workers are now in hybrid roles, while around one in ten work fully remotely.

By Nazrin Sadigova