With more people going into flexible working arrangements and starting to plan their 2022, KAYAK (leading travel search engine) has revealed the best countries in the world to live and work remotely in 2022, with Portugal being the first one on the list.

To develop the index, KAYAK closely analyzed 111 countries and ranked each against 22 factors across six categories: travel costs and accessibility; local prices; health & safety; remote working capabilities; social life; and weather.

This list seems to make a lot of sense and looks pretty accurate; hence, we believe this ranking is very useful and should be considered by any digital nomad who wants to make the most of 2022.

The surprise came in the name of Japan. As far as we know, Japan’s cost of living is relatively high, but as soon as you go out of the major cities (Tokyo, Osaka), things become cheaper and more interesting.

Now let’s have a look at the 10 best countries for digital nomads in 2022 according to KAYAK:

Best countries to work abroad from in 2022

1. Portugal

Portugal was ranked the all-round best country to work remotely from worldwide, scoring high across the board in all categories, including great weather, high abundance of places for going out, low-crime rates, and relatively low cost of living. Portugal also offers a digital nomad visa, and many locals have a high English proficiency that attracts expats.

Lisbon is a real gem which is also getting more popular- let’s just hope the prices won’t keep rising and the city will stay affordable in the short-medium term.

2. Spain

Spain came in second place, largely due to its high quantity of restaurants and cafes per capita, paired with fast internet speed, plenty of co-working spaces and remote visas for freelancers. It also has a buzzing nightlife and is very LGBTQ+ friendly. Romania rounds up the top third place, primarily because it offers very attractive prices when it comes to long-term apartment rentals and local food.

3. Romania

Romania came in Nr. 3 worldwide for working remotely from, primarily because it offers very attractive prices. Romania has cheap car hire and hotel prices, plus affordable long-term apartment rentals and local food. It also has VERY fast internet speed and many locals who speak English.

4. Mauritius

The island of Mauritius is located in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Long beaches, volcanoes and palm trees make up the perfect scenary for someones who loves water, sun and nature. The entire island is surrounded by a spectacular coral reef, which makes it a real diving paradise. The weather, safety and prices are great over there. For example, you can get some excellent deals on Airbnb for about 400-500 USD /month. The car rental will cost you aprox $400 and fo a basic launch you will pay 7$.

Mauritius offers a digital nomad visa for remote workers. We wrote a full guide here if you plan to live on the beautiful island soon.

5. Japan

Surprisingly, Japan came 5th! The Asian nation scored the highest on Safety and Social Life. Another reason for being in the top 5 is that prices in Japan haven’t changed too much in the the past few decades. It used to be a very expensive country, but nowadays the cost of living is similar to Spain or Portugal except Tokyo.

Yokohama and Osaka are also the most expensive cities in Japan

Osaka and Kyoto are also popular ex-pat destinations. They are slightly cheaper cities to live in than the country’s capital.

For example, in Kyoto, the previous capital of Japan; known for its historic temples and shrines, a single person can manage with about 1,500 USD/month.

Expect to spend the bulk of your income on accommodation costs. This website offers a great cost of living comparison between Japan and other countries in the world.

6. Malta

Malta is famous for its expat-friendly environment. The island is home to many foreign companies thanks to its favorable tax regimes. It’s a small country in size but has the soul of a cosmopolitan. There are many cafes, bars, and restaurants to spend time in Coworking and Coliving spaces make life easier for digital nomads, too. It’s now one of the very few countries in the world with 5G nationwide coverage.

Along with its digital nomad-friendly environment, it also has everything an ideal island would have: Beaches, sunny days, a relaxed way of life, the best seafood, and fun! Malta has it all and is a great spot for remote working.

Even though it’s relatively small islands, you won’t get bored there.

Go swimming in Malta in its wonderful swimming spots or dive into one of the clearest water, world-renowned in the world!

Malta is also ideal for history lovers, with over 7,000 years of history. The Islands have hosted the Phoenicians, Romans, Knights of St. John, Napoleon, and the British Empire, and are home to many of the world’s oldest temples.
According to the standing, the nightlife in pretty dynamic so you can have fun there too. They offer a nomad residence permit. More info here

7. Costa Rica

Costa Rica made it in the top 10 remote working countries of 2022 as expected. The nation of 5 million people scored high on the Safety and Weather scale. With its tropical temperatures year-round, breathtaking beaches, lush green jungles, delicious food, rich and diverse culture, it’s no wonder that digital nomads never want to leave once they’ve immersed themselves in the “Pura Vida”.

Some of the beautiful places one most remote work are Santa Terasa (sunshine all year round), Puerto Viejo, Tamarindo (surfy baby!). The monthly cost of living in Costa Rica varies between 1,000 – 2500 USD/month.

Another great perk about Costa Rica is that in 2021 they voted for a digital nomad visa. More details on that are here.

8. Panama

With a plethora of deserted islands, chilled Caribbean vibes on one side and monster Pacific swells on the other, Panama sits poised to deliver the best of beach life.

Enjoy scuba diving with whale sharks in the Pacific, snorkeling the rainbow reefs of Bocas del Toro or setting sail in the indigenous territory of Guna Yala, where virgin isles are ready to be discovered Meanwhile, surfers will be psyched to have world-class breaks all to themselves.

In Panama, nature is all about discovery. Explore the ruins of Spanish forts on the Caribbean coast or boat deep into indigenous territories in a dugout canoe.

Adventure tourism means zipping through rainforest canopies, swimming alongside sea turtles or trekking to sublime cloud-forest vistas. One small tropical country with two long coasts makes for a pretty big playground.

9. Czech Republic

Prague has recently become one of the top digital nomad destinations, thanks to its excellent transport, culture, and international links. It’s in the Schengen Area of the European Union, so European nomads won’t need a visa to stay here. With relatively low living costs, plenty of nightlife, and beautiful architecture, Prague is a rising star in the digital nomad scene and a great choice for remote workers looking for culture and walkability.

Prague is well-equipped with a range of hostels, hotels, and Airbnb apartments. In the last year or two, the cost of living in Prague has risen somewhat, so the average cost of an Airbnb apartment for a month is around $1,700.

10. Germany

The top cities in Germany for digital nomads are Berlin (a very diverse city), Cologne, and Munich.

The cost of accommodation in Germany varies depending on a few factors, the first of which is the city you choose to stay in. Living in Munich, for example, is more expensive than staying in Berlin.

Some Cons about living and working in Germany are that outside of the main cities, English is not very widely spoken. Also, long-term accommodation can be hard to find. If you are coming from a more “relaxed” culture, you may experience some culture shocks due to the famous german stringency.

And here are some prices to get an idea of what working from Germany is for you: