Finding a place to live is the first thing that stops people from actually relocating. Before you sort out your visa or open a bank account, you need somewhere to sleep. At XMetr<\/a> we help with exactly that every day \u2014 and we see clearly which countries digital nomads choose most often, and why.<\/p>\n This isn’t an abstract ranking of “best countries by quality of life.” We look at things practically: how easy it is to enter, what apartments actually cost in specific neighbourhoods, and what’s happening in the rental market in each destination right now.<\/p>\n Eight countries that keep coming up in searches on our platform:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Spain stopped being just “warm Europe” \u2014 in 2023 it launched the Digital Nomad Visa, which gives you the legal right to live here and work for a foreign employer. The income requirement is roughly twice the local minimum wage. That sounds like a lot, but for most digital nomads it’s not a barrier.<\/p>\n What really matters is that the rental market here runs at two speeds. Barcelona and Madrid are expensive and competitive: a furnished flat in a good neighbourhood \u2014 Gr\u00e0cia, Malasa\u00f1a, Poblenou \u2014 gets snapped up fast. But Valencia, M\u00e1laga and Alicante offer comparable quality of life for significantly less money, and they’re also right on the coast.<\/p>\n Spain suits people planning to stay long-term: after 5 years of residency you can apply for permanent residence, after 10 \u2014 for citizenship.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Vietnam is a country where a digital nomad a Western salary feels genuinely wealthy. There’s no dedicated nomad visa, but the e-Visa for 90 days is processed online in minutes and lets you stay without hassle. Those who want to stay longer typically do a border run or get a business visa through a local agent.<\/p>\n Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang are fundamentally different places. HCMC is a megacity with traffic, energy and opportunity \u2014 international company offices and the most active IT community in the country. Da Nang is quieter, cheaper, with the ocean ten minutes away. Most remote workers choose Da Nang.<\/p>\n Vietnam is for people who want to cut costs to a minimum while staying comfortable. There’s no residency path here, so it works best as a base for a year or two.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Georgia has the lowest entry barrier on this list. No visa, no prior arrangements: land, get your passport stamped, and you can stay for up to a year. In that time you can figure out whether the country works for you long-term \u2014 and if it does, register a sole trader in a single day with a 1% tax rate and stay indefinitely.<\/p>\n Tbilisi has changed a lot over the last three years. The Vera, Vake and Saburtalo districts have turned into a dense IT community with coworking spaces, caf\u00e9s with fast Wi-Fi and the kind of infrastructure expats expect. Rents rose noticeably during 2022\u20132023, but are still well below most European capitals.<\/p>\n Georgia is a great first step. But if you need long-term certainty around documents and taxes, it’s worth exploring parallel options too.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Thailand is no longer just “cheap and sunny” \u2014 in 2024 the country launched the Long-Term Resident Visa, which allows you to live here for up to 10 years. For IT specialists working for foreign companies, the eligibility threshold is realistic: you need to show a qualifying income and professional experience.<\/p>\n Bangkok’s infrastructure genuinely surprises people: Skytrain, metro, reliable 5G, shopping centres with coworking spaces, food delivery in 20 minutes. For remote work this is what matters \u2014 and Bangkok delivers it better than many European cities. Chiang Mai remains a more affordable and relaxed alternative with a well-established nomad culture.<\/p>\n Thailand works well as a long-term base \u2014 especially if you want comfort without European prices and are happy with a tropical climate year-round.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Serbia is Europe without the European price tag. Belgrade operates in the same time zone as most EU clients, English is widely spoken, and the local IT community has grown dramatically over the past three years. The country isn’t in the EU \u2014 which actually makes it easier to register a sole-trader business as a non-resident, and gives you more flexibility on taxes.<\/p>\n The Belgrade rental market was shaped by a large wave of relocators: there’s something for everyone \u2014 from Soviet-era blocks with good renovations to new residential complexes with underground parking. Prices are moderate, negotiation is normal, and landlords are used to foreign tenants.<\/p>\n Serbia is a smart choice for those who want to stay in a European context without overpaying. Residence permits here are more accessible than in most EU countries.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Slovakia rarely tops anyone’s list \u2014 and that’s precisely what makes it interesting. Bratislava is literally an hour from Vienna: some Slovak residents commute to Austria for work every day and come back to a city that costs half as much to live in. For a remote worker, that means Austrian reachability at Slovak prices.<\/p>\n The EU Blue Card in Slovakia is processed relatively quickly when you have a contract with a European employer. After 5 years you can apply for permanent residence, after 10 \u2014 citizenship. For those thinking about an EU passport as a long-term goal, this is one of the least congested routes on the continent.<\/p>\n\n
1. Spain<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/xmetr.com\/public\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/relocate-spain-xmetr.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/xmetr.com\/public\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/xmetr-banner-spain-en-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\n2. Vietnam<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/xmetr.com\/public\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/relocate-vietnam-xmetr.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/xmetr.com\/public\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/xmetr-banner-vietnam-en.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\n3. Georgia<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/xmetr.com\/public\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/relocate-georgia-xmetr.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/xmetr.com\/public\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/xmetr-banner-georgia-en.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\n4. Thailand<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/xmetr.com\/public\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/relocate-thailand-xmetr.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/xmetr.com\/public\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/xmetr-banner-thailand-en-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\n5. Serbia<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/xmetr.com\/public\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/relocate-serbia-xmetr.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/xmetr.com\/public\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/xmetr-banner-serbia-en.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\n6. Slovakia<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/xmetr.com\/public\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/relocate-slovakia-xmetr.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/xmetr.com\/public\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/xmetr-banner-slovakia-en.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/xmetr.com\/public\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/relocate-bali-xmetr.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/xmetr.com\/public\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/xmetr-banner-indonesia-en.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/xmetr.com\/public\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/relocate-portugal-xmetr.jpg\")
<\/p>\n