Remote-work cities to watch in 2026

Remote workers are looking beyond traditional digital-nomad hubs in 2026, with safety, healthcare, transport, cost of living, and quality of life becoming as important as Wi-Fi and affordability.

According to research by remote jobs platform Online.jobs, established destinations such as Lisbon, Medellín, and Chiang Mai remain popular, but cities including Seoul, Tokyo, Da Nang, Cebu, Cape Town, Belgrade, and Sofia are emerging as alternatives for professionals planning longer stays.

The Korean capital, Seoul, combines strong technology and business networks with excellent public transport, while Japan’s Tokyo offers connectivity, safety, and access to major commercial opportunities. Lisbon, Portugal, retains its international community and easy access to Europe, although rising housing costs are encouraging workers to consider less expensive alternatives.

In Southeast Asia, Chiang Mai continues to benefit from the Destination Thailand Visa, which permits eligible visitors to stay for up to 180 days per entry. Vietnam’s Da Nang is also gaining international visibility, welcoming nearly 9.8 million visitors in the first half of 2026, including almost 5.2 million international visitors.

Cebu, in the Philippines, offers English-language accessibility, relatively low living costs, and a growing professional ecosystem, while the South African capital Cape Town combines urban infrastructure with a strong lifestyle proposition. In Europe, Serbia’s Belgrade and Bulgaria’s Sofia are attracting attention for their affordability, business infrastructure, and access to regional markets.

For travel insurers, the shift toward longer stays is significant. Remote workers increasingly want to build routines and communities rather than simply move between destinations. That makes practical considerations such as healthcare, safety, and transport increasingly central to the choice of where to live and work abroad.