Where are all the digital nomads?

Digital nomads cluster in a handful of cities you can actually name: London leads the world on #digitalnomad Instagram, Bangkok is second globally, and New York City is the North American capital. MakeResume analyzed thousands of those posts to map where remote workers were tagging themselves after lockdowns lifted.

The labels keep splitting — nomad, slow-mad, travelpreneur — while destinations multiply. Upwards of 40 countries now offer some version of a digital nomad visa, and most have dropped pandemic-era entry rules. That does not mean every employer will let you work from a backpack. It does mean the geography of remote work is no longer a rumor.

This study updates our earlier look at digital-nomad Instagram. Below: how we counted posts, the global ranking, region-by-region hubs, and what the pattern means if you want to negotiate location on a resume or a current job. For the broader policy numbers, see our roundup of remote work statistics.

What did we analyze?

We analyzed thousands of Instagram posts tagged #digitalnomad, stripped out spam and bot accounts, then assigned a country from the geotag or from a country name in the caption. If neither existed, the post was dropped.

Employers are still trying to split the difference between worker preference and in-person work. Airbnb is a useful example: the company that sold informal rooms worldwide long resisted full work-from-home for its own staff. “[W]e believe that the most meaningful connections happen in person,” wrote CEO and co-founder Brian Chesky, announcing a new remote work policy in 2022. “Zoom is great for maintaining relationships, but it's not the best way to deepen them. Additionally, some creative work and collaboration is best done when you're in the same room.”

After personally trialing the lifestyle, Chesky said employees whose jobs can be done remotely may do them remotely; they can live anywhere in the country they are based in; they can work abroad for up to 90 days each year; and they must attend quarterly in-person work meets of about a week. In other words: location flexibility with a reserved right to pull people into a room. If a backpack office is becoming normal for many people, the next question is where they are actually posting from.

What are the key findings on digital nomad hubs?

Three places dominate #digitalnomad Instagram in this sample: London worldwide and in Europe, New York City in the U.S. and North America, and Bangkok as the second-busiest spot on the planet.

• London has the most vibrant digital nomad Instagram community in Europe and the world
• New York City is the digital nomad capital of the U.S. and North America
• Bangkok, Thailand, is the second-busiest spot for digital nomads globally

Is New York City the top North American spot for remote workers?

Yes. Only London and Thailand show more #digitalnomad tags than New York City in this dataset. Airbnb's remote work policy cites the administrative cost of globetrotting employees as much as the need for in-person connection — and leaving North America is expensive for many workers anyway.

There is still plenty to see at home. U.S. digital nomads mostly tag coastal cities, though the names at the top of the chart each sell a distinct lifestyle. NYC makes a business of business; people show up to work whether they have a badge or a laptop in a cafe.

Washington, D.C., is a less obvious nomad magnet, yet it ranks seventh in North America and 30th in the world — helped by international visitors and a reported pile of free activities.

Why did Buenos Aires rise in South America?

Buenos Aires is the most popular South American destination for digital nomads in this sample, 8.3% ahead of second-placed Rio de Janeiro. It did not take a top spot in our earlier report; this year it climbed, with Lonely Planet pointing to “a well-established co-working culture, plenty of local start-ups, and a lively expat community to plug into on arrival.”

Medellín, Colombia, led the region last time and now sits third. The floral city still heads a group of four Colombian cities in the 2023 top 10. As of January that year, Colombia launched its own digital nomad visa (Visa V Nómadas digitales). Freelance and remote workers can stay 24 months versus six for ordinary tourists, with state ID, banking access, and the right to register a company. The government expected to draw at least 45,000 digital nomads by the summer of 2024.

Why does London lead Europe for remote workers?

London is the most popular digital nomad destination in the world in this sample, with 20,556 #digitalnomad posts. London, Paris, Barcelona, and Lisbon are the European cities with more than 10,000 posts each — the same names people picture when they imagine backpacking Europe with a laptop.

Except for Athens, Europe's top ten hubs sit toward the west. Except for Funchal (Portugal), they are capitals (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the capital of one of Spain's Canary Islands). London still wins as a bucket-list city — even among Brits, four of the top five UK bucket-list activities are in London — despite steep rent. One study found London the most expensive city to rent a one-bedroom flat, at an average of £11,088 (€12,800) for six months. Offsets include travel connections across the UK and Europe, large expat and multicultural communities, and extensive Wi‑Fi.

Which cities lead the Middle East and Central Asia?

Dubai and Istanbul are far ahead of the rest of the region. Dubai has ranked number three among top global destinations for remote workers. “We have the GoFreelance visa aimed at enabling independent individuals in media, design, and technology sectors,” reports Majed Al Suwaidi, director of Dubai Media City. “Meanwhile, our start-up incubator in5 offers a range of industry-grade media studios and creative labs that individuals can access via a competitive membership scheme.” Long a British-expat city, Dubai now also draws more French, German, Swedish, and Swiss professionals.

Istanbul takes a clear second place, with a 264% greater digital nomad presence on Instagram than the next destination in the region. Nomads describe lots of people, food, and small shops, rate markets and views, and say the Wi‑Fi is as good as the coffee — with no shortage of cafés if that is how you work.

Why does Thailand dominate Asia and Oceania?

Thailand is the region's docking point: Bangkok is the second-most Instagrammed #digitalnomad hub in the world, and Chiang Mai, Ko Phangan, and Krabi also make Asia's top ten. Chiang Mai is known for co-working spaces (and pollution); Krabi is more scenic, with easy access to some of Thailand's best beaches; Ko Phangan is an island that somehow pairs undeveloped nature with plenty of places to sit and work.

Seoul, South Korea, just makes the list — and could climb. The government has planned a digital nomad visa that would let employees of foreign companies stay two years. “Korea is fast-paced, and it's exactly what I'm looking for,” says one digital nomad. “Many other countries provide nomad visas, however, not all of them are close to the largest economies with developed technologies.” Separately, a “K-culture training visa” has been in development for people who want to train in K-pop in the country.

Is Cape Town the African capital of remote work?

Yes. Cape Town has more than twice the digital nomad Instagram activity of any other African destination in this sample. “Cape Town allows us to live a 5-star lifestyle on a 3-star budget,” writes one travel blogger, who also praises days out, the city's vibe, and Wi‑Fi cafés that are either “fancy spots run by cool young trust-fund baby Capetonians” or “corporate chains… which have reliable internet and generators for load shedding.”

Load shedding is the catch: because of South Africa's energy crisis, electricity is cut in some areas at times of high demand — hence the generators. Digital nomads are still posting from there.

Marrakech, Morocco, is a firm second: about half Cape Town's post count and twice third-placed Nairobi. The “Red City,” named for 900-year-old sandstone walls, offers a “consistent but average” internet connection, a handful of busy co-working spaces, and strong street arts.

Is digital nomadism still growing in a weak economy?

The shaky economy has not obviously stopped people moving. “In the worst state of the economy, we were still seeing an increase in digital nomadism, especially among those who are highly skilled,” says Dr. Rochelle Haynes, head of research at the Association for the Future of Work. Use the regional rankings above as a shortlist of where those people were tagging themselves.

Only some jobs travel well, and not every employee can get a pass. If you are good at the work, you have leverage to open the conversation — or to look for an employer whose pattern already matches how you want to live. “Talent is going in this direction, and companies should be paying attention,” Haynes continues. “We're seeing more people choosing to resign and seek out other opportunities because they're re-thinking their work-life balance and work experience… If employees want to work remotely from around the world, they will find the opportunities that allow them to do so.”

If you are rewriting materials for a location-flexible search, start with a clean layout from our resume templates, then check resume examples in your field. For the letter, cover letter templates and cover letter examples keep the ask specific. A simple resume template is often enough to highlight skills and a remote-ready toolkit without looking like a travel brochure.

How was this digital nomad study conducted?

We first extracted 25,976 Instagram posts that featured the hashtag #digitalnomad. We preprocessed the dataset so spam accounts and bots were not in the sample by allowing a maximum of 10 posts per user and removing lengthy, duplicated posts.

We then assigned a country from the Instagram location: either the country on the geotag, or by looking up the tagged place in OpenStreetMap. If the post had no location tag, we searched the caption for a country name. Matches were assigned; posts we could not locate were discarded.

Finally, we extrapolated the results based on the total number of posts under the #digitalnomad hashtag and formed the rankings. Data correct as of April 2023.

Frequently asked questions

Which city has the most digital nomads?

In this Instagram sample, London has the largest #digitalnomad community in Europe and the world (20,556 posts). Bangkok is second globally. New York City leads the U.S. and North America.

How did you decide where digital nomads are?

We pulled 25,976 #digitalnomad posts, capped users at 10 posts, removed spam and duplicate captions, then mapped geotags and country mentions via OpenStreetMap. Unlocated posts were dropped. Rankings were extrapolated to the full hashtag volume. Data as of April 2023.

Do I need a digital nomad visa?

More than 40 countries offer some version of one. Colombia's Visa V Nómadas digitales, for example, allows 24 months versus six for tourists. Visa rules change; confirm with the destination government, not a social post.

Can any job be done as a digital nomad?

No. Roles that need a site, a license, or a regulated office usually cannot. Employers still mix remote days with required in-person weeks — Airbnb's policy allows up to 90 days abroad plus quarterly on-site meets. Put location needs on the resume so you are not in a fully on-site pipeline by accident.

Is New York or London better for remote workers?

They serve different searches. London leads this global Instagram ranking; NYC leads North America and sits behind only London and Thailand worldwide. London's six-month one-bedroom rent averaged £11,088 (€12,800) in one comparison — a real cost against its transport and community advantages.