10 Best (Global) Work-From-Home Friendly Cities
It goes to show that remote work, whether hybrid or fully remote, has displayed its value to employers and employees alike. In fact, 91% of U.S. workers are hoping that remote work, or at least hybrid work, is here to stay.
Remote work may not be for everyone, but it provides unique benefits for many. And perhaps one of the most exciting things is that it offers the opportunity to choose where “home” is.
We've curated a list of cities around the world that offer some of the best environments for remote work. When selecting these cities, we focused on entertainment, nature and parks, language spoken, cost of living and safety, and, of course, internet speed.
So here are the 10 best work from home friendly cities to inspire you for your next adventure!
Madrid, Spain
Madrid was listed the top global capital city for remote work by the ETIAS blog this year.
Filled with beautiful architecture and rich in history, Madrid has just about everything a city lover could ask for. From museums and art galleries to hopping nightlife and bars, it’s no surprise that this romantic and bustling metropolis is a favorite for remote workers.
Average Internet Speed: 120 Mbps
Safety: High
Cost of Living (one person): $1,870/mo
Language(s) spoken: Spanish, some English
Tbilisi, Georgia
Although Tbilisi isn’t the most popular tourist destination, it is culturally rich and bursting with gorgeous architecture. This eye-catching city is perfect for remote workers who want to travel and explore new areas. This affordable location has a lot to offer between its many parks, delicious food, excellent shopping centers, hopping bars, and lovely views. For hiking and outdoor enthusiasts, the mountains are a short drive from the city, offering a moment of reprieve from this bustling metropolis.
Average Internet Speed: 27 Mbps
Safety: High
Cost of Living (one person): $1,002/mo
Language(s) spoken: Georgian, some English
Willemstad, Curaçao
Located on the Caribbean Sea, Willemstad is rich in history, diverse in culture, and filled with beautiful, historic architecture. It features an excellent art museum with works by Picasso, one of the largest UNESCO World Heritage Sites, gorgeous beaches, great nightlife, and plenty else to entertain.
Average Internet Speed: 10 Mbps
Safety: Moderate
Cost of Living (one person): $1,412/mo
Language(s) spoken: Papiamentu, Dutch, and English
Washington D.C., United States
Bursting with history and art, the sprawling city of Washington D.C. has it all in the form of entertainment, shopping, and culture. With a diverse population, multiple historical sites, museums, river rides, local shops, and breweries, there is always something to do in this hopping city.
Average Internet Speed: 121 Mbps
Safety: Moderate
Cost of Living (one person): $3,350/mo
Language(s) spoken: English
Prague, Czech Republic
From cafes and taverns to castles and cathedrals, this magical city drips with fairytale charm. And it’s this atmosphere that makes Prague a favorite destination for remote workers. Whether it’s the architecture, breweries, museums, art, music, or food, it’s hard not to feel enchanted with Prague.
Average Internet Speed: 104 Mbps
Safety: Very high
Cost of Living (one person): $1,521/mo
Language(s) spoken: Czech, German, Russian, and English
Bangkok, Thailand
A city of life, opportunity, adventure, and culture, Bangkok is a popular destination for remote workers from all around the globe. Constantly buzzing with energy, every turn in this city provides delicious street food, exciting nightlife, friendly locals, business opportunities, and shopping centers. In 2021, Bangkok ranked number one on the Nomad’s List top remote cities, and still remains a popular city for professionals with flexible work.
Average Internet Speed: 188 Mbps
Safety: ModerateCost of Living (one person): $1,194/mo
Language(s) spoken: Thai, some English
Lisbon, Portugal
The charming city of Lisbon has a little bit of something for everyone. This artistic, culturally rich city brimming with life, color, and beauty is the perfect destination for someone looking for a welcoming and vibrant work from home atmosphere. With friendly locals, lively markets, hopping nightlife, gorgeous beaches, and excellent museums, it’s no surprise that Lisbon made our list of best work from home cities.
Average Internet Speed: 109 Mbps
Safety: Very high
Cost of Living (one person): $1,498/mo
Language(s) spoken: Portuguese, some English
Budapest, Hungary
There is no finer city to enjoy a day off than the “Queen of the Danube” itself. Known for its springs, there are spas and baths located all over the city. From the Gellert Baths to Szechenyi Spa, there are countless means for relaxation once you’ve closed your laptop. Budapest has excellent nightlife, an international environment, a wide variety of cuisine, and plenty to see and do, making it an excellent environment for remote workers.
Average Internet Speed: 78 Mbps
Safety: High
Cost of Living (one person): $1,036/mo
Language(s) spoken: Hungarian, English
Gdansk, Poland
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gdansk is a city filled with history as old as the Middle Ages and as recent as World War II. It has magnificent and varied architecture from Gothic to Art Deco, gorgeous parks, excellent breweries, river tours, and exciting nightlife. This culturally rich and exciting city is the perfect work from home atmosphere.
Average Internet Speed: 90 Mbps
Safety: Moderate
Cost of Living (one person): $1,111/mo
Language(s) spoken: Polish, German, and English
Groningen, Netherlands
Groningen is a city of unique energy. Its modern, youthful nightlife, international crowds, cafes, stores, and abstract architecture blend seamlessly with its historical architecture and monuments, museums, and parks. For the outdoor enthusiast, it’s also located 15 minutes from the silence of nature and farmland. Groningen has a little bit to offer everyone, making it a wonderful city to work from home from.
Average Internet Speed: 103 Mbps
Safety: Very high
Cost of Living (one person): $1,885/mo
Language(s) spoken: Dutch, Nedersaksisch, and English
Interested in working from anywhere in the world? Check out the open roles on our remote job board!
Best Work-From-Home Companies 2022
Keep reading to see our top 15 work-from-home companies for 2022, along with a description of what they do, why we like them, and who they’re looking for.
PowerToFly's Best Work-From-Home Companies 2022:
Bumble—Create a world where all relationships are healthy and equitable
What they do:
Bumble is the parent company that operates Badoo and Bumble, two of the world’s largest dating and connection apps with millions of users globally.
Why we like them:
“We’re a diverse and international bunch, with over 600 employees working across four key offices in Austin, London, Moscow and Barcelona. We also have employees working in other parts of the world too, including Germany, Australia, Mexico and India.”
They believe the best way to create a more equitable and healthy world is by starting within. Uber offers a highly competitive benefits package with benefits that are designed to support you in your health and wellbeing, financial wellbeing, happiness, community, and learning and development.
Who they’re looking for:
Product Designers, Developers, Partnership Directors, and more!
Audible—Listen more
What they do:
Audible is an online audiobook and podcast service that allows users to purchase and stream audiobooks and other forms of spoken word content.
Why we like them:
“Audible's People Principles celebrate who we are and where we've been, and guide the way we work shoulder to shoulder to enhance the lives of our millions of customers.” This company offers exciting benefits include wellness reimbursement, fertility coverage, and childcare benefits.
Some of their other benefits include:
- Health: Dental and vision plans, life insurance, and the medical plan options that suit individual needs.
- Savings: Plan for your future with employer-matched savings accounts.
- Stock: We grant our employees Amazon restricted stock units, because we want them to think and act like owners.
- Time off: We love what we do but everyone needs the opportunity to hit the refresh button. Take advantage of vacation days, sick days, and personal days to rejuvenate.
- Social: From tickets to local events and exciting company-sponsored events, regular outings and team-building events foster our spirit of collaboration.
- Amazon discount: As part of the Amazon family, Audible employees are entitled to a discount on products on Amazon.
- Fitness: Discounted sports clubs or fitness reimbursements.
Who they’re looking for:
Software Engineers, Director of People Analytics, Strategic Advisors, and more!
ServiceNow—Making the world of work, work better for people
What they do:
ServiceNow is a cloud computing platform that delivers digital workflows that create great experiences and unlock productivity.
Why we like them:
“We strive for a fair system of opportunity and treatment for all. Competitive health, wellness benefits, zero-tolerance for any kind of discrimination, and protection from social stigmas such as mental health are core to our values and beliefs.”
Who they’re looking for:
Accounting Managers, Sales Representatives, Product Managers, and more!
OfferUp—Buy. Sell. Simple.
What they do:
OfferUp the largest mobile marketplace for local buyers and sellers in the U.S., that offers iOS and Android apps that make selling an item as easy as snapping a picture from your mobile device.
Why we like them:
“We’re a diverse team with diverse passions and skills, but we’re united by a shared commitment to helping people accomplish their goals through the power of peer-to-peer commerce.
Our company culture makes us unique. At the best companies in the world, work and life aren’t just balanced, they’re blended. Team outings, virtual celebrations and lunch-n-learns, informal gatherings, and family events keep our neighborly culture strong. We’re a diverse team with diverse passions and skills, but we’re united by a shared commitment to helping people accomplish their goals through the power of peer-to-peer commerce.”
Who they’re looking for:
Chief Technology Officer, Content Writers, Business Operations Analyst, and more!
Work & Co—Digital product design and development
What they do:
Work & Co is a digital product agency that defines and launches digital experiences people love using every day.
Why we like them:
Some of their benefits include:
- Zero Timesheets or expense reports
- 18 weeks paid parental leave
- 100% health, dental, vision coverage (they also pay your entire monthly premium and cover 70% for spouses, partners, and dependents)
- Nonelective 3% match (they contribute to every person’s retirement account regardless of their own contribution)
Who they’re looking for:
Designers, Technology Directors, Marketing and Communication Leads, and more!
Relativity—Organize data, discover the truth, and act on it
What they do:
“We create intuitive software that helps law firms, government agencies, financial institutions and other major corporations quickly find the truth in data.”
Why we like them:
Relativity's software helps users organize data and quickly identify key issues during litigation, internal investigations, and compliance projects. They offer their employees great benefits like:
- Competitive healthcare, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability plans
- Hybrid work model: In-office once we re-open, fully remote, or a mixture of both
- Unlimited Time off
- 401k matching
- 12 weeks of 100% paid leave for the primary caregiver and 6 weeks of 100% paid leave for the secondary caregiver
- 2 week-long company breaks in the winter and summer
- Wellness perks such as virtual yoga classes, financial wellness sessions, access to meditation apps, etc.
Who they’re looking for:
Software Engineers, Marketing Managers, Customer Success Managers, and more!
GoTo—We live the work-from-anywhere life, too
What they do:
GoTo provides the most-comprehensive, secure, and flexible suite of products to help businesses embrace remote work, learning and customer engagement.
Why we like them:
“For bold and creative individuals, LogMeIn provides limitless growth opportunities. We hire extraordinary talent who continually seek opportunities to tackle challenges. We pride ourselves on an inclusive culture and collaborative spirit. Speaking up and listening to others is not just encouraged here, but expected.
We thrive together and champion each other’s successes, providing our employees with rich experiences to help them develop resiliency and skills; positioning them to grow into future roles either inside or outside GoTo.”
Who they’re looking for:
Technical Writers, Global Markets, Compliance Leads, and more!
Autodesk—We make software for people who make things
What they do:
Autodesk is a global leader in design and technology.
Why we like them:
“At Autodesk, we believe flexibility in where and how work gets done will better enable our people to thrive and realize their potential. While most roles may be required to be in the office, we also have roles that are home-based, and hybrid. From implementing virtual learning platforms to promote personal/professional development, to virtual marathons, DIY craft kits, scavenger hunts to virtual wine tasting and everything in between – we’re doing our best to champion for a workplace culture that spanning boundaries and borders. That’s #Autodesklife.”
Who they’re looking for:
Engineers, UX Designers, Business Analysts, and more!
Veracode—Keeping your business confidently secure
What they do:
Veracode delivers the application security solutions and services today’s software-driven world requires.
Why we like them:
“Veracoders are dedicated to creating a world where the software fueling our economic growth and solving some of society's greatest challenges is developed secure from the start.”
Here are some great reasons to join Veracode:
- PEOPLE & TEAM: Veracoders help their peers grow, achieve, and see the best in themselves.
- CHALLENGING & INTERESTING WORK: Veracoders are passionate about solving one of the most important challenges facing our digital world, securing the software changing our world.
- INDUSTRY-LEADING TECHNOLOGIES: We are the pioneer in the AppSec market and a continued leader in secure development innovations
Who they’re looking for:
Sales Leads, Talent Acquisition Partners, Product Managers, and more!
Unstoppable Domains—Building decentralized digital identities for the world
What they do:
Unstoppable Domains brings user-controlled identity to 3 billion+ internet users by issuing domain names on the blockchain.
Why we like them:
“Unstoppable Domains’ remote, international team is made up of a wide range of diverse experiences, languages, cultures, nationalities and backgrounds. We are proud to be an inclusive employer with team members in over 18 countries.”
They’ve also offer benefits:
- Equity in the company
- Annual work from home stipend
- Crypto education program
- Full medical, dental and vision coverage
Who they’re looking for:
Art Directors, Community Managers, Growth Marketers, and more!
Helm—A team of scientists, designers, engineers, and campaigners
What they do:
Helm is building a data and technology platform for organizers and issue advocates.
Why we like them:
“We are assembling a team who understands, shares values with, learns alongside, and stands with the people who are doing the work to change the nation. We are seeking team members who want to see a more equitable future in their lifetime, and who have the passion and skills to help us get there.”
They’ve also got incredible benefits like:
- Comprehensive health plans
- Unlimited PTO
- Paid parental leave
- Paid volunteer time
- 401K
- Stipend to enhance your home office
Who they’re looking for:
DevOps Engineers, Account Managers, Customer Support Analysts, and more!
Lattice—Making work meaningful
What they do:
Lattice is the people management platform that empowers people leaders to build engaged, high-performing teams that love coming to work.
Why we like them:
“We’re growing extremely quickly, hitting all of our financial targets for the last 2 years. We also have a negative net retention rate, meaning customers are staying and growing with us.”
They’ve also got incredible benefits like:
- 401(k) package
- Maternity & Paternity leave
- Medical / Dental / Vision insurance
- Flexible equity terms
- Commuter benefits
- Learning & Development reimbursement
- Flexible time off
Who they’re looking for:
UX Writers, Account Executives, Program Managers, and more!
MongoDB—Build faster. Build smarter.
What they do:
MongoDB transforms industries and empowers developers to build amazing apps that people use every day.
Why we like them:
At MongoDB, you can grow your career in the direction that you want it to, gain new skills, experiences, and relationships that will stay with you forever.
Some of their stand-out benefits include:
- Mental health counseling and resources, and complimentary Headspace (meditation app) access
- Rich health insurance coverage, including Transgender-inclusive coverage
- Fertility and adoption financial assistance
- 20 weeks of fully paid gender-neutral parental leave, parental counseling for new parents, and flexible work arrangements
- 4 weeks of emergency care leave
- Global and internal mobility opportunities
- Equity and Employee Stock Purchase Program
Who they’re looking for:
Sales and Technical Recruiters, Product Designers, Engineers, and more!
Uber—Move the way you want
What they do:
Uber is a mobility service provider that constantly reimagines how we can move better.
Why we like them:
“We welcome people from all backgrounds who seek the opportunity to help build a future where everyone and everything can move independently. We publicly support policies that drive diversity and inclusion in the countries where we operate so that people everywhere have the right to live, work, and be their authentic selves.”
They’ve also got incredible benefits like:
- Unlimited PTO policy
- Maternity and parental leave
- Monthly Uber credits
- Medical, dental and vision coverage
Who they’re looking for:
Marketing Leads, Account Representatives, Operations Specialists, and more!
Guru—Organize company information and access it anywhere
What they do:
Guru reinvents the way people connect with meaningful information at work by providing customer-facing teams access to expert-verified information where they work and when they need it most.
Why we like them:
“At Guru, our core values bind us together, influence how we work.”
They’ve got incredible benefits like:
- Competitive salary
- Employee Stock Option Plan
- Generous health and commuter benefits
- Dog Friendly Office
- 401k Program
- The chance to contribute to an upbeat, fully engaged culture
Who they’re looking for:
Marketing Leads, Sales Development Representatives, Web Designers, and more!
Don't see what you're looking for? Check out a fill list of 5,000+ open remote roles here!
Best Work-From-Home Jobs to Apply to in 2022
If you're like me, and freelance, task-oriented remote jobs like article writing, data entry, transcription, or professional survey taking (yep, that exists), aren't your thing - don't worry. There are more full-time remote opportunities than ever before that offer you the freedom to manage your own time, the security of consistent monthly income, the support of a team, and the promise of growth. In fact, we've got over 5,000 on PowerToFly.
So, if you're looking for a remote opportunity in 2022 that will push you to develop professionally, look no further than our list of the 10 best work-from-home jobs. And by best, we mean fun, challenging roles that will help you grow, while making a respectable income.
All the jobs listed have average salaries between 45 and 119k, and have average or higher-than-average growth potential (based off of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' predictions for growth from 2018 to 2028 and/or LinkedIn's 2020 Emerging Jobs Report).
10 Best Work-From-Home (Remote) Jobs for 2022
Jobs sorted from highest to lowest average salary. (Salary data taken from ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and/or the U.S. BLS depending on availability and specificity to remote roles.)
1. Data Scientist
Who It's Good For: Detail-oriented stats masters skilled at identifying and understanding trends.
Sound Like You? Check Out: Remote Data Science Roles. Plus, watch this Chat & Learn with a data insights engineer to learn more about data-driven careers.
Why You Can Do It Remotely: With more data than ever before at our fingertips, companies know the value of hiring folks who know "big data" as more than just a buzzword. True stats buffs are hard to come by, so expertise often outweighs location.
Growth 2018-2028: 33%
Annual Growth: 37% (Data Scientist made LinkedIn's top 15 in demand jobs for 2021)
Average Annual Salary: $114,000
2. Software Developer/Engineer
Who It's Good For: Self-directed (and disciplined) coding enthusiasts who love problem solving and having the freedom to work whenever they feel most focused.
Sound Like You? Check Out: 5,500+ Software Developer/Engineer jobs on PowerToFly and be sure to check out this Q&A with software engineer, Kasey Champion to learn about her experience working at a fully remote company and get her tips for acing technical interviews!)
Why It Can Be Done Remotely: Arguably, not only can programming be done remotely - it should be! Why? Writing code requires undisturbed blocks of time rarely found in traditional workplaces.
As computer scientist and entrepreneur Paul Graham observed in his essay on makers' vs. managers' schedules:
" Most powerful people are on the manager's schedule...But there's another way of using time that's common among people who make things, like programmers and writers. They generally prefer to use time in units of half a day at least. You can't write or program well in units of an hour. That's barely enough time to get started."
Office culture was designed with managers' schedules in mind, and thus makes adhering to a maker's schedule extremely difficult. Remote work, alternatively, is much more conducive to this. After all, it's a lot easier to snooze your Slack notifications than it is to ignore your boss literally hovering over your shoulder.
Growth for 2018-2028: 22%
Annual Growth: 35% for full stack engineers, 30% for backend developers, 25% for javascript developers (all three made LinkedIn's top 15 in demand jobs)
Average Annual Salary: $114,000
3. Designer (Web, Graphic, Product, or UI/UX)
Who It's Good For: Designers who do their best work independently or from the comfort of their own home.
Sound Like You? Check Out: Remote Design Roles
Why You Can Do It Remotely: No doubt there's value in brainstorming with your team, but once you know the needs of a project, most design work can be done independently and then shared. With tools like Zoom, Jira, and Slack, it's easier than ever before to share your work, get feedback, and hit deadlines. (And, like programmers/developers, designers are also more likely to benefit from a maker's schedule!)
Growth for 2018-2028: The BLS predicts only 3% growth, but others predict significantly higher growth based on the length of time UI/UX roles stay open before being filled.
Average Annual Salary (for UX Design): $89,000
Average Median Salary (for Graphic Design): $50,000 in 2021, according to data from Indeed
4. Product Manager
Who It's Good For: Anyone who loves big-picture strategy and building products that users will love.
(If you enjoy more nitty-gritty task oversight, consider project management instead — both roles can be done remotely! You can learn more about the differences between the two PM roles here.)
Sound Like You? Check Out: Remote Product Manager Jobs (Plus, practice these product manager interview questions to help you land the gig!)
Why You Can Do It Remotely: As more and more software engineers and other tech professionals work remotely, it only makes sense that the PMs coordinating with them work remotely. If you're a virtual communication wiz comfortable communicating online and using tools like Zoom, GitHub, Jyra, Slack, and Asana (the list goes on...), then you're all set!
Annual Growth: 24%*
*Based on expected growth for Product Owner from LinkedIn's in demand jobs report. The BLS doesn't currently track growth specifically for Product Manager positions.
Average Annual Salary: $95,000
5. Workplace Diversity Expert
Who It's Good For: HR professionals or creative and strategic individuals who has experience developing and implementing diversity initiatives and strategies.
Sound Like You? Check Out: Remote DEI Expert Jobs
Why You Can Do It Remotely: DEI experts work closely with every team in an organization organization. They can ensure that diversity agendas are successfully implemented and in line with businesses objectives for everyone, hybrid and remote teams included.
Growth for 2018-2028: 56%*
*Based on expected growth for Indeed's Career Guide. The BLS doesn't currently track growth specifically for DEI positions.
Average Annual Salary: $86,000
6. Technical Writer
Who It's Good For: Top-notch communicators (writers) who can explain complex topics succinctly and clearly. (It's helpful if you have expertise in at least one technical subject.)
Sound Like You? Check Out: Remote Technical Writer Jobs
Why It Can Be Done Remotely: Like programmers, technical writers are makers - they need large, undisturbed blocks of time to create content. Technology and the nature of remote work can help ensure writers are able to communicate efficiently with their teams and organize meetings when they'll be constructive, not distracting.
Growth for 2018-2028: 12%
Average Annual Salary: $57,000
7. Customer Success Manager
Who It's Good For: Good communicators who love helping others and problem-solving.
Sound Like You? Check Out: Remote Customer Success Roles
Why It Can Be Done Remotely: Most customer service needs can be met over the phone and online. With a computer and good internet connection (and enough patience), you can handle all your customers' needs from wherever you are.
Growth for 2020: 25% annual growth rate (The BLS doesn't share data specific to customer success, but thanks to the growth of SaaS, Customer Success Specialist made LinkedIn's 2020 list of the top 15 in demand jobs)
Average Annual Salary: $58,000
8. Marketing Manager
Who It's Good For: Folks who are equal parts creative and analytical.
Sound Like You? Check Out: Remote Marketing Manager Jobs on PowerToFly
Why You Can Do It Remotely: Analyzing industry trends and crafting strategy can be done from anywhere. And with teams becoming more and more spread out, you can coordinate cross-functionally with sales people, engineers, and more using Zoom, Slack, and other online tools.
Growth for 2018-2028: 10%
Average Annual Salary: $63,000 (according to data for remote professionals from Indeed)
Average Median Salary: $141,490 in 2020, according to the U.S. BLS (not specific to remote roles)
9. Recruiter
Who It's Good For: A people-person skilled in market research, project/time management, and negotiation.
Sound Like You? Check Out: Remote Recruiting Roles
Why You Can Do It Remotely: As remote work takes off and fully remote teams become more common, it only makes sense that recruiters at these companies would be remote as well. Although recruiting saw a dip at the start of the pandemic, the number of remote recruiting roles is steadily increasing as companies ramp back up their hiring goals—we have hundreds of open remote recruiter roles on PowerToFly!
Growth for 2018-2028: 10%
Average Annual Salary: $50,000
10. Sales Development Representative
Who It's Good For: A self-starter with previous experience or an interest in Sales, or anyone who's just starting out and eager to prove themselves!
Sound Like You? Check Out: Remote SDR Roles
Why You Can Do It Remotely: You don't need to be in a particular location to make sales calls, deliver pitches, send follow-up emails, or manage your sales team. And if you have to fly from an office to meet a client, you can just as easily fly from your hometown.
Growth for 2018-2028: 7%
Annual Growth: 45% (LinkedIn lists SDR as one of its top 15 in demand roles for 2021)
Median Annual Salary for SDRs: $64,000
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Interested in one of the roles above? Check out these resources for landing your dream remote job and get ready to reap the full benefits of remote work in 2022— doing what you like, where you like. Good luck!
[A version of this article was originally published on Dec. 19, 2018]
