To live the life of a digital nomad, you must consider many different factors when looking for a place to base yourself.
Even just a short stay of a few months is not something to be taken lightly, so you should spend time researching which destination is right for you and your financial situation – the last thing you want to do is run out of money.
While the likes of Paris, Copenhagen, or Barcelona might be the cities people idolize in Europe, you can have a more affordable but no less enriching digital nomad experience on the continent by checking out some of the alternative major cities.
A team of travel experts at financial services company Norton Finance recently evaluated 184 countries and their capital cities to determine which would be cheapest for digital nomads based on factors such as average rent, utilities, food, and internet costs.
Within the list of cheapest European cities for digital nomads were three major cities that are located in countries that recently ranked among the cheapest to visit in Europe.
That made us want to take a closer look and examine why these three cities make for a great digital nomad experience:
Warsaw, Poland
Spend even just half an hour wandering around the colorful cobbled streets of Warsaw’s old town and it’s hard not to fall in love.
With a maze of red roofed buildings, historic castles, street cafés, and an impressive cathedral – it’s no wonder the old town is a UNESCO world heritage site.
What’s truly amazing is that nearly the whole city was destroyed during the Second World War and it was rebuilt to resemble its previous charm during an intensive reconstruction.
Away from the quaint center, Warsaw is blessed with countless museums including the Rising Museum, Museum of History of Polish Jews, Fryderyk Chopin Museum Royal Lazienki Museum, and Museum of King Jan III’s Palace.
If you crave fresh air over a stuffy museum, then head to the paved boulevards that line the river Vistula running through the heart of Warsaw – a perfect place to spend a quiet hour or two at all times of year.
- USD $10 = 43 Polish Zlotych
- Estimated meal and drink at low-cost restaurant: $9
- Estimated monthly public transport pass: $24
- Estimated average cost of a beer: $3.50
Budapest, Hungary
In 1873, two cities on either side of the river Danube became one – Buda and Pest merged to become the Budapest we know and love today.
The city attracts more than 7 million visitors a year, many of whom choose to take a cruise along the Danube to get the best view of some of the amazing attractions, including the iconic and ornate Budapest Parliament Building.
Elsewhere in this important European hub, you can spend a few hours pampering yourself at the Szechenyi Thermal Bath, absorb some culture at the Budapest Opera House, or simply take in the skyline of the city walking along its famous Chain Bridge.
While staying in Budapest, you should sample its most famous dish Gulyas (goulash), which is the national dish of Hungary.
This rich stew usually contains beef, onions, tomatoes, pepper and paprika seasoning – it’s a winter warmer for sure!
- USD $10 = 3,650 Hungarian Forints
- Estimated meal and drink at low-cost restaurant: $10
- Estimated monthly public transport pass: $28
- Estimated average cost of a beer: $2.20
Bucharest, Romania
A largely underrated city, Romania’s capital is a charming place filled with interesting history and a friendly and welcoming vibe.
Walking around the city, you will spot many architectural hallmarks (such as its own Arch of Triumph and Calea Victoriei) that show why the city is sometimes nicknamed ‘Little Paris’.
As well as having this French-inspired aesthetic, Bucharest is also rich in Roman history with its own Roman Athenaeum.
One thing you should definitely do in Bucharest is sample its world-famous café culture – there are coffee shops and tea houses on almost every corner, all of which are decorated in extravagant style.
Sounds like the perfect places for a digital nomad to pull up a chair and get some serious work done.
- USD $10 = 47 Romanian Lei
- Estimated meal and drink at low-cost restaurant: $11
- Estimated monthly public transport pass: $26
- Estimated average cost of a beer: $2.60
All the costs quoted in this article are estimates based on average prices from multiple sources and on currency exchange rates at the time of writing. Prices can and do change with time.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.