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Amid the UK’s current cost of living crisis, remote workers are exploring the possibility of embracing a digital nomad lifestyle overseas.
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This allows them to explore the world at a much more leisurely pace, while also having to deal with lower living costs and in many cases, better internet and working infrastructure.
According to a report by CV builder website LiveCareer UK, an estimated 165,000 UK professionals have relocated abroad to work remotely, often driven by a desire for better weather and greater work-life balance.
The rise of the “slomad” trend – where digital nomads favour longer stays and a slower pace of life – has seen UK remote workers flocking to countries which offer structured visa policies, tax incentives, and communities.
But where are they heading to? Here we take a look…
Spain: Tapas culture, sunshine and high-speed internet
In 2025, Spain was the most popular digital nomad destination for UK citizens. This is mainly due to its high-speed internet, which is among the fastest in the world and a specialised Digital Nomad Visa.
This visa, which can often be applied for within the country, allows remote workers to live and work in Spain legally. In many cases, they can bring family over as well and access a special, lower tax regime, the non-resident income tax. The Digital Nomad Visa requires a minimum proof of income of €2,700 per month.
Spain also offers over 300 days of sunshine, in contrast to the UK’s frequent rainy and cold weather, as well as a cost of living anywhere between 20% to 40% lower than in the UK.
Digital nomads can also enjoy a wide variety of coworking spaces, along with coffee shops specially tailored for remote workers. Spain’s famous gastronomy and tapas culture, along with rich history are added bonuses as well.
Major cities like Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid have regular networking events for both remote workers and expats and large, welcoming communities to ease integration.
Outside of work, nomads can have an active outdoor lifestyle too, with plenty of beaches, mountains and national parks to explore.
Portugal: Vibrant startup community and English-friendly expat networks
Portugal is another top spot for UK remote workers looking for a change in scenery. Similar to Spain, Portugal also has a Digital Nomad Visa (D8), which requires proof of monthly income of €3,480, as of 2025.
The country also has high-speed internet and a cost of living around 30% to 40% lower than the UK on average, according to immigration website Touchdown, while also being cheaper than several other Western European hubs.
Portugal has strong co-working communities in key hubs like Lisbon, Madeira and Porto and provides high safety, along with mild year-round weather.
Lisbon’s vast network of expat British workers, vibrant startup community and English-friendly services make it especially attractive to UK digital nomads. This is despite a growing housing crisis and increasing local resentment towards nomads.
Regions like the Algarve are still fairly affordable, compared to other popular European hubs, while offering stunning natural beauty, golfing and plenty of hiking and water sports.
Like Spain, Portugal also has more than 300 days of sunshine annually, which also supports better work-life balance, with digital nomads able to go straight from work to the beach.
Croatia: Mediterranean vibes and a tax-exempt Digital Nomad Visa
Croatia is another European country seeing increased interest from British digital nomads.
The country offers a specialised Digital Nomad Visa for non-EU citizens, which allows them to live and work in Croatia for up to one year without needing to pay local income tax. However, it still has an income requirement of around €3,295 per month.
Croatia is also very pocket-friendly, with a cost-of-living around 30% lower than the UK, according to yachting website Goolets. Expenses also decrease further inland, away from the most touristic coastal areas.
The country offers exceptional safety and high-speed internet too, along with more than 300 days of sun per year. It also has widespread English-friendly services, with around 80% of the population speaking English, making it more accessible for Brits.
Cities like Dubrovnik, Split and Zagreb also have growing expat communities and coworking spaces to welcome remote workers.
With several historic coastal towns, 13 national parks and more than 1,000 islands to explore, Croatia offers a wealth of exploration opportunities for digital nomads.
Estonia: Robust digital infrastructure and an e-Residency programme
Estonia is another rising European digital nomad hub, mainly due to its very strong digital infrastructure.
Around 99% of government services are online 24/7, including banking and voting, providing a high-efficiency and low-red-tape environment for both remote workers and businesses to function in. Digital nomads are subject to a relatively low tax rate of 22% from 2026 onwards.
Estonia’s cost of living is around 30.5% lower than the UK, according to Numbeo.
Its e-Residency programme also lets entrepreneurs and freelancers register an EU-based company in minutes and manage it remotely, supporting international digital businesses.
Tallinn boasts a growing and vibrant tech scene, with high English proficiency and excellent co-working spaces. It is also very walkable and provides easy access to stunning nature like bogs, vast forests and the coast, allowing for digitally detoxing and rebalancing whenever required.
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