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While we often imagine globetrotting remote workers traveling alone, or perhaps with a similarly mobile and adventurous partner, increasingly digital nomads are traveling with children in tow, and expats are bringing dependent family members with them when they settle down abroad.
There is no question that this makes the nomadic or international lifestyle more complicated. Safety and appropriate accommodation become more important, as does access to good education options and the ability to create a nurturing environment for developing young people. Stability, security, and safety nets become essential.
With these challenges in mind, the life insurance broker Reassured has come up with a new report on the best European cities for expat families. They have based their list on factors such as cost of living, access to education, activities for children, and crime rates.
We thought we would look at the top 10 cities on their list and decide whether the top expat cities are also good choices for digital nomads traveling with young family members.
Below, schools are ranked as green (good), orange (OK), or red (underperforming) based on a recent report by Preply which looked at the student-to-teacher ratio, annual public expenditure on education, the percentage of students in post-compulsory education, and the number of educations attractions per capita.
1. Vienna, Austria
- Monthly Rent for 3-Bed Home: £1,356/€1,579
- Monthly Family Costs: £2,794/€3,253
- Monthly Childcare Cost: £223/€259
- School Ranking: Orange
- Best Visa Option: 3 months, Schengen Visa
We think that Austria is a worthy entrant on the list for digital nomad families. While Austria has a relatively high cost of living, Vienna is much cheaper than many other European capitals, and it is a capital of culture, with many museums and cultural venues to inspire and occupy young people.
While Vienna doesn’t have a good school ranking, most non-EU digital nomads will only be able to stay for up to three months at a time, which means that school-age children are probably studying remotely or on holidays.
Instant Offices as also ranked Vienna near the top of their list for digital nomads based on Wi-Fi speeds, availability of coworking spaces, and quality of life scores.
2. Prague, Czech Republic
- Monthly Rent for 3-Bed Home: £1,651/€1,922
- Monthly Family Costs: £2,682/€3,123
- Monthly Childcare Cost: £787/€916
- School Ranking: Green
- Best Visa Option: 1 year renewable, digital nomad visa
Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and has a rich and eclectic history that manifests on the streets. Prague does offer a digital nomad visa, so digital nomads can spend up to a year in the country and bring dependents. Prague also has a high-quality education system, making it a great place for young people to spend a year learning and growing.
We’ve previously reviewed Prague as a digital nomad destination and it is a wonderful city with lots of coworking spaces, a massive social scene, and good public transport. It can feel a bit crowded sometimes, but that feels like a small price to pay.
3. Rome, Italy
- Monthly Rent for 3-Bed Home: £1,784/€2,077
- Monthly Family Costs: £2,677/€3,117
- Monthly Childcare Cost: £407/€473
- School Ranking: Orange
- Best Visa Option: 3 months Schengen Visa, digital nomad visa coming soon
Rome is definitely a city steeped in history that will inspire young people on every street corner. Kids won’t be disappointed about the plethora of gelato stands either. Rome is also very well connected with the rest of the country (all roads lead to Rome), making it a great base for exploring Italy.
Italy has announced its digital nomad visa, but it isn’t available yet, so young people will need to study remotely. We’ve previously reviewed Rome as a digital nomad destination, and there isn’t much not to love. There are great coworking spaces, excellent transport, and gems to discover in every neighborhood.
4. Helsinki, Finland
- Monthly Rent for 3-Bed Home: £1,552/€1,807
- Monthly Family Costs: £2,894/€3,370
- Monthly Childcare Cost: £272/€316
- School Ranking: Green
- Best Visa Option: 3 months Schengen Visa
While it might be a little chilly in Helsinki, Norway has an incredible social society that is sure to feel safe and inspiring. For the time being, non-EU residents can only stay for up to three months at a time, which is a shame since Helsinki’s education system is among the best in the world.
The cost of living in Helsinki is relatively high, but you get an excellent quality of life in return for your investment. Head there in the summer months as the long days of winter darkness are challenging if you aren’t used to them.
5. Salzburg, Austria
- Monthly Rent for 3-Bed Home: £1,364/€1,588
- Monthly Family Costs: £3,183/€3,706
- Monthly Childcare Cost: £391/€455
- School Ranking: Orange
- Best Visa Option: 3 months Schengen Visa
Salzburg is a popular digital nomad destination for many of the same reasons as Vienna. It is more affordable than many people imagine, and the rich culture that penetrates daily life is inspiring. While non-EU digital nomads can only spend a few months in Salzburg, it is a wonderful place to spend the summer holidays or for young people studying remotely.
6. Nuremberg, Germany
- Monthly Rent for 3-Bed Home: £1,128/€1,313
- Monthly Family Costs: £2,753/€3,205
- Monthly Childcare Cost: £360/€419
- School Ranking: Red
- Best Visa Option: 3 months Schengen Visa
While you should travel to Berlin to truly understand Germany, Nuremberg is also a colorful and fascinating city to discover Germany’s past and is much more affordable than the capital.
While schools in Nuremberg don’t score well, since most non-EU digital nomads will only be able to stay for a few months, this is not a major issue. It is better to focus on its fascinating castles and unique museums.
7. Innsbruck, Austria
- Monthly Rent for 3-Bed Home: £1,568/€1,825
- Monthly Family Costs: £2,992/€3,484
- Monthly Childcare Cost: £488/€568
- School Ranking: Red
- Best Visa Option: 3 months Schengen Visa
Yet another Austrian city makes it onto the list thanks to the high quality of life in the country and the focus on cultural experiences that go beyond the classroom. That is fortunate since schools in Innsbruck do not rate well! But most non-EU digital nomads probably won’t stay long, so won’t be relying on the local education system.
8. Bergen, Norway
- Monthly Rent for 3-Bed Home: £1,505/€1,752
- Monthly Family Costs: £3,584/€4,173
- Monthly Childcare Cost: £245/€285
- School Ranking: Green
- Best Visa Option: 3 months Schengen Visa
Bergen has a bit of a reputation thanks to Scandinavian noir, but there are fewer murderers on the loose than fiction would have us believe. It is a special place to encounter Norse history, with the Bryggen area of classic wooden houses a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Spend your days eating fish, exploring the fjords, hiking Mount Floyen, or visiting one of the city’s many museums.
9. Galway, Ireland
- Monthly Rent for 3-Bed Home: £1,903/€2,216
- Monthly Family Costs: £2,619/€3,049
- Monthly Childcare Cost: £728/€847
- School Ranking: Green
- Best Visa Option: 3 months Schengen Visa
It was a little surprising to see Galway’s on the list as Ireland is not known as one of the most affordable of friendly digital nomad countries. But some Galway islands offer bursaries for people to move there and help rejuvenate the area.
While the cost of living in Galway is not cheap, it is much more accessible than many other cities in the area, and the local schools are excellent for anyone who can stay there for an extended period with family. There are few things more rejuvenating than exploring Ireland’s rolling green hills.
10. Trieste, Italy
- Monthly Rent for 3-Bed Home: £771/€897
- Monthly Family Costs: £2,703/€3,147
- Monthly Childcare Cost: £493/€574
- School Ranking: Green
- Best Visa Option: 3 months Schengen Visa, digital nomad visa coming soon
The final city on the list is Trieste, another Italian place steeped in history and home to some excellent food and wine. You have the sea on one side and rolling hills on the other, some small but interesting museums, and a chamber music scene that punches above its weight.
Where Will You Travel with Your Family?
People spend a lot of time coming up with lists of the best and most affordable cities for digital nomads, and now for families too! Certainly, these lists help us to understand that things that matter most when choosing a digital nomad destination in different circumstances, but the reality is, there is no one size fits all when it comes to finding your perfect digital nomad destination.
