This is the best city in Europe for remote working

The pandemic forced a lot of change in our lives. Flexibility was the key to getting through the last two years. Workplaces in particular were quick to adapt with desktop computers shipped to residential houses and apartments and suddenly we found ourselves in a back room or bedroom trying to do our 9-5 while also trying to maintain a good work-life balance.

That was harder to do as we were confined to 2km or having to homeschool simultaneously. But as we emerge from the pandemic, many companies have come to new realisations about productivity when it comes to remote work.

In other words, the work didn’t suffer, for the most part.

In fact, it prompted many to choose their work surroundings a little more carefully – WeWork spaces grew, remote working hubs where people could interact with some other colleagues began to replace traditional office settings. Employers began to ask themselves what was the point in the giant city centre rental when we could now collaborate so successfully via Zoom or twice a week meetings.

While the Great Resignation was underway, as people recalibrated their decisions, so too was a Great Redesign. I’ve a friend who moved to France to work remotely. She rented a stunning apartment in Nice overlooking the boardwalk and went to the beach during her lunchtimes. Not everyone has the luxury of such dramatic change, but it did open up the possibilities when it came to your view from your office window.

Now a survey has examined 20 European countries to see which is the best when it comes to remote working. Marketing agency Absolute Digital Media ranks the affordability of an average flight to each city and weighs up the city based on the following criteria: the average cost of a 2-bed Airbnb, cost of living, internet speed, pollution rate, cost of a coffee and the remote worker legislation in place in each location.

With an average of 8 hours of sunshine a day, Prague in the Czech Republic is the second-best country to work from in Europe. It would only cost €92 for a flight and €88 for a 2-bed Airbnb. All you would need is a digital nomad visa and you would be good to go.

Portugal is also a great choice to work abroad with a cost from €120 and a 2-bed Airbnb costing around €117 Although the internet speed is 22.75 Mbps you can, however, enjoy a coffee at an average of €1.30 and 10 hours of sunshine a day!

Want to work with the view of the Eiffel Tower? Then maybe think again as working in Paris is the country with the lowest score.  The average speed is 30.44 Mbps and the pollution rate is 64.77

But the survey found that the best city to work remotely from is Madrid. The average cost of a 2-bed Airbnb costs €88 and with 11 hours of sunshine a day, what else can you ask for?