Low rent rates, affordable public transport, and the moderate climate are some of the positive factors digital nomads cite for picking Athens as their work base, ranking the Greek capital 25th among 120 countries measured for hybrid work.
Conversely, they cited low internet speeds and expensive food costs as negatives in Athens, according to the second annual barometer, “Work from Anywhere2024”, of the International Workplace Group (IWG) which covers the pros and cons of working remotely in selected 4,000 locations across the world.
Athens scored 65/100, while first-placed Budapest received 75 points, rating high in key areas such as transportation, internet, and availability of flexible workspaces. Barcelona came in second with 73.5/100, and Rio de Janeiro was third with 73.5/100. This year, apart from the traditional destinations, new-entry locations popular among digital nomads included Austin, Texas; Podgorica, Montenegro; Marrakech, Morocco; and Valletta, Malta.
Over 80% of hybrid workers (84%) are considering extending their vacations to work remotely, and the IWG’s report revealed that 74% said the ability to work from anywhere is an important factor when looking for a new job.
The top 30 cities were assessed based on a number of criteria, such as climate, culture, accommodation, transportation, gastronomy, wellness, and internet speed, with each city rated on a scale from 1 to 10. Athens scored highly for its climate (8.5), monthly housing costs (9.5), and transportation costs (9). In terms of living costs, like meals and coffee, it ranked mid-range (5) but received a particularly low score for internet speed (2.5).
