Looking for a great city where you can live and work remotely? The Spanish city of Malaga has recently taken a dramatic jump in the Executive Nomad Index report, which ranks the 20 best cities in the world for “nomadic executives.”
Malaga is rated second in the latest report, behind Dubai. It had previously not been in the rankings, but multiple international companies have shown an interest in the city. Google opened a security engineering center in Malaga earlier this year, followed by announcements from Vodafone, Dekra, Globant and TDK that those companies would establish a presence there.
“These companies are all saying that Malaga is the place to be and its reputation then spreads by word of mouth,” said Savills’ head of Andalucia, Jose Felix Perez-Peña.
The hype around Malaga isn’t just due to increased corporate presence, however. The Executive Nomad Index, created by real estate consulting firm Savills, ranks cities based on five criteria:
- speed of internet connection
- quality of life
- climate
- air connectivity
- price of high-end rental housing
Malaga boasts beautiful beaches, great dining and affordable housing, as well as reasonable security and high-speed internet access for residents. It also has a conveniently located international airport, and Spain’s digital nomad visa, started in 2022, makes the location appealing for executives who want to work remotely. The government also recently eliminated a wealth tax that required both residents and non-residents to pay based on their assets held abroad.
Savills spokesperson Jose Felix Pérez-Peña said in the report that Malaga does face a shortage of ideal workspace for executives.
“Executive nomads want everything to be ready when they move in, including furniture and internet connection,” he said. “We are seeing a lot of start-ups now catering to this market, but there are not enough properties available.”
The full list of the 20 cities in the 2023 Executive Nomad Index are:
- Dubai
- Malaga
- Miami
- Abu Dhabi
- Lisbon
- Barbados
- Barcelona
- Palma de Mallorca
- Algarve
- Saint Lucia
- Cayman Islands
- Dubrovnik
- Malta
- Antigua
- Côte d’Azur
- Mauritius
- Athens
- Cyprus
- Bahamas
- Tuscany
Each city in the ranking has a digital nomad visa or similar program to facilitate remote work, or they allow free movement of remote workers. They also have pleasant climates and high quality of life.
Savills is a global real estate property advisor with more than 700 offices across the world. Their research, including the Executive Nomad Index, helps to provide insight about real estate trends and which markets are on the rise.