Chiang Mai and Da Nang are among the world’s top cities for digital nomads in 2026, says Forbes

The digital nomad era is growing up a bit. According to Forbes, the best cities for remote workers and creators in 2026 are no longer just those with cheap rent, decent weather, and photogenic smoothie bowls. The new focus is on places where people can earn more, grow faster and build longer-term, location-flexible businesses. And in Southeast Asia, we've got two standout names, Chiang Mai and Da Nang.

Forbes frames this around the rise of the “digital entrepreneur”: people building income streams that are both online-native and portable. That means creators and nomads are increasingly choosing cities not just for lifestyle, but for productivity, networks, collaboration opportunities and the ability to stay put for longer.

So why these two? In Forbes’ telling, Chiang Mai still delivers because it is efficient. The city has long been one of Asia’s original nomad strongholds, and it continues to offer a dense ecosystem of co-working spaces, cafés and long-stay accommodation that makes routine-building feel easy. That lines up nicely with our own love for the city: Chiang Mai also made it onto Time Out’s list of the best cities in Asia in 2026.

Then there’s Da Nang, which Forbes describes as a fast-growing coastal hub where reliable internet, a growing co-working scene, strong café culture and relatively low barriers to entry are drawing in remote workers before the city hits full saturation. We are not exactly shocked. Central Vietnam was also one of Time Out’s best places to visit in Asia in 2026, and Da Nang has been quietly turning into one of the region’s most liveable bases.

These are the world’s top cities for digital nomads in 2026:

1. Lisbon, Portugal
2. Medellín, Colombia
3. Chiang Mai, Thailand
4. Da Nang, Vietnam
5. Cape Town, South Africa
6. Austin, Texas
7. Miami, Florida
8. Asheville, North Carolina

Read the full list of 8 cities digital nomads and creators are moving to in 2026 on Forbes. 

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