Nomads.com (formerly Nomad List)

Cost of living data filtered by internet speed, safety and nomad life scores

By NomadGear Editorial · Verified 06 Aug 2026

Nomads.com (the rebrand of Nomad List) pairs cost-of-living numbers with the metrics nomads actually filter by, like internet speed, safety and a broader liveability score, across more than a thousand cities. Free browsing covers the basics; the paid membership unlocks deeper filters and its community features. A good second opinion next to Numbeo's raw price data.

What is Nomads.com (formerly Nomad List)?

Nomads.com, the 2024 rebrand of Nomad List, is a cost-of-living and city-ranking database for remote workers. It tracks more than 1,300 cities across 190+ countries on price, internet speed, safety, air quality and climate. It started in 2014 as a single spreadsheet comparing cheap places to work from and grew into a reference tool for digital nomads. It pulls numbers from the UN, WHO, IMF and World Bank and combines them with crowdsourced reports from members living in each city.

The nomad-specific angle

Nomads.com measures more than price. Alongside cost it tracks real internet speeds reported by members (not advertised maximums), a safety score, air quality and a combined "nomad score" per city. Sort the 1,300+ cities by monthly budget and you can see which ones also have workable wifi and decent safety, which is usually the real question behind a search like "cheapest cities for digital nomads."

Pricing and what you actually get

Free access covers city pages and basic cost-of-living browsing for all 1,300+ cities. The paid membership is a one-time payment, not a monthly subscription (check the current pricing page for the figure). It adds deeper filters, the members-only chat, meetup listings, a dating and friend-matching feature, visa and tax-residency information, and a climate finder. Numbeo, by comparison, is free but gives you raw prices with no community or nomad-specific scoring on top.

Honest caveat

The scores blend official data with crowdsourced member input, so smaller or less-visited cities carry thinner, less current numbers than hubs like Bangkok, Lisbon or Mexico City. Treat any single city's cost figure as a starting estimate, not a fixed budget, and check big decisions against a second source. The paid tier suits people who want the community and filtering on top of the data. If you only need a price comparison, the free tier or Numbeo alone may be enough.

1,300+ cities ranked on cost, internet speed, safety, air quality and climate
Free tier: browse city pages and basic cost-of-living data
Paid tier: one-time fee, not a subscription, adds filters, chat community, meetups, visa/tax info
Data blends UN/WHO/IMF/World Bank stats with crowdsourced member reports

What works

Filters cost of living against nomad-specific factors like internet speed and safety, not just raw prices
Covers 1,300+ cities globally, and the free tier already includes basic cost data
One-time membership fee instead of a recurring subscription
Meetups and chat add context that a plain cost database like Numbeo lacks

What to watch

Crowdsourced scores can be thin or outdated for less-popular cities outside the major nomad hubs
The paid tier bundles community and social features with the data, so you pay for extras even if you only want the numbers
Cost figures come from member reports, not a live official index, so they can drift from current local prices

Pricing: freemiumRegion: globalBest for: shortlisting cities by cost plus nomad-relevant factors like wifi and safetyVerified: 06 Aug 2026

Questions at the counter

Is Nomads.com the same as Nomad List?

Yes. Nomads.com is the 2024 rebrand of Nomad List, the same city database and community that started in 2014. The URL and branding changed but the core cost-of-living and city-ranking tool is a direct continuation, so older reviews and mentions of Nomad List refer to this same product.

Is Nomads.com worth it?

It is worth it if you value the nomad-specific filters (internet speed, safety, climate) and the community features alongside cost data, since the paid tier is a one-time payment rather than a recurring subscription. If you only want raw cost-of-living numbers, the free tier or a source like Numbeo may cover what you need without paying.

How accurate is the cost of living data on Nomads.com?

It is a mix of official datasets (UN, WHO, IMF, World Bank) and crowdsourced reports from members living in each city. That makes major hubs like Bangkok or Lisbon fairly reliable but leaves smaller cities with thinner, less frequently updated numbers. Treat any single figure as a planning estimate and confirm rent and daily costs locally before committing.

Does Nomads.com have a free version?

Yes. Free access lets you browse city pages and basic cost-of-living data across more than 1,300 cities. The paid membership, a one-time payment rather than a monthly subscription, adds deeper filters, the members chat community, meetups, and visa and tax-residency information.

Also filed under Cost of Living

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