Nicosia was ranked third, behind only Bucharest and Madrid, in the list of the ten best European cities for ‘digital nomads’ compiled by travel specialist Panache Cruises.

Digital nomads are individuals who work remotely, from any part of the world. This working trend has become more popular in the wake of the Covid pandemic as more companies permit this option and more employees are looking for the ideal work location worldwide.

The study found that digital nomads choose their destination by taking into consideration a series of factors such as internet speed, rent cost, facilities for professionals, taxation, lifestyle and climate.

Nicosia, with a total of 47 points, ranked third among the top European cities for those looking for a digital nomad location. It was followed by Budapest, Zagreb, Athens, Lisbon, Tallinn, Valletta and Reykjavik.

The research found that the Wi-Fi speed in Nicosia was 138.20 mb/s, visa application cost was £61.59, the average monthly cost of living per person was £665.67, the rent for a one-bedroom flat was £542.39 and the average cost of a restaurant meal was £10.55. The research also considers the ‘happiness’ of residents, with Nicosia receiving 6.22 points.

Mayor of Nicosia Constantinos Yiorkadjis said that all development projects in Nicosia included the concept of ‘smart’ planning, which greatly facilitates digital nomadic work. There was a high rate of completion of the smart city infrastructure and all smart systems will be fully operational by the end of the year.