The Burrow
Jul 27, 2026
With employers continuing to embrace hybrid and remote work arrangements, and some organisations even offering “work from anywhere” programs, more workers can swap their usual office environment for a beachfront café or bustling city, provided their role and workplace policies allow it.
As a result, workcations (a trip to a new destination, where you’ll work for part of your stay), are on the rise.
To uncover the world’s best workcation destinations, the travel insurance comparison experts at Compare the Market analysed cities across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, scoring each location on a range of factors that can influence both productivity and enjoyment while working remotely.
We looked at the factors below, weighting them according to how significantly they impact one’s ability for a successful workcation:
Curious to see how this year’s results compare? Read on.
Paris tops our list as the best European city for a workcation. The French capital boasts the best fixed broadband download speeds (352.77 Mbps) in Europe, and solid mobile download speeds of 148.96 Mbps.
When it’s time to log off, Paris offers no shortage of things to see and do. Home to some of the world’s most iconic museums, galleries and landmarks, the city records the second-highest number of attractions in our study, with 4,550 TripAdvisor listings. Only Rome ranks higher, with 7,708 attractions listed.
Of course, the Parisian lifestyle comes at a price, with accommodation costs, cappuccino prices all sitting towards the higher end of our dataset.
Lisbon places second on our index and cements its reputation as one of Europe’s leading destinations for digital nomads and remote workers. The Portuguese capital achieves an index score of 61.17 out of 100, with its low cost of living being a major drawcard for those looking to extend their stay without breaking the bank.
Accommodation in Lisbon is particularly budget-friendly, with the cheapest one-month apartment rental in our analysis costing just US$274, making Lisbon the most affordable European city in this category. Day-to-day expenses are also relatively low, with a regular cappuccino priced at US$2.94.
Beyond its affordability, Lisbon offers fast and reliable internet, with a fixed broadband download speed of 251.79 Mbps, one of the fastest in our index. Combined with its sunny climate, vibrant café culture and growing community of remote workers, Lisbon continues to be an attractive choice for anyone looking to blend work and travel.
London ranks third overall in our workcation index, thanks in large part to its exceptional remote working infrastructure and abundance of attractions. For many Australians, spending time living and working in London is a classic rite of passage, and the UK’s capital remains one of the best places in Europe to do exactly that.
One of London’s standout strengths is its huge number of coworking spaces. The city boasts 562 coworking locations, more than double the number found in Barcelona, which ranks second. And when the workday ends, there’s no shortage of things to do. London records the third-highest number of TripAdvisor attractions in our analysis, with 4,450 listings spanning world-famous museums, historic landmarks, theatres, markets and cultural experiences.
The main trade-off is affordability. A regular cappuccino costs US$5.52 on average, , making them among the most expensive in our study.
Salzburg may look like the perfect workcation destination on paper, but our analysis suggests the filming location of the Sound of Music can be a challenging choice for remote workers.
Affordability is the primary culprit for Salzburg’s low ranking. The cheapest one-month apartment rental in the city costs US$2,550, making it the most expensive destination in Europe by a considerable margin. By comparison, Zurich, which ranks second for most expensive accommodation costs, records a monthly rental price of US$2,105.
Salzburg has just seven coworking spaces available, the fewest of any destination analysed. Internet connectivity is also less competitive than many of the higher-ranked cities, with fixed broadband download speeds of 117.77 Mbps. With that in mind, for remote workers prioritising affordability, fast internet and flexible workspaces, there are likely to be stronger workcation options elsewhere in Europe.
Munich may have a reputation for efficiency, but it ranks among the least attractive European destinations for a workcation, according to our index. Germany has the third slowest fixed broadband download speed at 103.6 Mbps, and the second slowest mobile download speed at 81.5 Mbps. The cheapest one-month apartment rental in Munich costs at least US$1,658, placing it among the more expensive cities in our study.
Hamburg ranks slightly higher than Munich in our workcation index, but many of the same challenges remain. Like other German cities in our study, Hamburg’s ranking is affected by relatively modest internet speeds and a cost of living that is higher than many of Europe’s top-performing workcation destinations.
Where Hamburg gains an advantage is affordability. The cheapest one-month apartment rental costs US$1,026, around US$600 less than Munich. Hamburg also offers a reasonable amount of spaces for remote work, with 81 coworking spaces available across the city.
According to Compare the Market, New York City is the best North American city for a workcation.
New York City is in a league of its own when it comes to things to do. The city records an incredible 6,872 TripAdvisor attractions, far surpassing every other North American destination in our study. For comparison, Las Vegas ranks a distant second with 1,233 attractions, and Los Angeles third with 1,090. It is also a hub for remote work, boasting 390 coworking spaces, the highest number of any city in the US or Canada.
The biggest drawback when considering a workcation to NYC is its affordability. New York is one of the most expensive destinations in our analysis, with the cheapest one-month accommodation costing US$2,783. Across the cities analysed, the US benefits from faster average fixed broadband and mobile download, giving remote workers greater flexibility while they’re on the move.
If Hollywood has been on your bucket list for a while, Los Angeles could be the perfect place for a workcation. The Californian city records the second-cheapest accommodation costs among the 40 US cities in our study, with the cheapest one-month rental coming in at just US$405. Of course, living in the entertainment capital of the world comes with some premium prices – you’ll pay US$5.81 for a regular cappuccino.
When you’re not working, Los Angeles offers no shortage of ways to fill your free time, from iconic beaches and hiking trails to world-famous film studios and entertainment precincts.
Miami rounds out the top three of our workcation index for North America.
If sun, sand and a vibrant nightlife scene are high on your list of priorities, Miami could be an ideal destination for a workcation. The Florida hotspot stands out for its affordability, recording the cheapest one-month accommodation costs of any city in our study, with the most affordable apartment rental coming in at just US$263 per month.
While Miami is famous for its beaches, art deco architecture and energetic atmosphere, there’s plenty to keep visitors busy beyond the shoreline. The city boasts 907 attractions on TripAdvisor, offering everything from beaches to world-class dining and entertainment. When it’s time to focus on work, in Miami you’ll find a total of 98 coworking spaces, giving digital nomads and remote workers plenty of options.
Canadian cities generally struggled to keep up with the US cities in our workcation rankings, with Halifax, Nova Scotia, taking out the title as the worst place for a workcation in the region. The city’s ranking is heavily impacted by high accommodation costs, with the cheapest one-month rental priced at US$2,543, making it the second most expensive for accommodation behind only New York City. On top of this unaffordability, Halifax also records just seven coworking spaces, one of the lowest totals in our analysis.
That said, Halifax still has a lot to offer for travellers drawn to Canada’s Atlantic coast. It’s a little kinder on the wallet when it comes to everyday expenses, with a regular cappuccino costing US$4.31, relatively affordable compared to many other cities in our rankings.
Laval ranks as the second-worst workcation destination in our study, with its low score largely driven by a lack of both attractions and remote working infrastructure. For travellers looking to balance work with exploration, Laval records very few attractions on TripAdvisor. The city also has just seven coworking spaces available, tying with Halifax for the lowest number in our dataset.
Adding to the challenge is the cost of accommodation. The cheapest one-month rental in Laval comes in at US$2,536, making it the third most expensive city for accommodation in our rankings. Despite this, the cost of everyday essentials may be slightly cheaper than other North American cities, with a regular cappuccino costing just US$3.91.
If coffee is one of the main contributing factors to your productivity at work, Hamilton, Ontario, could be worth considering for a workcation. Despite its low ranking, Hamilton records the cheapest cappuccino price in our study, with a regular costing just US$3.44.
However, the low beverage prices aren’t enough to offset some of Hamilton’s shortcomings as a workcation destination, with the city recording just 14 attractions on TripAdvisor, and only nine coworking spaces available.
Hanoi takes the crown as not only the best workcation destination in Asia, but also the highest-ranked city in our world-wide study.
One of Hanoi’s biggest strengths is the sheer number of attractions on offer, with 9,038 TripAdvisor listings, the highest figure in our analysis. The most affordable one-month accommodation in Hanoi costs just US$71, making it the third-cheapest city in our study.
Everyday expenses are similarly budget-friendly, with a regular cappuccino priced at US$1.84.
Bangkok ranks second in our workcation index, achieving a score of 67.17 out of 100 thanks to its combination of affordability, digital infrastructure and many attractions.
Like Hanoi, the Thai capital offers remote workers the opportunity to enjoy a new destination without stretching their budget. Accommodation is particularly affordable, with the cheapest one-month rental in Bangkok costing just US$93.
Beyond affordability, Bangkok also scores highly for its fast broadband download speeds (286.11 Mbps) and wealth of attractions (5,416 listed on TripAdvisor).
Another Vietnamese city rounds out our top three. Much like Hanoi, the city’s workcation appeal is driven by its affordability and abundance of attractions.
Ho Chi Minh City is particularly budget-friendly – a regular cappuccino costs just US$1.78 (the cheapest price recorded in our study),. Accommodation is similarly affordable, with the cheapest one-month rental available costing just US$100.
Canberra has long battled a reputation for being short on excitement, and our findings suggest the Australian capital still has some work to do when it comes to attracting those seeking a workcation.
The city records just 52 attractions on TripAdvisor, the fewest of any Australian destination in our study, giving remote workers fewer options to fill their downtime once the workday is over. Canberra has 21 coworking spaces, making it the second-lowest-ranked Australian city for this factor behind only the Gold Coast.
More broadly, Australian cities tended to rank lower in our index due to the country’s comparatively slow internet speeds. Across the destinations analysed, Australia recorded average fixed broadband download speeds of 157.56 Mbps and average mobile download speeds of 115.07 Mbps, lagging behind many of the top-performing cities in Europe, Asia and North America. Accommodation costs also weigh heavily on Canberra’s ranking, with the cheapest one-month rental available costing US$1,107, the most expensive Australian destination in our dataset.
Perth ranks among the lower-performing workcation destinations in our Asia-Pacific analysis, placing second last overall. The Western Australian capital’s ranking is largely driven by its relatively high cost of living, with the cheapest one-month accommodation option costing US$970.
When it comes to things to do outside of work, Perth records 233 attractions on TripAdvisor. However, everyday expenses can add up quickly. Those looking to enjoy a morning brew at one of Perth’s famous beaches can expect to pay around US$4.23 for a cappuccino, the second most expensive coffee in Australia (just after Brisbane at US$4.28).
If a stint in Surfers Paradise has been on your bucket list for a while, then think again. The Gold Coast was found to be the third worst place in the region for a workcation. Only 13 coworking spaces were listed for the area, the fewest on our list.
While sand and sea are plentiful, the Gold Coast only had 237 attractions listed on TripAdvisor. The good news, though, is that the price of a regular cappuccino is slightly cheaper other parts of the country, costing only US$3.78.
Adrian Taylor, Chief Executive – General Insurance, said:
“With more employees embracing flexible working arrangements, a workcation can be a great way to combine work and travel, allowing you to experience a new destination without using all of your annual leave.
“Choosing the right destination can help you strike a balance between productivity and adventure. Strong internet connectivity, affordability and plenty of attractions can all contribute to a more enjoyable workcation experience.
“No matter where your travels take you, it’s important to consider travel insurance before you leave. Travel insurance can provide cover for a range of unexpected events, from cancelled flights and lost luggage to overseas medical emergencies, helping you travel with greater peace of mind.”
Before purchasing a policy, it’s important to check the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) so that you are aware of any limits, exclusions or restrictions.
This dataset ranks 100 cities across Australia, North America, and Europe, based on how good they are for a working holiday. To do this, 40 cities from Europe, 40 cities from the US and Canada, 10 cities from Australia and 10 Asian cities were selected.
The data for the seven different factors relating to work abroad schemes were then collected from the sources listed below. Once the data for the factors was collected, the factors were then normalised to provide each factor with a score between 0 and 100.
The normalised values were then weighted according to how impactful each factor is when deciding where to workcation. The cities were then ranked from highest to lowest, based on their total scores.
The factors used are as follows:
The factors were indexed and weighted as follows:
Currencies were converted using Google Finance’s currency converter on 9/07/26.
All data is correct as of 16/07/2026.
You can view our 2023 workcation rankings here.