165,000 digital nomads have left the UK: Which countries are they moving to?

Amid the UK’s current cost of living crisis, distant employees are exploring the potential for embracing a digital nomad lifestyle overseas.

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This permits them to explore the world at a way more leisurely pace, while also having to cope with lower living costs and in lots of cases, higher web and dealing infrastructure.

In response to a report by CV builder website LiveCareer UK, an estimated 165,000 UK professionals have relocated abroad to work remotely, often driven by a desire for higher weather and greater work-life balance.

The rise of the “slomad” trend – where digital nomads favour longer stays and a slower pace of life – has seen UK distant employees flocking to countries which supply structured visa policies, tax incentives, and communities.

But where are they heading to? Here we have a look…

Spain: Tapas culture, sunshine and high-speed web

In 2025, Spain was the most well-liked digital nomad destination for UK residents. This is especially on account of its high-speed web, which is among the many fastest on the earth and a specialised Digital Nomad Visa.

This visa, which might often be applied for throughout the country, allows distant employees to live and work in Spain legally. In lots of cases, they’ll bring family over as well and access a special, lower tax regime, the non-resident income tax. The Digital Nomad Visa requires a minimum proof of income of €2,700 per 30 days.

Spain also offers over 300 days of sunshine, in contrast to the UK’s frequent rainy and cold weather, in addition to a value of living anywhere between 20% to 40% lower than within the UK.

Digital nomads may also enjoy a wide selection of coworking spaces, together with coffee shops specially tailored for distant employees. Spain’s famous gastronomy and tapas culture, together with wealthy history are added bonuses as well.

Major cities like Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid have regular networking events for each distant employees and expats and enormous, welcoming communities to ease integration.

Outside of labor, nomads can have an energetic outdoor lifestyle too, with loads of beaches, mountains and national parks to explore.

Portugal: Vibrant startup community and English-friendly expat networks

Portugal is one other top spot for UK distant employees searching for a change in scenery. Much like Spain, Portugal also has a Digital Nomad Visa (D8), which requires proof of monthly income of €3,480, as of 2025.

The country also has high-speed web and a value of living around 30% to 40% lower than the UK on average, in keeping with immigration website Touchdown, while also being cheaper than several other Western European hubs.

Portugal has strong co-working communities in key hubs like Lisbon, Madeira and Porto and provides high safety, together with mild year-round weather.

Lisbon’s vast network of expat British employees, vibrant startup community and English-friendly services make it especially attractive to UK digital nomads. That is despite a growing housing crisis and increasing local resentment towards nomads.

Regions just like the Algarve are still fairly inexpensive, in comparison with other popular European hubs, while offering stunning natural beauty, golfing and many mountaineering and water sports.

Like Spain, Portugal also has greater than 300 days of sunshine annually, which also supports higher work-life balance, with digital nomads in a position to go straight from work to the beach.

Croatia: Mediterranean vibes and a tax-exempt Digital Nomad Visa

Croatia is one other European country seeing increased interest from British digital nomads.

The country offers a specialised Digital Nomad Visa for non-EU residents, which allows them to live and work in Croatia for up to 1 12 months with no need to pay local income tax. Nonetheless, it still has an income requirement of around €3,295 per 30 days.

Croatia can also be very pocket-friendly, with a cost-of-living around 30% lower than the UK, in keeping with yachting website Goolets. Expenses also decrease further inland, away from essentially the most touristic coastal areas.

The country offers exceptional safety and high-speed web too, together with greater than 300 days of sun per 12 months. It also has widespread English-friendly services, with around 80% of the population speaking English, making it more accessible for Brits.

Cities like Dubrovnik, Split and Zagreb even have growing expat communities and coworking spaces to welcome distant employees.

With several historic coastal towns, 13 national parks and greater than 1,000 islands to explore, Croatia offers a wealth of exploration opportunities for digital nomads.

Estonia: Robust digital infrastructure and an e-Residency programme

Estonia is one other rising European digital nomad hub, mainly on account of its very strong digital infrastructure.

Around 99% of presidency services are online 24/7, including banking and voting, providing a high-efficiency and low-red-tape environment for each distant employees and businesses to operate in. Digital nomads are subject to a comparatively low tax rate of twenty-two% from 2026 onwards.

Estonia’s cost of living is around 30.5% lower than the UK, in keeping with Numbeo.

Its e-Residency programme also lets entrepreneurs and freelancers register an EU-based company in minutes and manage it remotely, supporting international digital businesses.

Tallinn boasts a growing and vibrant tech scene, with high English proficiency and excellent co-working spaces. Additionally it is very walkable and provides easy accessibility to stunning nature like bogs, vast forests and the coast, allowing for digitally detoxing and rebalancing each time required.