Key Takeaways
- Singapore scores 100/100 on safety. Japan follows at 99, and both record 0.2 homicides per 100,000 people a year.
- Fukuoka is the safest nomad city under $1,500 a month. It shares Japan's score of 99 and costs about $1,433 for one person.
- Uruguay is the safest country in Latin America and the Caribbean on our score. Montevideo scores 75, ahead of San José, Costa Rica (70) and Santiago, Chile (68).
- Colombia has the lowest safety score of the 104 countries we cover. That puts Medellín at 30/100, and the US advises travellers to reconsider travel to Colombia.
- The score is national, not local. It cannot tell a calm neighbourhood from a risky one, so read the official travel advice as well.
Singapore is the safest city for digital nomads in 2026 on the Nostos safety score, with 100 out of 100, followed by Japanese cities at 99, Luxembourg City at 96 and Basel at 95. They are also expensive. On a nomad budget, Fukuoka, Budapest, Seville, Kraków, Gdańsk and Port Louis all score 80 or more and cost under $1,500 a month. In Latin America, Uruguay comes out on top.
We ranked the cities with Nostos, Navoy's free city chooser, which scores 413 cities in 104 countries from open data. Below: what the score measures, where it falls short, and what official advice says about Medellín, Bali and Mexico City.
Which cities score safest in 2026?
Singapore (100), Naha in Okinawa (99), Luxembourg City (96), Basel (95) and Doha (94) lead the Top 10 safest cities for digital nomads. The list shows one city per country, because the safety score is national.
Every city in a country shares the same safety score, so a straight top 10 would be Singapore plus all nine Japanese cities in the dataset. Nostos instead shows the best city overall in each country. Naha represents Japan, but Fukuoka, Osaka and Kyoto score exactly the same on safety.
| # | City | Country | Safety (0-100) | Homicides per 100,000 | Monthly cost | US advisory level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | Singapore | 100 | 0.2 | $3,927 | 1 |
| 2 | Naha (Okinawa) | Japan | 99 | 0.2 | $2,700* | 1 |
| 3 | Luxembourg City | Luxembourg | 96 | 0.5 | $3,334 | 1 |
| 4 | Basel | Switzerland | 95 | 0.4 | $3,897 | 1 |
| 5 | Doha | Qatar | 94 | 0.5 | $2,656 | 3 |
| 6 | Reykjavík | Iceland | 93 | 1.1 | $3,490 | 1 |
| 7 | Oslo | Norway | 93 | 0.6 | $3,646 | 1 |
| 8 | Prague | Czechia | 92 | 0.6 | $2,156 | 1 |
| 9 | Hong Kong | Hong Kong | 91 | 0.3 | $2,448 | 2 |
| 10 | Wellington | New Zealand | 91 | 1.2 | $2,396 | 1 |
The ten countries with the highest safety scores are mostly wealthy and expensive, and eight of them carry the US State Department's lowest advisory level. Source: Nostos dataset 2026.10.4 (WHO homicide estimates for 2021, World Bank political stability for 2025, cost for one person per month as of July to September 2026; *Naha's cost is a country-level estimate). Advisory levels as listed by the US State Department on 7 October 2026.
Read by country, this is also the list of the safest countries to live in for 2026 on our data. Doha is the exception (see below).
Which safe cities are also affordable?
Six cities score at least 80 on safety and cost under $1,500 a month for one person: Fukuoka, Kraków, Seville, Gdańsk, Port Louis and Budapest. Raise the ceiling to $2,000 and 27 cities in 16 countries qualify.
We counted only cities with a city-level cost figure. The monthly cost is a single-person budget including rent for a one-bedroom outside the centre.
| City | Country | Safety (0-100) | Homicides per 100,000 | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fukuoka | Japan | 99 | 0.2 | $1,433 |
| Brno | Czechia | 92 | 0.6 | $1,719 |
| Taipei | Taiwan | 91 | 0.8 | $1,719 |
| Busan | South Korea | 90 | 0.7 | $1,582 |
| Gdańsk | Poland | 87 | 0.7 | $1,354 |
| Kraków | Poland | 87 | 0.7 | $1,458 |
| Port Louis | Mauritius | 83 | 2.2 | $1,250 |
| Seville | Spain | 82 | 0.5 | $1,458 |
| Budapest | Hungary | 81 | 1.4 | $1,198 |
A selection of the safest Nostos cities costing under $2,000 a month at city level, six of them under $1,500. Source: Nostos dataset 2026.10.4, cost data as of July to September 2026.
Fukuoka stands out: Japan's safety score of 99 for about $1,433 a month, against an estimated $2,700 for Naha. That is why the Top 10 page finds no city under $2,000: its picks are Naha for Japan and Prague ($2,156) for Czechia, while Brno has Prague's safety score for $1,719.
To build your own list, open the ranker with the safety-first weighting and a $1,500 budget, which doubles the weight on safety and also leans on healthcare and air quality.
What are the safest options in Latin America and Southeast Asia?
Uruguay is the safest country in Latin America and the Caribbean on the Nostos score, with 75 for Montevideo. In Southeast Asia, Singapore leads at 100, and the best affordable options are Cambodia (77), Malaysia (74) and Vietnam (73).
| City | Region | Safety (0-100) | Homicides per 100,000 | Political stability (0-100) | Monthly cost | US advisory level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montevideo, Uruguay | Latin America | 75 | 9.2 | 88.4 | $1,582 | 2 |
| San José, Costa Rica | Latin America | 70 | 13.5 | 87.0 | $1,479 | 2 |
| Santiago, Chile | Latin America | 68 | 3.8 | 68.6 | $1,490 | 2 |
| Buenos Aires, Argentina | Latin America | 64 | 5.9 | 68.4 | $781 | 1 |
| Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Southeast Asia | 77 | 1.8 | 71.5 | $938 | 2 |
| Penang, Malaysia | Southeast Asia | 74 | 2.6 | 71.6 | $974 | 1 |
| Da Nang, Vietnam | Southeast Asia | 73 | 1.9 | 67.7 | $469 | 1 |
| Chiang Mai, Thailand | Southeast Asia | 57 | 4.4 | 55.8 | $984 | 1 |
The two halves of the score can pull apart: Uruguay and Costa Rica score high on stability, Chile and Argentina on low homicide rates. Source: Nostos dataset 2026.10.4; US advisory levels as listed on 7 October 2026.
Barbados scores 71, second in the region, but Nostos has no cost figure for Bridgetown. Advisory levels do not always follow the score: the US rates Argentina Level 1 (10 July 2026) but Uruguay Level 2 (28 July 2026), citing crime that is most common in departments including Montevideo.
In Southeast Asia, Penang is a strong all-rounder: 74 on safety, about $974 a month, and Malaysia carries a Level 1 advisory (22 February 2026). Cambodia scores slightly higher, but its US advisory (15 September 2026) says do not travel to areas along the Cambodian and Thai border. Thailand and Indonesia score lower on stability, which pulls them down to 57 and 55.
Is Medellín, Bali or Mexico City safe for nomads?
All three score well below the typical Nostos city (median 73) on safety: Medellín 30, Mexico City 37 and Bali's Canggu and Ubud 55. Read the official advice for each before you book.
| City | Safety (0-100) | Homicides per 100,000 (WHO, 2021) | Political stability (World Bank, 2025) | US advisory | UK advice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medellín | 30 | 35.7 | 48.9 | Level 3: Reconsider Travel (31 March 2026) | No advice against travel to Medellín (6 October 2026) |
| Mexico City | 37 | 28.2 | 55.0 | Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; some areas carry more risk (29 May 2026) | No advice against travel to Mexico City (13 October 2026) |
| Canggu and Ubud (Bali) | 55 | 4.1 | 52.7 | Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (7 July 2026) | No advice against travel to Bali (18 September 2026) |
National figures for Colombia, Mexico and Indonesia. Source: Nostos dataset 2026.10.4; US State Department and UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), dates as shown.
Is Medellín safe? On national data, it is the riskiest of the three. Colombia has the lowest safety score of all 104 countries in Nostos. The US advisory cites violent crime, drugging, extortion and kidnapping, and bars its own staff from hailing street taxis or using public transport. The FCDO's list of areas it advises against includes two regions of Antioquia (Urabá and Bajo Cauca) but not Medellín. It names Medellín among the cities where pickpocketing, mugging and armed robbery are a problem, and warns that criminals use dating apps to lure foreigners travelling alone, then drug and rob them. The Medellín city page has the full numbers.
Is Mexico City safe? The US rates Mexico as a whole at Level 2, but says conditions vary widely from state to state and some areas carry more risk, so read the full Mexico advisory for Mexico City before you go. The FCDO notes protests against gentrification in central and tourist areas since July 2025, and says unlicensed taxi drivers have robbed and assaulted passengers, including in Mexico City. Its advice is to use authorised "sitio" taxi ranks or a taxi ordered by your hotel. See the Mexico City page for cost, internet and visa data.
Is Bali safe? Indonesia's homicide rate is low, but its political-stability score is not, which puts Bali at 55. The US advisory cites natural disasters, unrest and terrorism. The FCDO warns of bag snatching and drink spiking in Bali and methanol poisoning in Indonesia, none of which the score measures. Canggu and Ubud share every national figure; the Canggu vs Ubud comparison shows where they differ.
What does the safety score measure, and what does it miss?
It measures two national numbers: the WHO homicide rate (2021) and the World Bank's political-stability score (2025), weighted 50/50. It does not measure neighbourhoods, petty theft, road safety, scams or events since the data was published.
The Nostos methodology spells out the formula. The homicide rate is inverted and log-scaled, so the gap between 0.2 and 2 counts for more than the gap between 30 and 40. Every city in a country gets the same result, so Lisbon and Porto tie.
What that leaves out:
- Neighbourhoods. A national homicide rate says little about the district you rent in. Mexico City's city page says so directly: the national figures do not describe Roma and Condesa.
- Everyday crime. Phone snatching and pickpocketing are not part of homicide data.
- Roads. Traffic risk is not in the score, though the FCDO reports a large increase in moped and motorbike accidents in Bali.
- Recent events. Doha scores 94, yet the US rates Qatar Level 3: Reconsider Travel in its 28 August 2026 advisory, citing the risk of armed conflict and a threat of drone and missile attacks since hostilities between the United States and Iran began on 28 February 2026. A 2025 stability score cannot see that.
Use the score to shortlist, then read current travel advice.
What should solo women know?
Nostos has no gender-specific data, so the score cannot answer this. The official travel advice pages can, and they include specific warnings for women.
The FCDO's guidance for women travelling abroad (updated 8 September 2026) warns that drugs used in rape also work in non-alcoholic drinks such as coffee and tea, and are normally colourless and tasteless. It advises not leaving drinks unattended and not accepting drinks from strangers. The FCDO pages for Colombia, Mexico and Indonesia all link to it.
For the cities above, the FCDO says:
- Bali: reported cases of rape and sexual assault are high in Bali and Lombok, and drink spiking linked to sexual assault has been reported in Bali, Lombok and the Gili Islands. Use registered taxi companies and check that an app driver matches the app.
- Colombia: criminals use dating apps and websites to lure foreigners travelling alone, and drugs such as scopolamine, given in food, drinks or cigarettes, leave victims open to robbery and sexual assault. Do not accept invitations from strangers to their accommodation.
- Mexico: women travelling alone on public transport have been harassed, robbed and sexually assaulted. For bus journeys, the FCDO suggests first-class buses on toll roads, which have fewer incidents.
No score replaces the country page. Once you have picked a city, plan the trip with Navoy, including where to stay.
Related on the Navoy blog: countries where $1,200 a month is comfortable, nomad visas with no income requirement.
Frequently asked questions
What is the safest country for digital nomads in 2026?
On the Nostos safety score, Singapore, with 100/100. Japan scores 99, Luxembourg 96 and Switzerland 95. The score combines the WHO national homicide rate and the World Bank political-stability score, so it describes countries, not individual neighbourhoods.
Is Bali safe for solo female travellers?
Indonesia scores 55/100 on safety in Nostos, and the US rates it Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. The UK government says reported cases of rape and sexual assault are high in Bali and Lombok, and that drink spiking linked to sexual assault has been reported there.
Is Mexico City safer than Medellín?
On national data, yes. Mexico City scores 37/100 on safety and Medellín 30/100, because Mexico's homicide rate (28.2 per 100,000) is lower than Colombia's (35.7) and its political-stability score is higher. The US rates Mexico at Level 2 and Colombia at Level 3. Neither describes a specific neighbourhood.
Where is safe and cheap for digital nomads?
Fukuoka, Gdańsk, Kraków, Port Louis, Seville and Budapest all score 80 or more on safety and cost under $1,500 a month for one person. Budapest is the cheapest at about $1,198.
Sources
- Nostos digital nomad city dataset 2026 (version 2026.10.4), Navoy, https://nostos.navoy.io/data, accessed 2026-10-07
- Estimates of rates of homicides per 100 000 population (via Nostos), World Health Organization Global Health Observatory, https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/estimates-of-rates-of-homicides-per-100-000-population, accessed 2026-10-07
- Worldwide Governance Indicators, Political Stability and Absence of Violence (via Nostos), World Bank, https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/worldwide-governance-indicators, accessed 2026-10-07
- Travel Advisories feed (levels and issue dates for all countries cited), U.S. Department of State, https://cadataapi.state.gov/api/TravelAdvisories, accessed 2026-10-07
- Colombia Travel Advisory, Level 3: Reconsider Travel (31 March 2026), U.S. Department of State, https://travel.state.gov/content/tsg_aem/us/en/home/international-travel/travel-advisories/destination.col.html, accessed 2026-10-07
- Mexico Travel Advisory, Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (29 May 2026), U.S. Department of State, https://travel.state.gov/content/tsg_aem/us/en/home/international-travel/travel-advisories/destination.mex.html, accessed 2026-10-07
- Indonesia Travel Advisory, Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (7 July 2026), U.S. Department of State, https://travel.state.gov/content/tsg_aem/us/en/home/international-travel/travel-advisories/destination.idn.html, accessed 2026-10-07
- Qatar Travel Advisory, Level 3: Reconsider Travel (28 August 2026), U.S. Department of State, https://travel.state.gov/content/tsg_aem/us/en/home/international-travel/travel-advisories/destination.qat.html, accessed 2026-10-07
- Colombia travel advice (updated 6 October 2026), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, GOV.UK, https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/colombia, accessed 2026-10-07
- Mexico travel advice (updated 13 October 2026), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, GOV.UK, https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mexico, accessed 2026-10-15
- Indonesia travel advice (updated 18 September 2026), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, GOV.UK, https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/indonesia, accessed 2026-10-07
- Advice for women travelling abroad (updated 8 September 2026), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, GOV.UK, https://www.gov.uk/guidance/advice-for-women-travelling-abroad, accessed 2026-10-07
About the Author
Ranym Garali
Ranym is the Marketing and Content Lead at Navoy. She's been writing about travel for two years and digs into the data behind each piece, flight prices, visa rules and what people are actually searching for , so the advice holds up in practice.
