Work and Wander
We determined the best places for Australians to work remotely overseas and domestically
The Best Places to Work Remotely in 2026
The post-pandemic shift towards remote work has seen businesses and governments alike cotton on to what employees have known all along: your desk doesn’t need a fixed address. For those with the travel bug, now is the time to tick off your bucket-list destinations whilst clocking in hours. New climates, new food, new views, without putting your business, your job or your annual leave on the line.
To help Aussies make the most of a working holiday, the team at Reckon analysed 20 popular overseas and 20 popular Australian destinations across a variety of categories weighted by importance to Australians, to reveal the best places to work remotely.
Key Takeaways
Kuala Lumpur takes the top spot
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is the best overseas destination for Aussies to work remotely, scoring 68/100.
Asia dominates as preferred region to work remotely for Aussies
Asia dominates the top 10 best international destinations for Aussies to work remotely, with Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Osaka, Tokyo and Singapore all ranking.
Sydney number 1 in Australia
Sydney is Australia’s best place to work remotely, with an index score of 65.4/100.
Mainland capitals with the best WFH opportunities
Every mainland state capital makes the top 10 places to work remotely in Australia, with Hobart and Darwin the only capitals missing.
What matters the most for Australians working remotely?
We surveyed 1,000 Aussies to determine what matters most to Australians who work remotely. Cost is the most important consideration, with half of all respondents ranking living and accommodation costs as one of their top three priorities. Safety is a close second, with 49.6% of respondents placing the factor in their top three considerations for remote work, while health and medical access ranks third, with 29.7% of Aussies placing it in their top three.
Top 10 international destinations to work remotely
Kuala Lumpur is the best destination for remote work with an index score of 68/100. The city achieves strong scores for cost of living, safety, visa requirements, and remote work incentives.
Auckland ranks in a close second with a score of 67.2/100, with Seoul, Barcelona and Osaka taking up the rest of the top 5.
Top 10 international destinations to work remotely by category
Top 10 international destinations to work remotely based on cost of living
One of the biggest perks of working remotely overseas is earning an Australian salary in a city where the cost of living is much lower, leaving you with more to save and spend. Bali is the cheapest destination out of all 20 international destinations analysed. The Indonesian island has a perfect cost score of 100/100 based on an index rank of 26.3. Vietnam’s Hanoi shares the top cost score with Bali (100/100), although its living costs sit slightly higher, at 31.5 against Bali’s 26.3 on the cost index, and Da Nang follows in third (32.8).
Top 10 international destinations to work remotely based on weather
For remote workers looking for a destination with consistent sunny skies and warm temperatures, Barcelona records the best weather with 107 pleasant days a year. Barcelona records the most pleasant days of any international destination, 107 a year (days averaging 18 to 27 degrees with under 1 mm of rain).
Top 10 international destinations to work remotely based on safety
For solo travellers, safety is one of the most important considerations when working abroad. Known for its relaxed culture, beautiful nature and community-centred living, it’s no surprise both Queenstown and Auckland share the top spot on this list, with a perfect 100/100 score. After New Zealand, Asia claims the rest of the top 6, with Singapore, Osaka, Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur all achieving 85+ safety scores.
Top 10 international destinations to work remotely based on internet speeds
When working abroad, you’ll need reliable internet to ensure your job still gets done. Singapore leads the internet race. The destination records a score of 99.2/100 based on the speed and quality of the country’s internet, a solid 7.2 points above the closest second, New York.
Top 10 international destinations to work remotely based on culture and sightseeing
For those looking to fit in the most cultural experiences outside of their work hours, Tokyo records more than double the listed sights and landmarks of any other destination and claims five World Heritage sites. Tying in second place are Rome and Paris, both recording 2000+ sights on Tripadvisor and 11 World Heritage sites.
Top 10 international destinations to work remotely based on fitness
For those who want to maintain their fitness routine whilst working abroad, Vancouver takes the lead for the best fitness facilities, with 966 total facilities and 16 gyms per 10,000 residents. The average gym price is $63.41 per month, which is relatively low compared to other destinations.
Top 10 international destinations to work remotely based on health and medical access
For travellers who require high-quality, accessible health care while working remotely overseas, Seoul is the best choice of destination. With a perfect 100 score for health and medical access, the South Korean capital has the highest Numbeo Health Care rating out of all cities in this study.
Top 10 international destinations to work remotely based on visa requirements
Unsurprisingly, Australia’s closest neighbour analysed, New Zealand, leads the list for the best international Visa requirements for remote workers. Based on how easily Australians can stay for short and long periods, and whether remote work legality is mentioned, Queenstown and Auckland both score a perfect 100/100.
Top 10 international destinations to work remotely based on time zone overlap
For Aussies looking for a remote work destination that allows them to remain connected with coworkers, family and friends back home, Osaka, Tokyo and Seoul share the lead with a score of 93.8/100 and 7.5 overlapping working hours with Sydney. The next best is New Zealand, with Queenstown and Auckland averaging 7 overlapping hours and a score of 87.2/100.
Top 10 Australian destinations to work remotely
Sydney is named the best place in Australia to travel to for remote work. With an index score of 65.4/100, a perfect 100/100 safety score and a 93.1/100 score for culture and sightseeing, Sydney offers Australians a solid mix of living necessities and cultural options.
Brisbane achieves second place with an index score of 62.2/100, with some of the best internet speeds and fitness access, despite a low safety score of 66/100. Melbourne places third with a perfect 100/100 score for culture and sightseeing, but falls short for climate with the worst weather score in the table.
Top 10 international destinations to work remotely by category
Top 10 Australian destinations to work remotely based on cost of living
Those looking to save on living and accommodation costs by working remotely should consider Cairns, as the Queensland destination records a cost of living score of 44.5/100, 13.2% lower than the average Australian city. Launceston comes in second with a score of 43.2/100, Ballarat is in third with 42.1/100, and Hobart is in fourth with 41.1/100.
Top 10 Australian destinations to work remotely based on weather
Known as the Sunshine State, Queensland unsurprisingly dominates the weather and climate category, with Airlie Beach, Cairns and Brisbane claiming the top three spots. Airlie Beach records almost 200 days between 18 and 27 degrees with less than 1mm of rain and ties with Cairns for a perfect 100/100 weather score.
Top 10 Australian destinations to work remotely based on safety
For remote workers most concerned with safety, Sydney records a perfect 100/100 safety score, with a crime rate that’s 33% lower than the national average. Canberra, Noosa, Port Macquarie and Wollongong follow suit to make up the top 5.
Top 10 Australian destinations to work remotely based on internet speeds
With a score of 46.4/100 based on fixed and mobile speeds, Sydney records the fastest internet score in Australia. The category is tightly packed, with solid representation from non-capital cities. Geelong, Ballarat, Newcastle and Port Macquarie all place within the top 10, putting up a solid fight against Australia’s metropolitan areas.
Top 10 Australian destinations to work remotely based on culture and sightseeing
Unsurprisingly, Melbourne maintains its reputation as the cultural capital of Australia with a perfect 100/100 score, based on the most Tripadvisor sights and National Heritage sites (joint with Ballarat).
Top 10 Australian destinations to work remotely based on fitness
Byron Bay beats every capital for access to fitness facilities and recreational options. With an overall score of 66.3/100, 66 fitness centres, and almost 60 gyms per 10,000 residents, Byron is the best option for remote workers seeking an active work-life balance.
Top 10 Australian destinations to work remotely based on health and medical access
Byron Bay is the best option for Aussie remote workers needing high-quality access to health and medical care, recording a score of 86.8/100. NSW dominates the Health and Medical Access category, with Port Macquarie and Sydney taking the second and third spots.
Jessica Morris, Head of People and Culture at Reckon comments
“At Reckon, we understand that work-life balance is hugely important to the sustained productivity of employees, and as remote and hybrid work continues to surge in popularity, we believe Australian workers have the perfect opportunity to experience the endless benefits of travel whilst continuing to progress in their careers.
“Our new study analysed 12 different socioeconomic factors across 20 Australian and 20 global destinations to reveal the best domestic and international locations to work and wander. Our research reveals huge untapped potential for a balanced, productive work life in Asia, with Asian cities dominating the best global destinations to work and wander. We have also identified the best places to travel and work without leaving the country, for those who want a change of scenery but don’t want to work abroad.”
“By surveying more than 1,000 Australians, we were able to determine which factors mattered most to those considering remote work from a new destination. These insights demonstrate the importance of safety, healthcare and connectivity to the platforms and systems that keep your work moving forward.”
– Jessica Morris, Head of People and Culture
ABOUT THE DATA
About the data
The Work and Wander Report ranks the best places for Australians to work remotely while travelling: 20 destinations within Australia and 20 overseas, scored across up to twelve factors and weighted by what 1,005 Australians told us matters most. It was built on official government statistics and established open datasets, with every source, reference period and scoring choice recorded, so each ranking reflects measured conditions rather than opinion.
How We Built the Index
Forty destinations were assessed: 20 Australian and 20 international. The lists were drawn from the places Australians most visit and search for; every Australian capital city was included, and every international destination had to sit at Smartraveller advice level 1 (exercise normal safety precautions) or level 2 (exercise a high degree of caution) when the list was set, because destinations the Australian Government warns against visiting are not realistic places to work from.
Australia and overseas are published as two separate rankings and are never combined. Each destination is scored against the other 19 on its own list, so a score always means “relative to the alternatives a traveller would actually be choosing between”, and a domestic score is never comparable with an international one.
Every factor was placed on a 0 to 100 scale, where a higher score is always better. Three scaling approaches were used, chosen by the nature of each measure. Directly comparable physical quantities (internet speeds, pleasant days and living costs) were scored on a single scale across all 40 destinations, with extreme values capped at the 5th and 95th percentiles so outliers cannot dominate the rankings. Factors defined by set rules or bands (time zone overlap, visa requirements, travel advisory and remote work incentives) sit on fixed scales, so those scores carry absolute meaning. The remaining factors were scaled within each list of 20 using min-max normalisation.
The international index runs on all twelve factors. The domestic index runs on seven: internet, costs, safety, weather, culture, health and fitness. Visa requirements, the travel advisory level and English proficiency are identical for every Australian destination and cannot separate them; no Australian destination publishes a remote work incentive a visiting worker could use, so that factor cannot separate them either; and time zone overlap was excluded domestically because it rewards east coast locations by construction rather than measuring anything a domestic ranking should reward. The weights of excluded factors are redistributed proportionally, so the domestic weights still sum to 100 per cent. Hong Kong is scored on eleven factors, because the Global Peace Index does not cover it and no comparable safety measure exists; its safety weight is redistributed across its other factors, and the gap is disclosed. Tied composite scores are separated by the highest-weighted factor, living and accommodation costs.
How the Weightings Were Set
Rather than deciding ourselves which factors matter most, we asked Australians. Pureprofile surveyed 1,005 Australian adults in August 2026, and each respondent ranked all twelve factors from most to least important when choosing a destination to work remotely from. Rankings were converted to points, so a factor ranked first earned 12 points and a factor ranked last earned 1, and each factor’s weight is its share of all points awarded. Living costs and safety came out clearly on top, and they were the only two factors placed in the top three by around half of all respondents.
| Factor | International index weight | Domestic index weight |
|---|---|---|
| Living and accommodation costs | 11.23% | 18.53% |
| Safety | 11.00% | 18.15% |
| Health and medical access | 9.49% | 15.66% |
| English proficiency | 9.11% | [excluded] |
| Weather and climate | 8.95% | 14.77% |
| Visa requirements | 8.00% | [excluded] |
| Remote work incentives | 7.74% | [excluded] |
| Travel advisory level | 7.70% | [excluded] |
| Culture and sightseeing | 6.91% | 11.41% |
| Time zone overlap | 6.84% | [excluded] |
| Fitness facilities | 4.63% | 7.65% |
Weights are shown to two decimals, and each column sums to 100 per cent before rounding.
Internet Speed and Quality
Fixed and mobile download speeds from Ookla Speedtest Open Data, Q2 2026, aggregated from real user tests around each destination and weighted by the number of testing devices so a handful of tests in a quiet corner cannot set a city’s speed. Fixed and mobile speeds were blended equally, and the results were cross-checked against Ookla’s published Speedtest Global Index city figures for July 2026.
Living and Accommodation Costs
The Numbeo Cost of Living Plus Rent index, which combines everyday prices and rent, was collected in August 2026. Where Numbeo’s coverage was too thin for smaller Australian destinations, the rent component was rebuilt for twelve of them from SQM Research weekly rents, and for Queenstown from New Zealand’s official tenancy bond data, because live market rents measure exactly the cost a longer-staying remote worker faces. Costs are scored 0 to 100 with cheaper destinations scoring higher, and are also shown as a cost index where the average Australian destination in the study equals 100.
Time Zone Overlap
The average hours per day a destination’s 8am to 6pm local window overlaps a 9am to 5pm Sydney working day, calculated for every day of a full year with daylight saving observed, using the IANA time zone database and verified against timeanddate.com. The score is simply the share of the Sydney working day covered, so it is not re-scaled against other destinations. A full year is used because daylight saving shifts the overlap with the seasons.
Visa Requirements
Official government sources for every destination, read in August 2026. Two situations are scored: short stays (how easily an Australian passport holder can enter, and whether working remotely for an overseas employer is tolerated on that entry) and long stays (whether a longer working route exists, such as a digital nomad visa), blended 60/40 towards short stays because most work-and-wander trips are short. Within each, ease of entry carries 60 per cent and the legality of working 40 per cent, on fixed bands. Every Australian destination is visa-free for Australians, so the factor applies to the international ranking only.
Safety
Internationally, the Global Peace Index 2026 from the Institute for Economics and Peace, published June 2026; each city carries its country’s score, and lower (more peaceful) values earn higher scores. Within Australia, a country-level index cannot separate destinations, so recorded crime was used instead: ABS Recorded Crime, Victims (2024) sets each state’s overall level, and council-level crime data published by state police forces and crime statistics agencies splits it within each state. No council is compared using another state’s counting rules, because police forces count and classify offences differently, and rates for small councils were statistically smoothed so a handful of incidents cannot swing a ranking.
Weather and Climate
Average pleasant days a year over 2016 to 2025, computed from Open-Meteo historical weather data, where a pleasant day averages 18 to 27 degrees with under 1 mm of rain. Ten years are averaged to smooth year-to-year variation, and the Australian counts were cross-checked against Bureau of Meteorology station records, with a correlation of 0.89.
Culture and Sightseeing
Seventy per cent of the score is the number of Sights and Landmarks listed on Tripadvisor, collected manually in August 2026 because Tripadvisor’s terms do not permit automated collection. Thirty per cent is heritage: UNESCO World Heritage sites within 150 km internationally, and Australian National Heritage List places within 150 km domestically, because the national register is far more complete for Australian places than the World Heritage List. Tripadvisor rounds listing counts above 1,000, so the largest cities are compared on lower bounds, and this is disclosed wherever it produces a tie.
Health and Medical Access
Domestically, AIHW hospitals data for 2024-25: how quickly residents can reach a hospital and how quickly its emergency department treats patients, weighted equally. Internationally, the Numbeo Health Care Index (2026 mid-year edition), a large-scale survey of how residents rate their healthcare system, cross-checked against World Bank hospital bed rates, which informed but never set a score because bed-counting conventions differ between countries. The two legs use different sources, which is one more reason the domestic and international lists are never compared.
Fitness Facilities
Three availability measures: gyms and fitness venues within 5 km of the destination centre (Foursquare Open Source Places), gyms per 10,000 residents within 10 km (population from the Global Human Settlement Layer), and outdoor exercise space, parks and waterfront within 5 km (OpenStreetMap). Internationally, a fourth component, monthly gym membership prices from Numbeo, carries 30 per cent of the factor; no comparable Australian price source exists, so affordability is not scored domestically, and the three availability measures count equally there. Venue counts were cross-checked against OpenStreetMap-derived counts.
Travel Advisory Level
The Australian Government’s Smartraveller advice level for each destination, read on 3 September 2026, was converted to a fixed scale from level 1 (best) down to level 4. Each city takes its country’s overall advice level, with regional variations recorded where Smartraveller publishes them. Smartraveller issues no advice for travel within Australia, so the factor applies to the international ranking only.
Remote Work Incentives
Official government sources only: whether a destination publishes a tax concession a visiting remote worker can genuinely use, a cash or subsidy scheme, and government-backed remote work hubs or perks, each counting equally. A scheme only counts if an official page publishes it and an ordinary salaried remote worker could actually access it, which rules out programs restricted to key workers or permanent migrants. No Australian destination currently publishes a scheme a visiting remote worker could use, so the factor applies to the international ranking only.
English Proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index 2025 country scores, converted to a 0 to 100 score on the scale of the full 123-country edition rather than this study’s list alone, so a strong performer such as Malaysia is not artificially pushed to the top of the scale. Native English-speaking destinations are not ranked by the EF EPI and take the top band by definition. English proficiency is constant across Australia, so the factor applies to the international ranking only.
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Related resources
Reckon releases Best Places to Work Remotely report: Work & Wander
Where should you work remotely? Explore Reckon’s Work & Wander report and see the highest-ranked destinations in Australia and overseas.
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