Where Nomads Are Going in 2026: The Fastest Growing Hubs Ranked

The numbers are in, and 2026 is shaping up to be Latin America's moment.

Nomads.com, which tracks real check-in data from its community of active digital nomads, published its fastest growing hubs of 2026 ranking based on the first three months of the year. The data covers 410,093 check-ins across hundreds of destinations worldwide. The results are genuinely surprising, and they point to a significant shift in where nomads are choosing to base themselves.

The Top 10 Fastest Growing Nomad Hubs in 2026

Here is the full ranking, with percentage growth versus 2025:

1. São Paulo, Brazil +172%
2. Asuncion, Paraguay +152%
3. Da Nang, Vietnam +151%
4. Medellín, Colombia +139%
5. Uluwatu, Bali +130%
6. Lima, Peru +129%
7. Cape Town, South Africa +129%
8. Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand +123%
9. Florianopolis, Brazil +123%
10. Hong Kong +119%

Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Mexico City all came in just outside the top 10, with growth rates above 100%.

Latin America Dominates

Five of the top ten spots are in Latin America: São Paulo, Asuncion, Medellín, Lima, and Florianopolis. That has never happened before. In previous years, the growth charts were led by Southeast Asian and European cities. This year, something different is happening.

Part of the explanation is the Iran war travel disruption, which has pushed nomads away from routes through the Middle East and toward destinations with less exposure to those corridors. Latin America does not route through the Gulf. It was simply less affected by the chaos.

But that is not the whole story. These destinations are growing because nomads who arrived for convenience decided to stay because the quality of life is genuinely good. São Paulo has coworking infrastructure that rivals any European city. Medellín has been building its nomad ecosystem for years and is now reaping the results. Lima has some of the best food on the planet and a cost of living that makes most European cities look absurd.

The Paraguay Surprise

Asuncion at number two is the most interesting story in the rankings. Paraguay has been quietly building a reputation as a digital nomad tax haven -- there is no income tax on foreign-sourced earnings, residency is relatively easy to obtain, and the cost of living is extremely low even by Latin American standards. It has been showing up in tax planning conversations among nomads for a couple of years, and apparently enough people actually went to move the needle this dramatically.

If you have never considered Asuncion, it is worth at least looking into. It will not suit everyone, but the combination of tax efficiency and low cost makes it genuinely compelling for nomads with higher incomes who are optimising aggressively.

Southeast Asia Holds Strong

The growth story is not exclusively Latin American. Da Nang at number three confirms Vietnam's rising status as a top nomad destination, and the city already ranks second overall on Nomads.com. Fast internet, low cost, good weather from a certain perspective (though the summer months are genuinely brutal), and excellent food. Bali appears with Uluwatu specifically growing -- the southern cliffs area increasingly popular with the surf and wellness crowd.

Ko Pha Ngan is the sleeper pick of the list. It ranks 296th overall, meaning it is still niche, but 123% growth from a small base suggests something is happening there. The island has historically been associated with party tourism, but there is a quieter community developing around longer stays and remote work.

What About Europe?

Spain and Portugal do not appear in the top 10 fastest-growing list, but that is not because they are declining. Both remain among the highest-ranked destinations overall -- they are just not growing at the same dramatic pace because they are already established. A mature destination does not post 150% growth. What Spain and Portugal offer is depth: quality infrastructure, good visa pathways, predictable costs, and a well-developed ecosystem of furnished rentals, coworking spaces, and expat community.

The fastest-growing list rewards novelty. It shows where nomads are discovering something new. Spain and Portugal are past that phase. They are where nomads go when they want something that works.

The Practical Takeaway

If you are planning your 2026 base and have not considered Latin America, this data is a reason to look again. Specifically:

• São Paulo if you want a proper global city with full infrastructure
• Medellín if you want the combination of springlike weather, affordable quality of life, and a genuinely welcoming nomad community
• Florianopolis if you want beaches and a more relaxed Brazilian pace without Sao Paulo prices
• Asuncion if tax efficiency is a priority and you are comfortable being somewhere genuinely off the beaten path

For Southeast Asia, Da Nang and Bali (Uluwatu specifically) remain top picks. Both are established enough to be reliable but still affordable.

And if you want somewhere in Europe where you can sign a mid-term lease, stay three to six months, and actually put down roots -- Spain and Portugal are still the answer. They just are not surprising anyone anymore.

Rent Remote lists quality furnished apartments for mid-term stays in Spain, Portugal, and beyond. If you are thinking about settling into a base for a month or more, browse our listings to find something that actually feels like home.