Despite the second lockdown in Ukraine imposed on Jan. 8 until Jan. 24, remote workers seem to be lucky to stay in Kyiv, a recent ranking shows.
Kyiv ranks 20th out of 50 of the most comfortable cities to work remotely in 2021, according to travel website Big 7 Travel.
“If you can handle a cold winter and don’t mind learning a bit of Ukrainian, Kyiv is for you,” the website reads. “The vibrant capital city is perfect for every type of remote worker.”
Kyiv’s place in the ranking is higher than in neighboring Poland’s Krakow, but lower than in Mexico’s Playa del Carmen. The best city for freelancers is Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.
The list, put in place with the help of Nomad List, an app created for expats living abroad, has taken into account the cities’ affordability, available coworking spaces, expat-friendly communities and internet access.
“Not only is the WiFi solid but there are loads of coworking spaces, and Kyiv has great (transport) connections with the rest of Europe, making it a practical option for those who want to indulge in budget travel,” the website says.
As millions of people work remotely due to the pandemic, internet speed and the price of the internet are likely to be crucial factors to choose which country to work from. Decisive criteria for Ukraine, which has the cheapest internet in the world, according to a ranking published on Dec. 15, 2020 by travel website Atlas & Boots.
The average cost of the internet in Ukraine is $6.4 per month, while it’s $10.1 in Belarus and $30.3 in Estonia. The most expensive internet is in Eastern Africa’s Eritrea — $2,666 a month.
