Brno is becoming one of Europe’s most international and expat-friendly cities — though locals (and landlords) still have a few lessons to learn.
The Czech Republic has officially been ranked the fifth-best country in the world for digital nomads, beating out perennial favourites like Portugal, France, and the UAE. The ranking, published by Global Citizen Solutions and reported by Euronews, evaluated factors such as visa accessibility, cost of living, and quality of life — and confirmed what many of us living here already know: Czechia is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets for remote professionals.
Europe dominated the list, with Spain in first place, followed by the Netherlands, Uruguay, and Canada. Czechia landed proudly in fifth, ahead of countries long associated with digital nomad culture. And while Prague still takes most of the headlines, the country’s second city, Brno, is quietly — and a little stubbornly — carving out its own space on the European remote-work map.
Czechia’s growing appeal to remote workers
The Czech Republic’s inclusion among the world’s top five destinations didn’t happen by chance. The country has a strong digital infrastructure, affordable (by European standards) cost of living, and an increasingly international outlook. The new Digital Nomad Visa, launched in 2024, allows professionals in IT and marketing to live and work legally in the country for up to one year — renewable for those who find themselves too comfortable to leave.
As Global Citizen Solutions notes, Europe’s success lies in a mix of stability, safety, and long-term mobility options. Czechia fits this profile perfectly: centrally located, politically calm, and full of reliable Wi-Fi connections — three things any freelancer will tell you are more valuable than gold.
Brno: the underestimated heart of Czechia’s expat scene
Let’s be honest — Brno isn’t the “mini-Prague with lower costs” it used to be. Housing prices have risen steeply, and anyone trying to rent a decent flat knows it’s becoming a sport for the brave. But the city is still smaller, calmer, and more liveable than the capital — with a community spirit that keeps pulling people in.
Walk through the city centre today and you’ll notice something new: English is everywhere. Not just in coworking spaces and cafés, but in the streets, in trams, even in those slightly chaotic Friday-night beer conversations. Brno has become palpably more international — a place where hearing five languages in ten minutes feels normal.
Shops and restaurants have caught up, too. More menus in English, friendlier staff, and an attitude that says: “Yes, we know we’re cool now”. The city is becoming increasingly expat-friendly, with new initiatives and local businesses catering to the growing international community. (And yes — we at Expat247 like to keep an eye on who’s really earning that “expat-friendly” badge.)
What still needs to change
Of course, not everything is perfect. If Brno truly wants to call itself an international city, the local administration needs to keep up. Many public offices still communicate exclusively in Czech — a language that even motivated foreigners can find… well, let’s say “challenging”.
No one is saying people shouldn’t learn Czech — they should, and many do. But a genuinely global city also welcomes those who contribute economically and culturally, even if they can’t yet roll their “ř” correctly. The city would do well to make bureaucratic life a little easier for newcomers, because every new resident means more local spending, more creativity, and more energy in the economy.
And then there’s housing — the eternal pain point. Rent prices are rising faster than the city’s reputation, and for a place priding itself on being accessible, that’s not a good look. If Brno wants to keep attracting talent, it needs policies (and landlords) that understand affordability isn’t just about money — it’s about long-term sustainability.
The 2025 global top 10 for digital nomads
1. Spain
2. The Netherlands
3. Uruguay
4. Canada
5. Czech Republic (Czechia)
6. Portugal
7. France
8. United Arab Emirates
9. Germany
10. Malta
For all its quirks, Brno remains a beautiful contradiction — international but intimate, ambitious but grounded, bureaucratic but charming. It might not yet have all the perks of Lisbon or Barcelona, but it has something rarer: authenticity, and the sense that things are moving — slowly, maybe, but in the right direction.
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