Valencia has recently gained popularity as a top destination for digital nomad families.
It offers all the cultural and first-world trappings of iconic cities like Madrid and Barcelona but with much cheaper living costs. The gorgeous coastline, many cultural attractions, and balmy climate make for an idyllic, family-friendly Mediterranean life.
In addition, Valencia offers a thriving business and tech hub alongside high-speed broadband that makes working from home a pleasure.
In the last year, Covid-19 has placed greater emphasis on remote working. For many, it has showcased the freedom that comes with not having to commute to an office.
Digital nomads have transformed too during the pandemic
We’re used to thinking of digital nomads as twentysomethings lugging backpacks alongside their tablets and smartphones to a new destination every few months.
The pandemic has disrupted this perception as much as it has changed everything else.
A survey by FlexJobs shows that 54% of digital nomads are over 38 years old. Furthermore, “baby boomers make up almost a third of digital nomads, and over 40% identify as generation X.”
As a result, many digital nomads come with children now. They’ve transformed from individuals to digital nomad families. Flexibility is still important, but so too now are opportunities to access schooling and business centers.
A Thriving Business Hub
According to Sissel Hansen, the founder, and CEO of Startup Guide, Valencia is primed to become a thriving start-up hub. Although the city has been traditionally known for its service-based economy and large tourism sector, Valencia sustains a booming entrepreneurial community bolstered by its efficient public transport and cafe culture.
Mobile network providers such as Vodafone and Movistar offer some of the world’s fastest internet speeds at 220Mbps (1000mb). Like most Spanish cities, there are plenty of coffee shops and most offer wi-fi for free. So you can work virtually anywhere.
Valencia also has a sophisticated transport network with cheap, affordable buses and incredibly efficient metro fares to take you all around the city. And, if you need to travel to larger cities like Madrid or Barcelona, their AVE high-speed train will get you there in just under two hours.
An Idyllic Mediterranean Lifestyle
One of the biggest concerns for any digital nomad family is healthcare.
Spain’s NHS health care system is one of the best in Europe, offering universal coverage with no out-of-pocket expenses, except prescription drugs.
With healthcare covered, one can truly enjoy what the city has to offer. Valencia combines old-world charm with modernity. This safe city provides families with a diverse range of extracurricular and leisure outdoor, cultural and commercial activities from its beautiful beaches to its world-renowned City of Arts and Sciences.
The city also offers over ten international schools, and parents with children need not worry about the language barriers that come with living abroad.
Its bike-friendly streets, accommodating weather, and central position on the European continent qualify it as one of the most desirable Spanish cities in which to live.
An Inexpensive High-Quality of Life
Purchasing property in Valencia is much cheaper than Madrid and Barcelona. The cost per square meter in Valencia is almost half that of the former two cities. And the commuter belt has grown in the past few years, and the city’s strong public transport network makes living in areas slightly farther out like Burjassot or Benimaclet extremely affordable.
For approximately €150,000 – €240.000, it’s still possible to buy an apartment in the city center or near the beach, whereas the starting costs of houses with gardens and swimming pools that are farther away from the city and closer to the countryside tend to be around €250,000.
Areas such as L´Eliana are approximately €400.000+ and the area offers everything and a fiber optic 1000mb coming in the gate.
While the inner city is home to 800,000 inhabitants, living in Valencia truly feels more like a small town than a vast metropolis.
For digital nomads, it’s not just the price of the property but also the cost of living that needs to be taken into account. In Valencia, for example, it’s entirely possible to go out for lunch (Menu del dia) for between €10-15. Compared to Madrid and Barcelona, food is 20% cheaper. According to LivingCost.org, the average cost of living for a family of four in Valencia is roughly €2400, which is among the lowest in Europe.
As a city that prides itself on the outdoors, there’s a lot that families can do. Activities include going to the beach or spending a day in the mountains. Both inexpensive and easy to reach.
Valencia is a welcoming city that offers considerable value for money, not just with its amenities but also its picturesque surroundings and rich cultural life.