As of the end of 2024, we’ve been living the nomadic lifestyle for just over 3 years. We’ve visited 55 countries and lived in 145 cities.
Our original goal was to be in “discovery” mode for the first year or two, visiting as many bucket list places as we could, before slowing down and spending two or three (or maybe more) months in the same locale. However, we keep hearing about more and more interesting places, and we find ourselves still in the discovery phase. We have another couple of years of quick travel roughly mapped out, taking us to at least the end of 2026, but have discovered several places that warrant a longer visit once we decide we are ready to slow down.
What follows is a summary of our top 10 contenders for a long stay. With a background as an IT analyst, I (Howard) am comfortable working with data, so to narrow down a list of 145 cities to the top 10 we identified four categories that were important to us, then assigned points within those categories.
Weather: We prefer day-time temperatures in the mid 20s °C (high 70s °F). That being said, we recognize that to capitalize on off-season pricing in expensive places like Europe we will likely have to cope with temperatures dipping into the teens Celsius, and because the cost-of-living is so compelling in SE Asia it offsets the less desirable heat and humidity.
Accordingly, we ranked weather on a 3-point scale, the lowest we’re using: 1 – uncomfortable; 2 – tolerable; and 3 – close to perfect
Cost-of-Living: We’re from Calgary, Canada, which is on the mid-to-higher end of North American (NA) prices. Any destination with a lower cost-of-living (CoL) is a win for us. Much of western Europe is similar to NA, but there are a few cheaper areas like Spain and Portugal. Eastern Europe tends to be less expensive than NA, especially in the shoulder and off-seasons. Japan, S. Korea, and large SE Asia or Middle East cities like Singapore, Hong Kong, or Dubai, are close to or higher than NA pricing. SE Asia, from our perspective has the most affordable CoL, but we’re visiting Central and South America in 2025, so it will be interesting to see how those countries compare.
CoL is ranked on a 5 point scale: 1 & 2 – expensive; 3 – on par with North American pricing; 4 – nice savings; and 5 – very good prices
Livability: This is a category that’s probably slightly different for everyone. We want comfortable accommodation (usually Airbnbs) within walking distance of supermarkets and restaurants, opportunities for day-tripping (either within the city or the surrounding countryside), good metro or bus systems that can take us on those trips, and a high level of walkability ie: interesting neighbourhoods to investigate. Lots of bonus points if it’s on a body of water with a good promenade.
Livability is another 5 point scale, with a “5” meaning it met all the points listed above.
D2 Vibe: Our overall impression of a location – did it “feel” right to us, and is it a place we want to spend a lot of time, regardless of the other three criteria. There’s an argument that this should be the only criteria that matters, but there are some places that we really like where the weather is way too hot, or the cost-of-living out of whack for a longer stay, so they do have to be taken into account.
We’ve weighted this criteria higher (a 10 point scale) because it’s the most important category for us.
I doubt we’ll find a place with a perfect “23” score because if such a place did exist it would likely become so popular it would soon be overcrowded, overpriced, and lose all of its appeal! Within our scores we did end up with several ties, so we then looked to the D2 Vibe, followed by cost-of-living rating to break them.
Our criteria for a top 10 list is certainly very subjective, and the list may change as we visit more places in the next couple of years (so be sure to check back), but for now here are the places we can see ourselves revisiting (if you click on each location’s title you can read our post for more details).
#1 – Japan
Weather (3/3): May-October are ideal. March-April and November-December are good if you don’t mind wearing a light jacket. January and February are the coldest months. We were there for three weeks in February, and even though we did have a dusting of snow we are Canadian and our definition of cold is somewhat different.
Cost-of-Living (3/5): North American prices, especially in the major cities, but bargains can be found, especially if you like ramen. In the 1980s when Japan’s economy was going gangbusters compared to the rest of the world, the cost-of-living was shockingly high. It isn’t that way any more, and the US and Canadian dollars are very favorable when compared to the Japanese Yen.
Livability (5/5): This is the big winner for Japan. Even in the largest megacity in the world – Tokyo – it’s extremely safe, with lots to do and see, amazing public transportation (ALWAYS on time), and lots of great restaurants and shopping.
D2 Vibe (10/10): We loved Japan. It’s exotic and so different from North America, while at the same time being comfortable for foreigners like us. Using apps like Google Maps to walk or get around on the metro, and Google Translate when needing to communicate or translate signs (although most public spaces and transportation have English translations) makes it easy to navigate through day-to-day life.
Total Score: 21/23
Most of the locations on this list are specific cities, but Japan makes our list for the whole country. Our favorite cities have been Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. If there’s a place in the world that feels like it’s got things figured out it’s Japan – there are more small things you come across in Japan that make your life easier than I’ve seen anywhere else. It really does feel like they’re playing on a whole other level. The cultural differences make you feel like you’re in a new world, but the country is so safe, and the people are so helpful and friendly, you quickly feel at ease. Don’t get me wrong, things aren’t perfect in Japan (mainly societal issues for residents/workers), but for visitors it’s pretty sweet.
#2 – Vienna, Austria
Weather (3/3): May-October are ideal. April and November are pleasant if you don’t mind wearing a jacket. Winter temperatures fall well below our preferred range, but it’s only for a few months.
Cost-of-Living (3/5): North American prices.
Livability (5/5): The infrastructure is very good, with a great metro system to get you around. We liked walking the pathway system along the Danube while we were there.
D2 Vibe (10/10): Vienna is another city that feels right.
Total Score: 21/23
Although it tied with Japan points-wise, Vienna slipped to second place because its winters are chillier, and if we had to make a snap-decision between these two destinations, Japan wins!
#3 – Tbilisi, Georgia
Weather (3/3): Tbilisi weather is similar to Vienna, just slightly warmer. Spring has ideal temperatures, but we could be comfortable there most of the year.
Cost-of-Living (4/5): A step below North American prices.
Livability (4/5): Tbilisi doesn’t quite have the impressive metro systems seen in Japan or Vienna, but it meets the rest of the Livability criteria.
D2 Vibe (9/10): We really enjoyed our time in Tbilisi.
Total Score: 20/23
We visited Georgia in the summer of 2024. Protests following the “questionable” re-election of the Russian-leaning government in the fall of 2024 may change the attractiveness of Georgia. Hopefully things will settle back down as it’s a great place to spend time outside the European Schengen Zone.
#4 – Krakow, Poland
Weather (3/3): Very similar to Vienna, with mild summers and decent spring and fall.
Cost-of-Living (3/5): North American prices.
Livability (5/5): Good metro system to travel around the city, with nice neighbourhoods to walk.
D2 Vibe (9/10): We felt very comfortable in Krakow.
Total Score: 20/23
#5 – Alicante, Spain
Weather (3/3): Coastal Mediterranean weather where it can get a bit warm during the summer months, and cool in the winter, but very good for a shoulder season visit.
Cost-of-Living (4/5): A little bit less than North American prices.
Livability (5/5): Good metro system running along the coast, allowing for day-trips to other cities of interest, along with good access to supermarkets and restaurants.
D2 Vibe (8/10): We really like the eastern coast of Spain, just be mindful of the siesta times when most stores close down for a few hours mid afternoon, and that most restaurants don’t open for dinner until 7:00pm or later.
Total Score: 20/23
We’ve spent November on the coast of Spain a few times, and there are a number of very good locations to stay (Alicante, Valencia, etc.). Be aware that some of the smaller coastal beach towns (like Benicassim) get VERY quiet during the off season.
#6 – Chiang Mai, Thailand
Weather (1/3): This is the category that drops Chiang Mai’s rating (along with most of SE Asia). It’s very hot and humid most of the year, although December and January aren’t “quite” so bad. Definitely don’t go to Chiang Mai or anywhere in northern Thailand from March to May. That’s the “burning season” when local farmers burn off the stubble from their prior crops to prepare the fields for the next one. A thick haze of smoke blankets the area and makes it difficult to breath. One additional note … late summer/early fall is considered the rainy season, but it’s not constant rain. There will likely be an hour-long downpour in the mid-afternoon, but we found that easy to work around, plus it did cool things down slightly.
Cost-of-Living (5/5): This is where Chiang Mai and SE Asia really shine. If you buy local produce, and eat in Thai restaurants (which we LOVE), your living expenses will be VERY low. We usually ate out for our main meal of the day since it was cheaper than cooking for ourselves. As an example, we were often eating dinner for around $7 Canadian ($5 US$) for the two of us including sodas, and even our favourite “expensive” restaurant in Chiang Mai was less than $20 Canadian ($15 US$) for huge massaman curry dinners for the both of us.
Livability (4/5): We never did use the bus in Chiang Mai, but tuk-tuk trips were usually only a few dollars, and using Grab (the Uber of SE Asia) was less than $5 for a trip across town, so if we didn’t want to walk, four-wheeled transportation wasn’t going to break the bank.
D2 Vibe (9/10): We like the feel of most of SE Asia, and never felt uncomfortable walking anywhere in Chiang Mai.
Total Score: 19/23
Chiang Mai and the Vietnamese locations listed below are our go-tos when we want to save some money to put towards pricier locations, plus the food is SO awesome.
#7 – Da Nang / Hoi An, Vietnam
Weather (1/3): November to February temperatures are manageable for us, with May to August being the hottest and most humid.
Cost-of-Living (5/5): If you like Vietnamese food you probably won’t bother cooking much for yourself, as it’s cheaper to eat at the local restaurants.
Livability (4/5): Like Thailand, the use of tuk-tuks and the Grab ride-share app makes getting around very easy and inexpensive. Just make sure you’re ready to go when you order your ride in the app, because they often show up less than a minute after you submit your order. Da Nang is a beach town, with a great stretch of very sandy beach if that’s what you’re looking for, plus a very nice boardwalk that runs along most of the waterfront.
D2 Vibe (9/10): Da Nang is a lively beach town, while nearby Hoi An is a unique historic town, and dividing our time between the two is perfect.
Total Score: 19/23
#8 – Istanbul / Fethiye, Turkey
Weather (2/3): The summer months can get very hot, but the rest of the year is great for us.
Cost-of-Living (4/5): Not quite SE Asia prices, but it’s definitely cheaper to live in Turkey than NA or Europe, especially outside of the touristy areas.
Livability (4/5): Istanbul has an outstanding transportation system. A re-loadable card allows you access to subways, metro lines, trams, buses, ferries, and funiculars (trams that go up and down steep hills, often underground). It’s also full of restaurants and supermarkets. Fethiye on the south coast is our favourite area of Turkey outside of Istanbul. It doesn’t have a great transit system, but does have a very nice boardwalk along the waterfront.
D2 Vibe (9/10): Istanbul has lots of interesting and historical places to visit, and the hustle-and-bustle is enjoyable for a couple of weeks but then it’s nice to head to the relaxed seaside town of Fethiye.
Total Score: 19/23
#9 – Bangkok, Thailand
Weather (1/3): Bangkok’s weather is similar to Chiang Mai, but is not subjected to the burning season that plagues the northern part of the country.
Cost-of-Living (5/5): Similar to Chiang Mai, the prices here are great for saving up for more expensive travels in other places.
Livability (5/5): Bangkok has the same cheap tuk-tuks and Grab options as Chiang Mai, but also has a very good underground metro and river ferry system that can get you around this large city. Good supermarkets and great restaurants are everywhere, so no worries there.
D2 Vibe (8/10): Bangkok is a city that’s always on the go, with lots to do and see. It can be a bit gritty, but is appealing for a week or two, and combines nicely with the beach town of Hua Hin less than 3 hours bus ride down the coast. (Hua Hin on its own, made our list at #25).
Total Score: 19/23
#10 – Juan-Les-Pins, France
Weather (3/3): The French Riviera, along the Mediterranean coast, has pretty good weather most of the year.
Cost-of-Living (3/5): North American prices.
Livability (5/5): Good metro system running along the coast, and a good bus system to take you around the local area, along with good restaurants and supermarkets.
D2 Vibe (8/10): Juan-Les-Pins is a very laid back town that becomes quite busy with tourists during the summer months due to the great stretch of beach, but unlike similar places we’ve visited it has enough full-time residents that it doesn’t shut down during the off-season.
Total Score: 19/23
There are a number of communities along the French Riviera that would be just as good with a similar rating.
Other top contenders:
#11 – Malpica, Spain
#12 – Tallinn, Estonia
#13 – Albufeira, Portugal
#14 – Malta (especially the island of Gozo)
#15 – Chania (on the island of Crete), Greece
#16 – Nha Trang, Vietnam
#17 – Brasov, Romania
#18 – Oostvoorne, Netherlands
#19 – Porto, Portugal
#20 – Paphos, Cyprus
If you’ve come up with a similar list feel free to leave a comment below mentioning your top choices. We’re always looking for new places to add to our ongoing “discovery” phase of travel.
