Valencia for Luxury Digital Nomads: Why International Professionals Choose This City

Until a few years ago, a professional who could work from anywhere in the world thought first of Lisbon, Bali or Mexico City. Today, more and more senior-profile digital nomads are choosing Valencia. Not as a stopover, but as a permanent base.

It’s no coincidence. A recent study ranking the world’s best cities for remote work places Valencia third in the world among the preferred destinations for remote workers, behind only two Italian cities.

For an international professional with high earnings, the freedom to choose where to live and the intention to stay long-term, Valencia combines something few Mediterranean cities manage all at once: climate, security, competitive taxation and a still-accessible luxury property market. 

Why Valencia has become the top digital nomad Spain destination for luxury living

Valencia scores highly on precisely the variables that matter most to a remote professional with resources: more than 300 days of sunshine a year, a cost of living roughly 20% lower than Madrid, and an already well-established international remote-working community, with more than 40 active coworking spaces in the city.

On top of that, there’s a factor that rarely appears in the rankings but weighs heavily when it comes to actually settling down: the availability of high-end housing. Unlike Barcelona or Madrid, where premium stock is practically exhausted, Valencia still offers villas with gardens and pools, luxury penthouses and gated communities with private security, at prices well below those of comparable European capitals. 

The profile of the people arriving has also changed. It’s no longer just the freelancer on a tight budget but executives, startup founders, senior consultants and tech professionals with salaries in the region of €5,000-8,000 a month, looking for a city with a vibrant cultural scene, real security and competitive taxation.

The digital nomad visa in Spain: the legal gateway into the country

For most of these professionals, the first step isn’t finding a home, but sorting out the paperwork. Since 2023, Spain has had a specific framework for them: the International Remote Work Residence Authorisation, popularly known as the digital nomad visa, created by Law 28/2022 on the promotion of the startup ecosystem. Since it came into force, more than 28,000 visas have already been granted. 

Digital nomad visa Spain requirements: who can apply?

• Employees hired by a company based outside Spain, with express authorisation to work remotely. 
• Self-employed professionals, freelancers and consultants who bill mainly to international clients (income from Spanish clients cannot exceed 20% of total activity). 
• University graduates or professionals with at least 3 years’ experience in their field. 
• Anyone with a working or professional relationship of at least 3 months with the company they work for.

How much do you need to earn to qualify as a digital nomad? 

The income requirement is updated every year in line with Spain’s Minimum Interprofessional Wage (SMI). In 2026, the reference is 200% of the SMI, which sets the threshold at around €2,849 a month for the main applicant, with an additional increase of 75% of the SMI for the first family member and 25% for each additional one. 

A very attractive tax perk: holders of this visa can opt into the special Spain Beckham law regime, which allows them to pay tax only on Spanish-sourced income at a flat rate of 24% (rather than on worldwide income) for up to 6 years. For a professional earning income abroad, the difference can be considerable. 

The application can be submitted at the Spanish embassy or consulate in the applicant’s home country (if outside Spain), or online through the Unit for Large Companies and Strategic Groups (UGE-CE) if already legally resident in Spain.

Cost of living: why Valencia wins the comparison with Madrid and Barcelona

For a digital nomad who can work from anywhere, cost of living is a decisive factor. 

And this is where Valencia has a clear edge over Spain’s two biggest cities:

That cost difference doesn’t mean giving up quality of life. Quite the opposite: with a budget similar to that of a mid-range flat in Madrid or Barcelona, in Valencia it’s possible to get a villa with a pool in a gated community with private security.

It’s precisely that margin that’s attracting a different profile of international buyer and tenant: professionals who aren’t after a functional flat in the city centre, but a home with space, a garden and privacy, without giving up their connection to the city.

Where to live in Valencia if you’re a high-profile digital nomad

Not all digital nomads are looking for the same thing. Those who work remotely but have high incomes tend to prioritise very different variables from the backpacker traveller: security, space, peace and quiet to focus, and a good internet connection, without giving up proximity to the city and an international community. 

That’s why more and more professionals of this profile are looking towards the residential developments in Valencia’s metropolitan area, rather than the historic centre.

Los Monasterios and Alfinach: nature, security and an international community

Los Monasterios is one of the go-to residential developments among foreign buyers in Valencia. Set between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sierra Calderona mountains, it combines detached villas on generous plots, 24-hour private security and its own social and sports club. For a professional working from home, having a home office with garden views, real peace and quiet, and high-speed fibre optic broadband makes a noticeable difference compared with a flat in the city centre.

Torre en Conill: peace and quiet by the golf course, 20 minutes from Valencia

For those looking for an even more residential setting, Torre en Conill offers detached houses next to the Escorpión Golf Club, with private security and a very family-friendly profile. It’s a particularly popular option among professionals who have relocated with their whole family and want to combine remote work with nearby international schools.

Discover our full guide on ➤ What it’s like to live in Torre en Conill

Campolivar: the closest option to the city

Just a few minutes from Valencia, Campolivar appeals to those who want to keep a residential lifestyle without moving too far from the centre, which is especially practical for anyone who needs to attend in-person meetings from time to time or use a coworking space in the city. 

See our full guide to luxury areas and residential areas in Valencia to compare all the options according to budget, distance from the city and type of property.

Coworking and the professional ecosystem: working remotely without isolating yourself

One of the reasons Valencia keeps climbing the international rankings is its well-established network of coworking spaces, with Wayco as one of the city’s leading names. These spaces don’t just solve the need for a good connection and a professional environment: they’re also the meeting point where much of the international digital nomad community now living in Valencia comes together. 

For many professionals, the ideal balance is exactly that: a quiet home in a residential development to focus and switch off, and a coworking space in the city for the days that call for more social or professional interaction.

Quality of life: the reason to stay

Beyond taxation and the visa, what turns a digital nomad into a long-term resident is quality of life. 

Valencia offers a combination that’s hard to match anywhere in Europe:

• A Mediterranean climate with more than 300 days of sunshine a year.
• An urban beach within easy reach of the centre and the main residential areas.
• Safety, a factor particularly valued by families and professionals relocating from cities with higher crime rates.
• First-class food and cultural life, without the prices or the crowds of other major European capitals.
• Good international connections, with its own airport and high-speed rail links to the rest of Spain.

Monserrate Inmobiliaria: the agency that understands the international buyer

In a market where more and more international professionals are looking to settle in Valencia for the long term, working with an agency that understands their specific needs is key.

At Monserrate Inmobiliaria we’ve spent years helping foreign buyers, many of them high-profile digital nomads, find a home in the best residential developments in the metropolitan area. 

Our bilingual team manages the whole process: from selecting properties with a home office, garden, pool and private security, to guiding you through the paperwork needed to settle in Spain. We also offer off-market opportunities that don’t always reach the major property portals, which is particularly valuable in low-turnover areas like Los Monasterios or Torre en Conill.

Thinking of moving to Valencia as a digital nomad? Get in touch with Monserrate and we’ll help you find a home that fits your lifestyle and your remote-working needs. 

Do you own a property in one of these developments? Find out how Monserrate can help you position it for the growing demand from international buyers and tenants through our service for property owners.

Frequently asked questions about living in Valencia as a digital nomad

Is Valencia a good city for digital nomads?

Yes. According to the Holafly 2026 report, Valencia ranks third in the world among the preferred destinations for digital nomads, thanks to its climate, cost of living and coworking ecosystem.

How much do you need to earn for the digital nomad visa Spain 2026?

The main applicant must show a minimum income of approximately €2,849 a month (200% of the SMI), with additional increases for each dependent family member.

What tax advantages does a digital nomad have in Valencia?

Visa holders can opt into the special Spain Beckham law regime, paying a flat 24% rate on Spanish-sourced income for up to 6 years, rather than being taxed on their worldwide income.

Where do high-profile digital nomads live in Valencia?

Beyond the centre and neighbourhoods like Ruzafa, more and more professionals are choosing residential developments in the metropolitan area, such as Los Monasterios, Torre en Conill or Campolivar, where they find private security, space and peace and quiet to work remotely.

Is it cheaper to live in Valencia than in Madrid or Barcelona?

Yes, the cost of living in Valencia is around 20% lower than Madrid’s and noticeably lower than Barcelona’s, without giving up on quality of life, safety or international connectivity.