23rd December 2019
Contractors are spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing cities to work in. At 6CATS, we welcome any new data that can assist contractors in making the decision of where to take their services, and help recruiters target international markets.
The most recent survey of this kind has come from crowdsourcing company Appjobs, which has analysed a series of metrics – such as the number of freelance jobs, cafes with free Wi-Fi, cost of living, and self-employed salary, and created a score out of 100 to reveal the best cities for international contractors work in. Here’s what recruiters need to know, but remember that no allowance has been made for how complicated compliance might be in that country!
The best cities for international contractors
Paris
In the survey, Paris takes the crown score of 54.3 out of 100. Self-employed people in Paris can expect to receive an average salary of £36,656 per annum which is just below the world average for freelancers of £38,855
The average cost of rent in Paris is £1,040.03 per month which makes it the 19th most expensive city to live in. With 367,704 free Wi-Fi spots and 265 cafes with free Wi-Fi, the city is very freelancer friendly.
However, despite being one of the best cities for international contractors, recruiters placing contractors in the country need to be aware of a number of nuances to be aware of. The country has been increasingly active in introducing tough tax measures – with the French government recently receiving powers to trawl social media. Suffice to say that being compliant in France is complicated.
London
London follows closely behind Paris with an overall score of 53.8 out of 100. London has a whopping 730,532 free Wi-Fi spots around the city and 703 cafes with free Wi-Fi – the most out of all the cities.
There are 1,393 freelance jobs available within 25 miles of the city, with an average annual salary sitting at £31,187.51. However, the London lifestyle comes at a price, with the average monthly rent amounting to 1,682.89 per month, making it the fourth most expensive city to live in.
Barcelona and Madrid
Joint third place goes to the Barcelona and Madrid who both achieved an overall score of 46.8. Both cities have over 200 Wi-Fi accessible cafes and a reasonable cost of living (£832.40 and £788.09).
While the country is certainly rife with opportunities, there are plenty of compliance nuances for freelancers and the recruiters placing them to be aware of. Professionals will need to obtain a Numero De Identificacion de Extranjeros, or ‘NIE’ number to work in the country, and for any contracts over 90 days, contractors will need to sign up to the foreigners’ register.
Luxembourg
In terms of salary, Luxembourg offers freelancers the best deal, with an average wage of £67,232.02 per annum. This is double that of freelancers in London (£31187.51) and over triple that of Barcelona. Despite historically being accused of being a tax haven, the destination has ratcheted up efforts to stop evasion – with the LuxLeaks scandal sparking huge international pressure to change legislation.
The worst cities to be a freelancer
- Despite Luxembourg’s handsome pay packages, it comes last in the survey of best cities for international contractors, with a score of 9.7 out of 100. The average cost of rent in Luxembourg sits at £1650.46 per month, making it the 14th most expensive city to live in.
- In addition to this, Geneva comes second from the bottom with an overall score of 11.1. Geneva is the 6th most expensive city to live in with the average monthly rent costing £1,556.18. Despite the city not being very freelancer friendly, there is a high average salary for a freelancer is £57,484.96.
Recruiters need to be aware
While this list of the best cities for international contractors may help recruitment agencies decide where to focus their business, or help workers decide where to take their services – it’s crucial that compliance is not overlooked. As international laws and regulations vary so much across borders, we strongly recommend that companies seek advice from a specialist international contractor management company. Contact the team today.