Want to work and travel at the same time?
Digital Nomads make it possible. To make sure your adventure is a huge success, it’s important to know where in the world you can travel to on a budget. In this post, we’ll tell you all about the cheapest cities to travel to as a Digital Nomad.
You will find options in Europe, Asia and Latin America, with different traits as well as excellent quality of life.
If you’re looking to take advantage of the opportunity to live as a Digital Nomad, then you should definitely consider joining this community of people who work remotely while traveling the world.
In this post, we’ll give you the best tips and resources every top Digital Nomad needs to know.
Tips for traveling as a Digital Nomad
There are different approaches to traveling on a tight budget, such as looking for affordable accommodation options, taking advantage of deals on low-cost flights, and exploring cities during the off-season.
As always, the key is to research your destination beforehand, including digital infrastructure, living costs, transportation options and safety.
Becoming a Digital Nomad: how does it work?
To become a Digital Nomad, you need to have skills and experience to thrive in a career that allows you to work remotely, such as graphic design, programming, digital marketing or copywriting.
You also need to have the right tools such as a high-quality laptop, reliable internet connections, online communication tools, and project and task management applications.
If you have any doubts, take a look at the post @Digital Nomad Starter Kit to Work from Anywhere.
The Digital Nomad life: Who are they and how do they live?
People who live as Digital Nomads are those who work remotely while traveling around the world.
This community is made up of independent professionals, entrepreneurs, creatives and dreamers who are in search of a different way of living and working. The life of a Digital Nomad can be exciting and rewarding, but it can also present challenges such as loneliness, lack of stability and stress.
Pros and cons of being a Digital Nomad
Becoming a Digital Nomad can provide many advantages, such as the freedom to work from anywhere in the world, the chance to experience new cultures and people, and the opportunity to improve your personal skills such as adapting to changes, critical thinking and problem solving.
That said, there are also some potential drawbacks, such as financial instability, lack of a support network abroad, and difficulty maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
The best cities for Digital Nomads
If you’re serious about becoming a Digital Nomad, choosing the right destination is key to maintaining a comfortable and profitable lifestyle. In this section, we’ll highlight the cities that offer excellent quality of life and options for working remotely around the world.
The cheapest places to travel as a Digital Nomad
Let’s start with the cheapest destinations. Belgrade in Serbia, Vilnius in Lithuania, and Medellin in Colombia are cities with affordable dining options, good internet connection and collaborative workspaces.
Cities for Digital Nomads in Europe
If you’re looking for options within Europe, the cities of Tallinn, Bucharest, Kiev and Vilnius offer good infrastructure and fast and reliable internet connection. They also offer reasonably priced accommodation and leisure activities.
Recommended destinations for Digital Nomads outside Europe
If you’re looking to explore destinations outside Europe, Thailand, Mexico, and Portugal are highly recommended options for Digital Nomads. In addition, Sri Lanka is an excellent option, as they’re geared up for Digital Nomads, providing visa information and tools to work remotely.
Chiang Mai, Thailand: an excellent choice for Digital Nomads
Chiang Mai is popular among Digital Nomads due to the low cost of living and wonderful quality of life. With a plethora of collaborative workspaces and accommodation options, this city is a fantastic option for working remotely in a friendly and relaxed environment.
Bali, Indonesia: the perfect island for Digital Nomads
Bali is the ideal destination for those Digital Nomads who love nature and fancy working from an island paradise. With a wealth of collaborative workspaces and accommodation options, this island offers an excellent quality of life and a bustling Digital Nomad community.
Seoul, South Korea: a city made for digital nomads
Seoul is a city of the future with excellent internet connectivity wherever you go.
Despite not being the cheapest destination, this city offers a great quality of life and a wide variety of activities and dining options.
Tbilisi, Georgia: a cheap city with a stable internet connection
Tbilisi is a historic and charming city, which offers good value for money across the board.
With a stable internet connection, collaborative workspaces and affordable accommodation options, this city is a must for Digital Nomads looking for a unique and original destination.
Tallinn, Estonia: a solid choice for Digital Nomads in Europe
Tallinn is a beautiful and modern city with a fast and reliable infrastructure and internet connection. With affordable accommodation and entertainment options, this city is perfect to work remotely and enjoy a genuine experience in Europe.
Medellin, Colombia: living the city as a Digital Nomad
Medellin is a vibrant and attractive city that offers an excellent quality of life for Digital Nomads.
Affordable dining options, a vibrant community of Digital Nomads and high-quality collaborative workspaces, this city is the perfect choice for those looking for a unique experience in Latin America.
Canary Islands, Spain: a great destination for Digital Nomads
The Canary Islands are an exceptional destination for Digital Nomads in Spain. With a warm climate and a wide variety of recreational activities, these islands also boast a modern technological infrastructure as well as a friendly and welcoming pre-existing community of Digital Nomads.
Tips for living as a Digital Nomad
If you’ve made up your mind and are set on becoming a Digital Nomad, living in different parts of the world while working on your projects while having complete freedom of movement, you should keep in mind some recommendations to make this experience as pleasant as possible.
Accommodation for Digital Nomads: How to find the best?
One of the main concerns for Digital Nomads is finding suitable and affordable accommodation in each of their destinations.
With this in mind, here are some of our recommendations to help you find the best accommodation to suit your needs:
- Temporary rental platforms for apartments or rooms, such as Airbnb, Booking or HomeAway.
- Specialized Digital Nomads accommodation websites, such as NomadX or Roam.
- Houseshares are an increasingly popular option. More often than not, these properties have shared common areas that allow you to hang out with other like-minded Digital Nomads.
Coworking spaces for Digital Nomads: Where to work?
Having a comfortable and suitable space to work is also essential for Digital Nomads. The most common options are:
- Coworking spaces, a trend that is growing worldwide. In fact, it’s increasingly common to find co-living spaces that have their own coworking spaces, meaning you can work without leaving home.
- Business centers: they offer much more than coworking space, with everything you need to carry out your work (meeting rooms, landline telephone, printer, reception desk, etc).
- Cafeterias with good Internet connection: this can be a good option if you are looking for something more informal.
Traveling cheaply as a Digital Nomad: Tips for a tight budget
If you’re a Digital Nomad, you probably know that traveling on the cheap is essential if you want to make your budget last longer at your destination. You can cut your costs and save money by following these tips:
- Get around on public transportation (don’t rent a car, especially if you’re only going to be at your destination for a short time).
- Buy groceries and cook at your accommodation instead of eating in restaurants.
- Avoid tourist hotspots and look for more authentic local options.
Visa for Digital Nomads: How can I get my hands on one?
Fortunately, some countries are putting in place new rules to encourage Digital Nomads, offering them the possibility to obtain visas specific to their working lifestyle. Some of the countries and cities that offer these types of visas are:
- Argentina: the ‘NÓMADE’ visa allows Digital Nomads to stay in the country for up to one year and work remotely.
- Tallinn, Estonia: one of the first cities to create a special visa for Digital Nomads, the ‘e-Residency’, which allows foreigners to open and manage a business remotely from Estonia.
Quality Internet: How to find a good connection?
If you’re going to be able to work from anywhere in the world, a good internet connection is fundamental. Here are some places where you can find it:
- Compare the different options in your destination country (mobile, Wi-Fi, ADSL) before deciding on just one.
- Carefully study the place you’re staying at before booking, as some offer unstable or low-quality internet connection.
- You can also get an eSims, which offers unlimited data, so that you don’t miss a minute of your work.
Public transportation: how to get around anywhere in the world?
Unless you are staying somewhere for a long time, we recommend that you get around by public transportation.
Here are some of the advantages:
- It’s far cheaper than renting cars or paying for taxis.
- It immerses you in the local culture and gives you a genuine experience by mingling with the locals.
- In some cities, such as Amsterdam, public transportation has become a tourist attraction.
Outdoor activities for Digital Nomads
In addition to work, Digital Nomads need time to enjoy outdoor activities and connect with nature. So, here are our recommendations for some of the most popular options:
- Hiking in nature (mountains, natural parks, coastal routes).
- Water sports such as surfing or paddle surfing at idyllic beaches and along beautiful coastlines.
- Visiting botanical gardens and urban parks in your neighborhood.
Hope you enjoy it!
