Top 10 Places To Live And Work As A Digital Nomad

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Have you ever dreamt of hiking up to Mount Everest’s base camp? Or dreamed of relaxing on a pristine white sand beach in Malaysia’s east coast or imagined yourself on a stroll through Prague's cobbled streets?

Many people share the dream of being able to travel on a prolonged vacation in a foreign country, but the question of money and finances have always been a speed bump on the way to these types of dreams.

But what if you could travel to destinations around the world, chill out, and still get paid?

This is precisely what an ever-growing group of people have been up to—adopting the lifestyle of the digital nomad.

Digital nomads are people who are not shackled to their offices throughout the year. Being a digital nomad allows you to travel the world, laptop in tow, working and making money through the internet.

Truth be told, if you know how to stay productive, have a decent laptop computer and a steady internet connection, it will be all you need to make money and visit amazing locations around the world. Think about it—after a full day’s work, wouldn’t it be nice to chill out on the beach with a cool cocktail in hand, watching the sun setting over the Andaman Sea?

So what are the best places in the world to sustain the digital nomad lifestyle? We’ll discuss the top 10 locations to live out the digital nomad life:

1. Chaing Mai, Thailand                          

Chaing Mai is considered the spiritual capital of Thailand. Located over 500 kilometres from Bangkok, you’ll find Chiang Mai to be far more laid back than the country’s bustling capital city.

This city is great for digital nomads because of the relatively low cost of living. An apartment in Chaing Mai costs anywhere between $100 a month to $500—depending on how much you make and the lifestyle you wish to maintain.

The city is a digital nomad hotspot and you will find no end to the number of cafes and co-working spots that offer fast internet. You’ll also be able to find free Wifi spots or sign up for cheap internet plans so that you’ll be connected wherever you go.

After a productive day, you can hit the night market for some cheap and good eats, hang out with elephants, explore some temples, or go for a relaxing Thai massage!

2. Medellin, Colombia

Medellin was recently dubbed the second most innovative city in the world, and it is a rather new hotspot for those who wish to live the untethered life of a digital nomad. Being the second biggest city in Colombia, you won’t be running short of fast WiFi connection and good Colombian coffee!

Medellin has come a long way since the rather infamous days of Escobar to become a hot new destination for travelers and digital nomads from around the world.

You can find a nice place for yourself for as little as $200 a month to live out your stay comfortably. After a day of work, you can go out and enjoy Medellin's exciting nightlife, visit Pablo Escobar’s house, or visit the lush Parque Avi.

3. Bali, Indonesia

While Bali is highly popular with tourists from around the world, it is also a hotspot for those who have a little bit of digital hustle in mind and may even be considered the digital nomad capital of the world.

Bali has no shortage of cafes and hosts an amount of rather trendy co-working spaces, some of which have swimming pools. Bali is also considerably inexpensive, and you can find comfortable accommodations for $220 a month while you can very well get yourself a villa with a pool for anything over $600 a month.

The island boasts gorgeous views, unique cultural heritage, offers many vegetarian options, and friendly people. Getting around is also easy if you rent out a scooter.

Bali’s internet infrastructure has also come a long way—which is great news for digital nomads, making it a prime location for nomads who like to work in amazing destinations. After a productive day, you can hit the yoga mat, discover some sites from the back of your scooter, or you can visit the monkey forest!

4. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh city, also commonly known as Saigon, is located in southern Vietnam. This city is famous for its French colonial landmarks, such as the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon.

This bustling city makes it on the list of top digital nomad destinations because it is full of comfortable, aesthetic-oriented cafes as well as co-working spaces that are equipped with high-speed internet from Singapore, so you will never run out of famous Vietnamese coffee and places to get the job done!

This city is for you if you appreciate the dynamic energy of a growing city that is also a financial capital to Vietnam.

Staying in Ho Chi Minh city for one month can cost you anywhere from $400 to $1000 for a studio or you can stay in a hostel for $10 a night. Many apartments already come with free internet, and the food you’ll find will be nothing short of delicious.

In between work hours you can chow down on some Pho, take a tour of the Mekong Delta, or check out some cool French colonial heritage buildings.

5. Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is Portugal’s scenic coastal capital. If you love being close to the ocean and gorgeous weather, then Lisbon might be for you. It is also considered to be one of the safest cities in Europe and women digital nomads traveling on their own can feel comfortable and safe here.

Lisbon hasn’t been on the digital nomad radar for as long as Bali, but it is now one of the main hubs for remote workers. The city offers one of the most friendly digital nomad scenes you’ll find, with remote workers meeting up for organized events on Thursdays, where you can meet like-minds.

Co-working spaces and cafes are also more than accessible. When it comes to the internet situation, broadband speeds are generally good and mobile internet can keep you connected around the clock.

A one month stay in an apartment in Lisbon can cost you over $1000, but while your stay might be a little on the expensive side, a full meal is considerably more affordable at $5-$10. Lisbon is also considered to be a very walkable city, so you’ll have no trouble with transportation and keeping fit!

After a productive day, you can enjoy the all-year-round good weather, head to the beach, eat some seafood, and admire the lovely city that is Lisbon.

6. Koh Lanta, Thailand

Thailand makes it twice on our list because it has many great and economical spots for location-independent digital nomads. Koh Lanta is an island off the West coast of Thailand on the Andaman sea, a sea teaming with beautiful islands full of white sand beaches, and Koh Lanta just so happens to be an island paradise fit for digital nomads like yourself.

Koh Lanta is known for its beaches, mangrove forests, limestone outcrops, and even rain forests. As someone who is highly internet dependent, you won’t have to despair because this tropical island houses a couple of co-working spaces like KoHub, which is listed as one of the best co-working spaces in Asia.

You can easily find a place that will cost you $300 a month if you are on a budget, but you can also find more luxury accommodations if you are willing to splurge. After a day’s work, you can go out and enjoy the fact that you are on a gorgeous tropical island. Hit the sandy beaches, go for a swim, and grab an ice-cold drink.

7. Buenos Aires, Argentina

When it comes to Latin America, Buenos Aires is the most popular city for digital nomads to thrive. The city holds numerous co-working spaces and offers everything for you to be able to hit the sweet spot on the work-life balance. From a bustling nightlife to nature adventures, Buenos Aires has got you covered.

Buenos Aires is a big city, so you’ll be able to find a large selection of places to stay in. Prices are a little steeper than in South East Asia, but you can get a good bargain place for $400 to $700 if you decide to stay out the month.

The South American city isn’t as walkable as Lisbon, but you’ll be able to enjoy its efficient public transportation system. Buenos Aires is also famous for its steak—given that you are a meat lover, you’ll be able to enjoy this juicy fact.

During your non-working hours, you can go off and enjoy the city, eat steak, visit Eva Peron’s famous tomb, and dance the tango at Milonga!

8. Prague, Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is a landlocked nation located in central Europe and Prague is pretty high up there on the list for digital nomad hotspots. As someone who makes their living online, you’ll never have to worry about WiFi and internet connection in Prague as they boast high-speed internet that is also highly accessible wherever you’ll go.

You’ll be connected in every bar, restaurant, and café you’ll visit in Prague with speeds that go up to 200mbps. You’ll even find that public transportation has WiFi. You’ll also be able to find co-working spaces around the city, where freelancers and remote workers spend a good deal of their time.

You can find Airbnb rentals for $1000 a month or less, especially if you hit the town outside of the tourist peak season. Meals aren’t as cheap as in Asian digital nomad destinations, but you can easily get a full meal for less than $10 and good coffee for less than $2.

When you’re done slaying the day's work, go ahead and check out Prague’s multitude of historical sites. Prague is known as the city of a hundred spires, so you’ll have a lot to see and a lot of neck-craning to do in your free time!

9. Penang, Malaysia

You won’t find Penang on many lists of best places to live out the digital nomad lifestyle, but Penang island will make a great base for location independent workers who are in Malaysia or are planning to work and visit this Southeast Asian country.

Penang is an island with a bustling city called Georgetown situated on Malaysia’s west coast. Penang offers a wide variety of cafes and several co-working spaces for you to chill in and do your thing. You can easily find a place in Georgetown for $300 and good, cheap eats.

If you are a foodie, then rejoice, because Penang is known for their cuisine and you’ll get your fill of the hotpot of Chinese, Malay, and Indian cuisine that Penang is. For vegetarians and vegans, you’ll also find many local and international cuisine options for your palate.

After a day’s work, take a walk around Georgetown and visit the city’s UNESCO world heritage streets and buildings, explore Little India, and have a nice cup of hot Teh Tarik.

10. Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Playa del Carmen, Mexico is a town located along the Caribbean. The town is known for its breezy palm-lined beaches, reefs, and tropical weather. Playa del Carmen is perfect for digital nomads who love spending time on a breathtaking beach and good food. Not to mention fast internet connection so you can get the job done.

Finding a good coffee shop to work in won’t be difficult and you can always get a sim with a monthly data plan to make sure that you are always connected. You’ll also be able to find Airbnbs for under $800 a month and the prices drop the further you get from the beach.

Food is good and cheap, and if you like to cook while you travel, Playa del Carmen hosts large grocery stores for you to be able to maintain a low monthly food budget. To relax and unwind after a productive day of work, you can hit the beach, try paddle boarding, or check out the nightlife!

Back To You 

Living as a digital nomad can be great, and if it’s your dream to enjoy the freedom to set your hours, make money, travel, and enjoy new sites and cultures, then it is definitely within your reach.

We have given you the top 10 locations for you to travel to as a digital nomad and we’re are sure that this list has something in it for you in these top digital nomad destinations. So pick a place, pack your laptop, and your bags, and let’s get going!

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