Digital nomadism is at an all-time high right now. More 9-to-5 professionals are willing to give this unique lifestyle a fair shake and some are already negotiating for a hybrid work arrangement if not fully remote yet. Choosing an unsuitable country based on your lifestyle and salary could make or break your bank account, especially when choosing the best digital nomad destinations that will give your moolah a stretch.
Further down this road, you must also familiarize yourself with everything essential that guides digital nomads in the modern day–language, culture, and even food!
Imagine moving to a country where most of the food is spicy, and your spice tolerance needs improvement. Another scenario to factor in, especially with kids in the picture, is the foreign landscape which may or may not be suitable for raising a family on the road.
Nowadays, more than simply knowing the most popular digital nomad scenes is required. You need to factor in human congestion, which also means overtourism, overpopulation, and gentrification.
Based on my experiences and countless nomads I’ve spoken to, I’ve compiled a few pointers you can follow along those lines. This information will be helpful to you!
- Why More People Are Fighting For Digital Nomadism
- Why Choosing The Right Digital Nomad Destinations Is So Important
- 7 Mistakes Pros Make When Choosing Digital Nomad Destinations
- One – You Don't Consider The Season And Timing Of Your Trip
- Two – Information Overload On So-called "Perfect" Digital Nomad Destinations
- Three – Not Joining The Right Digital Nomad Community
- Four – The Weight Of Your Luggage Catches Up To You Unexpectedly
- Five – Not Enough Attention Is Given To The Money Factor
- Six – Not Having All Your Papers In Order
- Seven – Underestimating The Importance of Digital Nomad Travel Insurance
- How To Pick The Right Digital Nomad Destinations Before You Jet Off
- Determine Your Preferred Travel Pattern
- Consider The Size Of Your Budget For The Trip
- Restrict Your Choice To A Specific Pool Of Options (At Least At First)
- Consider The Weather And Safety Conditions Of Your Pick
- Research The Top Activities Worth Trying Out There
- Tap Into The Knowledge And Experience Available In Digital Nomad Hubs
- Always Have A Plan B!
- Factors To Consider When Choosing A Long-Term Home Base
- Digital Nomads Just Can't Get Enough Of These Popular Destinations
- Legal Considerations To Stay Out Of Trouble!
- Start The Adventure Of Your Lifetime!
- Popular Questions About Digital Nomad Destinations
Why More People Are Fighting For Digital Nomadism
The digital nomad community is swelling daily, and this development isn’t happening accidentally. More professionals are consciously switching their style of work to digital nomadism. What’s more, they’re fighting tooth and nail for this!
When Amazon issued a memo asking its staff to resume to physical locations earlier this year, they couldn’t have predicted the massive wave of protests they were met with! The same thing happened when Apple tried it.
For several reasons, digital nomadism is critical for helping workers escape the funk of working in the conventional office setting. As a digital nomad, you get a free pass to tour the world without putting your career on hold.
Also, there’s the fact that digital nomadism opens you to a plethora of new experiences. Whether staying in the most expensive or cheapest places for digital nomads, you will see the world in a way you hadn’t before.
These collected experiences can keep you active and add to your knowledge repertoire.
Finally, more people are interested in exploring this exciting new lifestyle because of the independence it affords them. All most nomads need to hit the road is a suitable computer device and a location with a reliable internet connection, and they’re good to go!
These benefits and more effectively ensure that digital nomad hubs will only continue to grow in number.

Why Choosing The Right Digital Nomad Destinations Is So Important
It’s certainly true that there are a lot of things that you have to consider before you join the digital nomad community carefully. However, choosing the best digital nomad destinations is your top priority because where you go directly affects the quality, type of experience, and vibes you get.
Again, the world is your oyster in this regard. There aren’t any formal restrictions regarding where digital nomads can and cannot operate as long as you adhere to the country’s rules and pay taxes if you’re a tax resident in that country!
But even in saying this, you should know that some locations will be more accommodating to digital nomads than others.
For example, Portugal is arguably one of the most popular digital nomad scenes at the moment,
Why?
- You can get a digital nomad visa quickly into this country.
- The country offers relatively affordable long-term stays and rent.
- The cost of living isn’t as high as in similar parts of the world.
And, if you pick a destination that needs to be digital nomad-friendly enough, your work and experience may ultimately pay the price.

7 Mistakes Pros Make When Choosing Digital Nomad Destinations
The best guides digital nomad pros can get today will often only cover elements like the cheapest places for digital nomads, where to find the best coworking spaces with a reliable internet connection, or even the best digital nomad hubs to join.
Don’t get me wrong. All of these are essential nuggets of information, too.
However, these elements don’t consider one thing–whether or not you’re in the “right” digital nomad destination for you! You will never know until you try it yourself.
One’s bad experience doesn’t equate to yours. Perhaps your friend dislikes spicy food and doesn’t find Bali interesting. Just because a place or culture puts them off doesn’t mean you have to!
However, if a few nomads leave specific reviews about a place, it’s always noteworthy and worth keeping things in mind, especially regarding safety for solo women travelers.
Apart from the usual safety concerns, here are a few possible slip-ups you must consider when choosing a destination. The most important of these include, but are not limited to:
One – You Don’t Consider The Season And Timing Of Your Trip
Choosing the best digital nomad location is making sure you pick the right time of the year to make that trip. Don’t be surprised to hear that the season you visit a country in can considerably affect the quality of experience you get out of the expenditure.
Let’s take Portugal, for instance. One of the best times to be a digital nomad in the country is from March to May. During this time, the country is just coming out of winter hibernation, and the temperature is right. Also, you’ll be able to easily avoid the (often unpleasant) large tourist crowds during this time.
However, should you delay your visit by just two months and go in July, you’d find yourself besieged by inclement weather and overwhelming people.
So, consider the best time to explore any given location.
Thankfully, there are various guides digital nomad pros can consult for these things. Also, you can source information on this from numerous digital nomad hubs.
Two – Information Overload On So-called “Perfect” Digital Nomad Destinations
Everyone knows the dangers of not knowing enough about any exercise you plan to do. However, only a few people realize that over-information can be just as dangerous!
For sure, you want to go over every detail when picking digital nomad destinations. But in doing so, it’s crucial that you not start to consider even insignificant information because, ultimately, this might leave you discouraged or, worse, jaded about the entire trip!
Know the relevant elements of your travel destination and stick with that. Ensure you’re also flexible regarding changes so you won’t get too worked up due to uncertainties.
Three – Not Joining The Right Digital Nomad Community
Overall, the point of sifting through different digital nomad destinations is to gain the unique experiences of being in these locations yourself.
However, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel in this regard. One of the best ways to ensure you don’t encounter unpleasant situations that could’ve been avoided is to find the right digital nomad community.
Choosing a suitable digital nomad hub gives you unfettered access to a support system that can prepare you for what to expect. They’ll provide you with information that even the best guides digital nomads use might sometimes need to be noticed.
They may even recommend tools and resources to prove invaluable where you’re headed.
The best digital nomad community I have ever joined is Host A Sister and World Wide House Sitting and Pet Sitting Community.
I met a few good friends and connected with pet lovers from these groups. So it’s always helpful and fun when you pick a group that matches your interests and vibe. If online groups are not your thing, you could always ask around when you’re in the select country.
Four – The Weight Of Your Luggage Catches Up To You Unexpectedly
Packing sensibly for a trip is good advice on any day. However, perhaps because they know they’ll be going on a protracted journey and don’t want to be without anything, many digital nomads pack far more than they need on the road– which wouldn’t be such a bad thing except that you’ll likely end up having to lug your luggage or carry a heavy backpack around a fair bit. Having loads of stuff you don’t need will inevitably increase the weight of your luggage and can make traveling incredibly uncomfortable and maybe even more expensive (think excess luggage fee!)
As such, you should follow a practical list of what’ll go into your traveling bag.
SEE MY LIST OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DIGITAL NOMAD GEAR AND EQUIPMENT HERE.
Five – Not Enough Attention Is Given To The Money Factor
Most digital nomads find their way into this pitfall via different means. Some might not have taken enough on the road from the beginning. For others, they might have taken ample funds but failed to set (or follow) a defined budget.
In either event, you’re bound to mess up your digital nomad adventure if you run out of money at any point.
Most digital nomads believe that paying less attention to the money factor ruins their traveling experience. In reality, the exact opposite is true.
When you have a realistic budget and put funds aside regularly for emergencies, you’re effectively safeguarding your trip. These actions ensure that even unexpected developments won’t rain on your parade.
Six – Not Having All Your Papers In Order
To be a digital nomad, you have to, by definition, be in a country that isn’t your native region. In light of this fact, it isn’t surprising to see why it would be essential to have the necessary documents always to identify yourself.
Sadly, many nomads get on the road without putting these elements in place. And as a result, they often get into completely avoidable situations with the country’s local authorities where they find themselves.
At the very least, you should always have copies of important documents like your IDs, international passport, travel insurance policy, and other relevant papers (perhaps for visa application) in your luggage.
Seven – Underestimating The Importance of Digital Nomad Travel Insurance
Finally, the biggest error that most digital nomads make is that they make many plans for when things go right but neglect to put the necessary measures in place for when things turn awry.
Interestingly, there are a ton of things that could go wrong when digital nomads hit the road.
For example, your luggage could go missing at the airport, or you could misplace your credit cards and passport. What’s worse, you could come down with something while traveling!
If you don’t have travel insurance, there’s no telling how much fixing any of the above scenarios will cost. However, you can bet it’ll be several times more expensive than the premium you’ll have to pay for that policy!
What is the moral of the story? Always have travel insurance!

How To Pick The Right Digital Nomad Destinations Before You Jet Off
So, you now know what NOT to do when picking digital nomad destinations. But how do you ensure you get it right on the first try?
Here are the best pointers I live by! These include:
Determine Your Preferred Travel Pattern
The first and most important thing you need to attend to here is the mode of digital nomad travel you want to employ. In broad strokes, you can either fast travel or slow travel.
With fast travel, you spend only a few days to a week at a given location. You breeze through the hotspots of the destination, and you’re once again on your way. However, slow travel encourages digital nomads to soak in the culture and environment in which they find themselves. As such, you typically spend at least a month or two at a given destination.
Why is this important when selecting the best digital nomad locations for you?
Because certain locations better accommodate certain travel patterns than others. So, when you know how you’d prefer your travel pattern, you can better pinpoint destinations that best complement that style.
Consider The Size Of Your Budget For The Trip
The amount of money available is yet another crucial determining factor here. However, it is possible to strongly control the level of influence that this variable has on your digital nomad journey.
Here’s what I mean.
For starters, no matter how big or small your budget for any digital nomad adventure is, you should know that there are destinations that’ll help you make the best use of these funds.
It all boils down to how well you can research to find the most ideal places for the amount of money you’re willing to spend. Along these lines, consider consulting travel guides for digital nomads and putting out feelers in various digital nomad hubs.
Restrict Your Choice To A Specific Pool Of Options (At Least At First)
Taking on traveling and working is a major challenge on any day. You only need to visit any online digital nomad community and read their threads to see irrefutable proof.
If you aren’t careful, especially when choosing a digital nomad destination, you might simultaneously bury yourself in too many challenges.
One great and easy way to avoid such a scenario is to limit your pool of destinations to a select few, particularly if you’re starting.
Now, how can I whittle down my options?
My top recommendation for digital nomads here is to consider digital nomad-friendly destinations before all else. If you do, there are so many benefits that you could enjoy.
First, you will be able to get to these destinations easily. Because they already offer digital nomad visas, there’s a welcome mat at their door at all times. In addition, the environment they present you with is far more accepting of wandering workers.
It’s generally easier to find everything from affordable long-term stays and rents to well-furnished coworking spaces with reliable internet connections.
Essentially, you know what you’re getting in these countries, and that’s generally good.
Consider The Weather And Safety Conditions Of Your Pick
This one’s a no-brainer.
You don’t want to go to an interesting country but cannot explore all it offers due to endless rain or sunlight so bright it smarts. Similarly, I don’t believe that there’s any location in the world worth putting yourself at physical risk to see.
All in all, you want to consider only locations that offer favorable climes and take the safety and security of its people (and visitors, of course) seriously.
Research The Top Activities Worth Trying Out There
I generally recommend to digital nomads that they travel with a list of three or more destinations if they are struggling to decide.
All you have to do is ask yourself this simple question: if I go to X location, what would I have to do there? And where can I go after X?
Find the answer to this question and make it into a list for all of the locations you have in mind. Now, compare side-by-side to see which location offers the best.
Remember, you’re visiting these places to soak in the culture and relate with the locals. You can only do all of that to the fullest if you’re certain you will be given ample opportunity.
Tap Into The Knowledge And Experience Available In Digital Nomad Hubs
Fine, you’re heading into what’s likely to be one of the grandest adventures of your entire life. However, remember you’re not going where “no man has ever gone before.”
No matter what location you plan to visit, a digital nomad somewhere has been there before and has a thing to say about it. You can learn from their experience.
One of the best places to find these individuals is in digital nomad hubs. For the most part, the digital nomad community is closely-knit and has to be. We’re heading into new and exciting places, and we’ve all got to watch each other’s backs out there.
Save all of that information. Don’t hesitate to check out the abundant guides digital nomad groups provide.
Always Have A Plan B!
This rule applies to every single aspect of planning your digital nomad adventure.
Always have a backup destination in mind if your ideal choice becomes unavailable at the last minute.
Always have a backup stash of funds if you run into a slow period while you work.
Always have access to backup copies of your most important documents in case you lose the original set.
All of this might seem like a hassle to put in place, but the truth is that it’ll save you from scrambling should things turn on their heads unexpectedly.
Factors To Consider When Choosing A Long-Term Home Base
Setting your roots is also a huge part of the digital nomad experience. So, it’s natural if you’re already considering staying in a place for over a few months. However, before choosing such digital nomad destinations, there are a couple of factors that you need to take into account.
These include but aren’t limited to:
Cost Of Living
You’ll incur daily expenses no matter where you choose to settle down, and that’s a fact. That said, you should know that the cost of living in a country like Singapore would vastly differ from what you would get in a place like Thailand.
If you want to ensure that you enjoy wherever you settle down, both short and long-term, you need to be completely certain that the cost of living there won’t creep up on you at any point.
Internet Connectivity
The bread and butter of every digital nomad hinges on the presence and quality of the Internet they have available, so having access to a reliable Internet connection is a non-negotiable element of your travels.
What would be the point of settling in a place with an Internet connection so poor you can’t get any work done?
Safety
Safety is another critical element that you need to etch in your head when picking a long-term destination.
Even if the location offers the cheapest places for digital nomads or is typically a popular digital nomad scene, ask yourself: Will I truly be safe here?
The answer to this question is important, regardless of gender or sex. However, women must pay cognizance to this element.
Several studies confirm that (solo) female travelers are more susceptible to incidents of theft and sexual assault compared to their male counterparts. Because of this, you can’t take risks when picking a place you intend to make your home for the long haul.
Local (and Nomad) Community
Something else to keep in mind is what the local community is like.
Generally, you want a place with friendly locals who are willing to open their homes to you. Because you’ll be around for a long time, you’ll have to associate with and even depend on these people at some point. So, you need to ensure they’ll be willing to socialize.
You want to avoid places where strangers aren’t made to feel welcome or are even discriminated against.
Sure, there are other things that come to mind when picking a place to stay. But you don’t want issues relating to locals to crop up after investing so much in turning a place into your home.
Bear in mind that it will also be helpful if you seek out the local nomad community. The biggest difference between this community and local ones is that the nomad community would consist of people like you, me, and other expats. Sometimes, you might find a local or two in this group because of their profession as a remote worker.
Coworking Spaces (If Not Cafes)
You may also need to confirm if where you’ll be staying long-term will afford you good-quality coworking spaces. Coworking spaces might be necessary for you, depending on how you choose to work.
Check out these facilities if they’re readily available; otherwise, your work output may be compromised. Moreover, a coworking space is a good idea if you want to set up a work routine while traveling.
Weather
This all-important variable is often easy to overlook, especially when it doesn’t present itself in extremes initially. But even with this, I recommend that you look into how the destination’s weather conditions will likely be for the duration of your stay in that region.
A favorable climate is critical to ensuring you have a good experience wherever you stay, especially if you plan to stay around for a long time.

Digital Nomads Just Can’t Get Enough Of These Popular Destinations
Looking for the most popular digital nomad scenes of the year?
Below are my top picks!

#1 – Bali (Indonesia)
Kicking off the list is Bali, the magical land of Indonesia.
While I wouldn’t immediately count it among the cheapest places for digital nomads, you can still live on a shoestring here as there are plenty of affordable long-term stays and rent options to explore.
Also, the place has a fantastic array of cuisines, beautiful sightseeing locations, and, most importantly, warm and embracing locals. Not to mention, the massive digital nomad expat community in this location. Overall, you will blend in easily here.

#2 – Chiang Mai (Thailand)
Most digital nomad hubs will agree that this location is the perfect spot for remote workers who prefer a hassle-free and laid-back lifestyle. Bored of the beach? Choose Chiang Mai for its beautiful hills and mountains. You’re also guaranteed a grand time here with friendly locals, tropical climate, and decent English-speaking locals.
Did I mention that Chiang Mai is also a vegan’s haven? It’s so easy to live healthy here too.
That said, keep a few things in mind. The first is that, due to how hot it is for the most part, you may want to pack light when coming around. Throw in a few quick drying clothes and you’re good to go.
Also, you must be prepared to haggle in Chiang Mai because that’s how things work in this dreamy place! If you despise haggling like me, go to shops that display prices transparently. This way, you take the stress off and don’t have to worry about getting overcharged.

#3 – Medellin (Colombia)
It’s hard not to truly love a place where everyone looks genuinely happy to see you.
Aptly nicknamed the “City of Eternal Spring” because of the perfect weather that the region enjoys all year round, it doesn’t get much better than this beautiful little place.
Right off the bat, Medellin is one place with a little something for everyone. But one group of people likely to get even more out of the deal here are nature lovers.
This place boasts exquisite views of the mountains and astounding landscapes. There is also a broad range of gardens and parks that you can visit while away.

#4 – Lisbon (Portugal)
One of the most coveted digital nomad destinations right now– the beautiful city of Lisbon, has loads to offer you this year!
Beyond affording you a decent range of cafes and coworking spaces, there are plenty of sights to see and things to do here.
For the active digital nomad, you could climb and explore the Castle of Sao Jorge or visit the Terreiro do Paco. You can immerse yourself in the local culture even further by listening to the Fado, a style of music unique to this amazing region.

#5 – Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
Ho Chi Minh City is what you get when simplicity meets affordability.
If you’re on a budget this time and want to ensure this doesn’t damper your fun and experience, I suggest you visit this elegant Vietnamese city.
While you can run through it with fast travel, you’re certain to appreciate the unique charms of this place more when you take your time to see all that it has on display,
From the War Remnants Museum to the Jade Emperor Pagoda, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Cu Chi Tunnels, you’ve got loads and loads to see! And you can cap your sightseeing off by sampling the delectable cuisines found in abundance in District 4.
You’ll surely get one of your career’s richest and fullest experiences here. Oh, as for me, I really enjoy their high-speed Internet–making this spot one of my favorite digital nomad destinations!
Legal Considerations To Stay Out Of Trouble!
You’re all pumped up about picking your digital nomad destination now. Before you do, though, there are two important technical considerations to remember. These are:
Visa Regulations
Visa regulations describe a country’s rules and regulations regarding who may or may not be granted access to the nation’s borders.
Although it might seem like a relatively small affair, you must carefully consider the visa regulations of any region you plan to visit. Ensure that you understand what the country requires and are well-equipped to meet those demands.
Resident And Non-Resident Taxation
Another point you need to be crystal clear on is the tax expectations you must meet not just in the destination country but also in your home country.
For those who don’t have a head for numbers or fiscal matters generally, managing this aspect of things poses a challenge. Yet, it must be duly attended to as there are legal implications to not paying your taxes when due.
The good news here is that there are a few resources you can leverage to simplify matters for you.
Some of these include:
Start The Adventure Of Your Lifetime!
Take the bull by the horns today!
The first thing you need to do down that road is to avoid over-information, not timing your trip, poor budgeting, and other pitfalls when picking the right digital nomad destinations.
Instead, make sure you pick the best travel pattern, choose from an appropriate pool of options, consider the weather conditions, and always have a backup plan when choosing a location.
And if you are staying for the long haul, make sure you factor in stuff like the availability of coworking spaces, reliable internet connection, and affordable long-term stays and rent options.
With these in place, your adventure will be a splendid one indeed!
Popular Questions About Digital Nomad Destinations
What Makes A Digital Nomad Destination Perfect?
Several things make a destination perfect for digital nomads. At the top of this list is that the location should be readily accessible to the digital nomad. Also, it must have a reliable internet connection, an affordable cost of living, guaranteed safety, and a friendly local community.
What Are Some Of The Cheapest Places For Digital Nomads?
Nowadays, some of the cheapest places for digital nomads include Canggu, Budapest, Cambodia, Bangkok, and Medellin.
Other places that offer an equally affordable standard of living for mobile remote workers are Ho Chi Minh City, Bulgaria, and Colombia.
How Do I Find The Best Digital Nomad Community?
One of the best ways to find the right digital nomad community for you is to check online. There are a lot of great digital nomad hubs on Facebook, for example. Two of the most popular ones are Nomadbase and Female Digital Nomads.
You can also find helpful circles on Remote Year, and Nomadlist.
Is Your Budget An Important Factor When Picking A Digital Nomad Destination?
Yes, your budget is an important factor when picking a digital nomad location. However, there are different tips and tricks that you can employ to limit how significant the impact of this variable is on your choice of destination location.
Should I Get Travel Insurance As A Digital Nomad?
Yes, it would be best if you had travel insurance, especially as a digital nomad. The biggest reason for this is that you’ll be subjecting yourself to many unpredictable conditions. Having the backup of a good travel insurance policy ensures that you won’t feel the impact too severely when something unexpected happens.