If you’re working from a distance or managing a business but not excessively wealthy, where you decide to set up your laptop can significantly influence your monthly expenses. Fortunately, some of the top digital nomad locations are where you can effectively maximize your dollars or euros. In numerous instances, you’ll spend half or even less than what it would cost you to reside in your home country.
As the writer of *The World’s Most Affordable Destinations*, now in its 5th edition, I possess some knowledge about where to find great travel deals worldwide. Additionally, as the author of *A Better Life for Half the Price*, now in its 2nd edition, I’ve conversed with countless expats regarding their expenditures in their places of residency. Some have settled down, but others travel around spending a few months here and there as digital nomads.
I fall somewhere in between, having a home base in Mexico yet spending several months annually in various locations. This is sometimes called a hub and spoke model and can be significantly less exhausting than living out of a backpack or suitcase continuously throughout the year. Occasionally nomadic, yet occasionally with a home base.
Two years back, I spent over four months in Europe and a month in Thailand. This past year, I spent two months in Europe and a few weeks in different regions of Mexico, also making trips to Costa Rica, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, and Panama, where I continued to work for at least a few days.
Costs can vary considerably among the destinations you might select. A typical train or bus trip from Oslo to Trondheim will set you back at least $85, while a [VIP bus from Bangkok to Phuket](https://siamtickets.com/vip-bus-bangkok-to-phuket/) can cost as little as $36 over a longer distance.
A pint of beer in a bar in Singapore may cost you $8, but in Prague or Sofia, it will likely be around $2.50. (And it tends to taste better.) Groceries that go for a dollar a kilo in Mexico or Colombia can cost you three times that amount in the USA or Canada.
With that in consideration, here are some favored digital nomad spots where the “basic needs” are already established, but the living costs are quite low if you’re earning in US dollars, euros, or pounds sterling. Most of my audience hails from North America, so I typically tailor information for them. Nonetheless, UK passport holders can discover more details in this post: [https://www.ontrailvisa.co.uk/news/british-digital-nomads](https://www.ontrailvisa.co.uk/news/british-digital-nomads)
What are those necessities, the essential items for individuals working remotely? Various traveling professionals have different requirements, but some are universally acknowledged. To appeal to individuals who can work from any location, you generally need the following:
1) Fast internet
2) Reasonably priced short-term rentals
3) Good places to eat and drink
4) Some other like-minded individuals to socialize with who speak a common international language.
Good weather is a plus, plenty of activities when you’re off the clock is beneficial, and the option to stay longer than a month is crucial—though Bali manages to attract the veggie yoga crowd in large numbers without that consideration.
Some may argue that co-working spaces are essential, though many serious remote business owners seldom step foot in one, including myself. I’ve observed that they attract solo travelers looking for companionship more than couples or families.
Nevertheless, you’ll find co-working spaces and all the other features in these 9 appealing countries, alongside prices that are approachable even for those just beginning to launch their business.
## Thailand, the Original Digital Nomad Hub
It’s challenging to discuss the history of backpackers and digital nomads without revisiting Thailand. One podcast aimed at remote entrepreneurs describes Chiang Mai as “the freshman dorm of online business ownership.” It has been a beloved meeting point for individuals starting an online business for nearly as long as the concept has existed.
Now, remote workers and business owners have diversified to Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Ko Samui, and several other islands, in a nation where you can reside almost anywhere with quick internet access. What Thailand offers, which many other places lack, is an abundance of *fun*. Beaches, fantastic nightlife, lively cities, superb cuisine… it’s hard to be in Thailand and not revel in the experience.
The significant downside amid the enjoyment and reasonable prices has always been the hassle of staying put. Border runs have been common for two decades and that becomes tedious after some time, having to leave every couple of months merely for a visa stamp. Thankfully [it’s becoming easier to live in Thailand now](https://www.cheapestdestinationsblog.com/2024/12/11/live