If you’re working from a distance or managing a business and your finances are limited, the location where you open your laptop can significantly affect your monthly expenses. Fortunately, many of the top spots for digital nomads are places where you can truly maximize your dollars or euros. Often, you’ll find that your spending can be half or less than what you would incur in your home country.
As the author of *The World’s Cheapest Destinations*, now in its 5th edition, I possess insights into where the best travel bargains are available worldwide. Additionally, as the author of *A Better Life for Half the Price*, in its 2nd edition, I’ve engaged with numerous expats about their living expenses. Some have established roots, while others wander, spending a few months in one place and a few months elsewhere as digital nomads.
I find myself somewhat between these two lifestyles, with a base in Mexico and several months annually spent in various other locations. This might be described as a hub and spoke model, which can be significantly less exhausting than continuously living from a backpack or suitcase throughout the entire year. Sometimes I’m nomadic; at other times, I have a stable home base.
Two years ago, I enjoyed over four months in Europe and spent a month in Thailand. This past year, I was in Europe for two months and spent several weeks in various regions of Mexico while also traveling to Costa Rica, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, and Panama, where I continued working for at least a few days.
Costs can differ dramatically between various destinations you might consider. A standard train or bus journey 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/) may be as low as $36 for a longer route.
In Singapore, a pint of beer might be priced at $8, while in Prague or Sofia, it’s likely around $2.50. (And the taste is generally better.) Grocery prices, which can be a dollar a kilo in Mexico or Colombia, may reach three times that amount in the USA or Canada.
Bearing this in mind, here are some well-liked digital nomad destinations where the fundamental necessities are in place and the living costs are remarkably low if you earn in US dollars, euros, or pounds sterling.
What are those essentials for individuals working remotely? While different itinerant workers have distinct requirements, several are common. To attract individuals who can work from any location, you typically need the following:
1) High-speed internet
2) Affordably priced short-term rentals
3) Acceptable dining and drinking options
4) A community of like-minded people with whom to connect and communicate in a shared international language.
Favorable weather conditions, plentiful activities for your free time, and the possibility of staying for more than a month are significant—although Bali manages to draw in the veggie yoga crowd by the thousands despite lacking that element.
Some might argue that co-working spaces are vital, though quite a few serious remote entrepreneurs rarely set foot in one, myself included. I’ve noticed that they tend to attract solo travelers looking for companionship rather than those travelling as couples or families.
Nonetheless, you’ll find co-working spaces along with other appealing features in these 9 desirable countries, plus costs that even someone at the beginning stage of launching their business can manage.
## Thailand, the Original Digital Nomad Hotspot
It’s challenging to discuss the history of backpackers and digital nomads without revisiting Thailand. A podcast for remote entrepreneurs refers to Chiang Mai as “the freshman dorm of online business ownership.” For as long as there have been online ventures, it has been a preferred meeting spot for individuals embarking on such paths.
In recent years, remote workers and entrepreneurs have expanded to Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Ko Samui, and several other islands, in a nation where you can find fast internet almost everywhere. What sets Thailand apart from many other locations is its abundance of *fun*. With beaches, vibrant nightlife, lively cities, and fantastic cuisine, it’s hard not to enjoy yourself in Thailand.
The primary downside amid all this enjoyment and affordability has traditionally been the hassle of staying long-term. Border runs have been a routine for two decades and can become tiresome after a while, requiring exits every two to three months just to obtain a visa stamp. Fortunately, [it’s becoming easier to reside in Thailand now](https://www.cheapestdestinationsblog.com/2024/12/11/live-in-thailand-more-easily/) due to a new multi-entry visa good for five years.
Expect to budget around $300 to $800 for monthly rent unless you’re indulging, and here’s a summary of [travel prices in Thailand](https://www.cheapestdestinationsblog.com/2023/01/11/trip-to-thailand).