This piece regarding locating digital nomad rentals and local housing for durations of a month or longer is penned by the author of the leading book on living abroad: A Better Life for Half the Price. The content was last revised in December, 2024.
Nowadays, finding a short-term rental for a week or two is quite straightforward. Securing a rental for a year isn’t overly challenging once you arrive. However, the option in between can prove a bit more difficult. Even though a growing number of individuals can work remotely from their laptops, the local accommodations available for stays of one to three months are still not ideal or plentiful.
I frequently receive a question, at least monthly, about my residence in Guanajuato or regarding other locations featured in my living abroad guide, often drawn directly from blog comments:
Could you suggest a place to stay for 30-60 days? Thank you.
No, I genuinely cannot. Apologies. I’m neither a real estate professional nor a property owner, and I work full-time. I cannot take on the role of your assistant in finding local rentals for a month or two. I can indicate where to search for affordable accommodations for a month or more, but the rest is up to you.
If you’re looking for a nice place to stay at a fair price anywhere in the world, it will require some effort on your part. However, I do have some suggestions.
If your budget is substantial, it’s quite simple. Just visit vacation rental websites like Airbnb or Vrbo, select a suitable place that won’t empty your wallet, and you’re all set. Many that aren’t a primary residence offer a lower rate for monthly rentals compared to weekly ones. I regularly do this just to gauge what the top end of the market looks like.
In locations like Tirana or Chiang Mai, it can still be quite a deal. However, in Geneva or Singapore, the scenario shifts significantly if you’re attempting to find a reasonable apartment for a couple of months.
If you’re not wealthy, you’ll need to dedicate some time to discover the ideal rental for one to three months. Here are your avenues for finding local accommodation for a month or longer.
1) Begin with the basics: vacation rental platforms, monthly pricing
If you’re pressed for time, desire a broad range of choices, have a flexible budget, and prefer to arrange everything from your couch with your laptop or tablet at hand, simply head to a vacation rental platform such as VRBO or Airbnb and reserve something. Certainly, you’ll be paying significantly more than the market average, but it’s incredibly convenient. If your time is exceedingly valuable, just go ahead and secure exactly what you seek.
If you explore beyond these well-established platforms, numerous regional agencies focus on long-term rentals, preventing you from encountering listings for a weekend and for two months at the same property. I used a service that caters exclusively to Bansko, Bulgaria and secured a fantastic apartment for €260 for an entire month, then about €300 the following year, with an additional fee of about €17 for electricity, billed afterward.
My choice was somewhat of a luxury to gain extra space. Many locals I encountered were paying around €200 a month, which is quite low for their highest living expense in Bansko. Check the agency’s current listings here.
It can be beneficial to explore local Facebook groups or co-working spaces to see if something similar exists in the location where you