This piece regarding how to locate digital nomad rentals and local accommodations for a month or beyond is authored by the writer of the leading guide on living abroad: A Better Life for Half the Price. It was refreshed in December, 2024.
Securing a short-term rental for a week or two is quite straightforward nowadays. Finding a rental for a year isn’t particularly difficult once you’ve arrived either. However, the option in between can be somewhat more challenging. As more individuals gain the ability to work remotely with their laptops, the local accommodations available for a one- to three-month duration remain limited and less than ideal.
I often receive a question, at least monthly, about my residence in Guanajuato or other locations mentioned in my living abroad guide, which is taken directly from blog comments:
Do you know of a place to stay for 30-60 days? Thank you.
No, genuinely, I can’t. Apologies. I’m not a realtor or property owner, and I have a full-time job. I can’t act as your assistant in searching for local accommodations for a month or two. I can indicate where to seek affordable housing for a month or more, but the rest is on you.
If you desire a reasonably priced place to stay anywhere globally, you’ll need to put in some effort. I do have a few suggestions for you.
If you have ample funds, the process is straightforward. You visit vacation rental platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo, choose a location that fits your budget, and that’s it. Most of these listings that aren’t primary residences provide a lower rate for monthly rentals compared to weekly ones. I frequently do this just to gauge the high end of the market.
In locations such as Tirana or Chiang Mai, it can still be quite affordable. In Geneva or Singapore, however, it’s a different situation if you’re in search of a reasonable apartment for a couple of months.
If your budget is tight, you must invest some time to discover the right rental for one to three months. Here are options to find local accommodations for a month or more.
1) Start with the obvious: vacation rental websites, monthly rates
If you’re pressed for time, seeking a broad selection, have flexibility with money, and prefer to set everything up from your couch with a laptop or tablet, just visit a vacation rental website like VRBO or Airbnb and reserve a place. Yes, you’ll pay significantly above the market price, but it’s incredibly easy. If your time is invaluable, simply go for it and secure exactly what you need.
If you explore beyond these well-known platforms, there are numerous regional agencies that focus on longer-term rentals, allowing you to avoid properties listed for both weekend and two-month rentals. I utilized one that exclusively caters to Bansko, Bulgaria and secured a fantastic apartment for €260 for the entire month, which went up to around €300 a year later, plus roughly €17 for electricity, billed later.
Mine was somewhat of an indulgence to gain extra space. Many locals I met were paying about €200 a month, which isn’t much for their highest living expenses in Bansko. Check out the agency’s current listings here.
So, it may benefit you to examine local Facebook groups or co-working spaces to see if something similar exists in the place where you