This piece on discovering digital nomad rentals and local lodgings for a month or more comes from the author of the leading book on living abroad: A Better Life for Half the Price. It was revised in December, 2024.
Locating a short-term apartment for a week or two is quite straightforward these days. Securing a rental for a year isn’t particularly challenging either once you’ve arrived. However, the option in between can prove a bit trickier. As more individuals gain the ability to work remotely with their laptops, suitable local accommodations for a one- to three-month stay remain somewhat limited and less than ideal.
I often receive a question at least once a month related to my residence in Guanajuato or other locations covered in my living abroad book, particularly this one taken directly from blog comments:
Can you suggest a place for 30-60 days? Thanks.
No, I truly can’t. Apologies. I’m neither a real estate professional nor a landlord, and I work full-time. I can’t assist in finding local accommodation for a month or two. I can indicate where you might seek affordable housing for a month or more, but after that, it’s in your hands.
If you desire a respectable place to stay at a reasonable price, anywhere globally, you’ll need to put in some effort. However, I have some suggestions for you.
If you have plenty of money, it’s straightforward. You visit vacation rental platforms such as Airbnb or Vrbo, select an option that won’t exhaust your budget, and you’re set. Most listings that aren’t primary residences generally offer a lower price for monthly rentals compared to weekly ones. I frequently do this just to gauge what the higher end of the market appears like.
In cities like Tirana or Chiang Mai, this can still be a considerable deal. In Geneva or Singapore, however, finding a reasonably priced apartment for a couple of months is a different scenario.
If you’re not wealthy, you’ll need to dedicate some time to discovering the right rental for one to three months. Here are your alternatives to secure local accommodations for a month or more.
1) Begin with the obvious: vacation rental platforms, monthly rates
If you’re pressed for time, desire a broad selection, aren’t on a tight budget, and wish to organize everything from the comfort of your couch with a laptop or tablet, just head to a vacation rental site like VRBO or Airbnb and make a booking. Yes, you’ll likely pay significantly more than the market rate, but it’s incredibly convenient. If your time is valuable, just go ahead and acquire precisely what you want.
If you look beyond these established players, there are numerous local agencies that focus on long-term rentals, ensuring you’re not viewing properties listed for both a weekend and two months at the same location. I utilized one that exclusively operates in Bansko, Bulgaria, and secured an excellent apartment for €260 for an entire month, which increased to around €300 a year later, plus about €17 for electricity, billed afterward.
Mine was somewhat of a splurge to gain extra space. Many residents I encountered were paying around €200 per month, not a significant amount for their highest monthly expense while living in Bansko. You can find the agency’s current listings here.
Thus, it may be beneficial to check local Facebook groups or co-working spaces to see if similar options exist in the area where you