Digital nomads are going everywhere in 2018 — not just the hotspots.
So long as nomads have the internet, a place to work, and a place to call home, we can go anywhere in the world. So where are people going, and why? Much like I did in 2017, I’ve asked fellow nomads to answer four questions about where they’re going next:
- Why this city?
- What’s your anticipated cost of living per month? (in US dollars)
- How long do you plan to be there?
- Any cautions / downsides to note?
Whether you’re planning a trip for yourself or just curious about the next big place, read on!
Click on any point on the map and skip to that story, or just read straight through.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ prev_background_color=”#000000″ next_background_color=”#000000″][et_pb_fullwidth_map address=”Morocco” zoom_level=”2″ address_lat=”27.827432672112344″ address_lng=”-6.389495000000018″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″ child_filter_saturate=”100%”][et_pb_map_pin title=”Cape Town, South Africa” pin_address=”Cape Town, South Africa” pin_address_lat=”-33.9248685″ pin_address_lng=”18.424055299999964″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]
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[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Moscow, Russia” pin_address=”Moscow, Russia” pin_address_lat=”55.755826″ pin_address_lng=”37.617299900000035″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Skip to piece
[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Halong Bay, Vietnam” pin_address=”Hạ Long Bay, Thành phố Hạ Long, Quảng Ninh Province, Vietnam” pin_address_lat=”20.9100512″ pin_address_lng=”107.18390239999997″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]
[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Medellin, Colombia” pin_address=”Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia” pin_address_lat=”6.244203″ pin_address_lng=”-75.58121189999997″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Skip to piece
[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Chiang Mai, Thailand” pin_address=”Chiang Mai, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai, Thailand” pin_address_lat=”18.7060641″ pin_address_lng=”98.98171630000002″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Skip to piece
[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Lisbon, Portugal” pin_address=”Lisbon, Portugal” pin_address_lat=”38.7222524″ pin_address_lng=”-9.139336599999979″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Skip to piece
[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Arequipa, Peru” pin_address=”Arequipa, Peru” pin_address_lat=”-16.4090474″ pin_address_lng=”-71.53745099999998″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]
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[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”San Miguel de Allende, Mexico” pin_address=”San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico” pin_address_lat=”20.9144491″ pin_address_lng=”-100.74523499999998″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Skip to piece
[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Hoi An, Vietnam” pin_address=”Hội An, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam” pin_address_lat=”15.8800584″ pin_address_lng=”108.3380469″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Skip to piece
[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Bucharest, Romania” pin_address=”Bucharest, Romania” pin_address_lat=”44.4267674″ pin_address_lng=”26.102538399999958″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Skip to piece
[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Playa del Carmen, Mexico” pin_address=”Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico” pin_address_lat=”20.6295586″ pin_address_lng=”-87.07388509999998″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Skip to piece
[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Sofia, Bulgaria” pin_address=”Sofia, Bulgaria” pin_address_lat=”42.6977082″ pin_address_lng=”23.321867500000053″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Skip to piece
[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Barcelona, Spain” pin_address=”Barcelona, Spain” pin_address_lat=”41.3850639″ pin_address_lng=”2.1734034999999494″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Skip to piece
[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Bali, Indonesia” pin_address=”Bali, Indonesia” pin_address_lat=”-8.4095178″ pin_address_lng=”115.18891600000006″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Skip to piece
[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Tioman Island, Malaysia” pin_address=”Tioman Island, Mersing, Pahang, Malaysia” pin_address_lat=”2.7902494″ pin_address_lng=”104.16984630000002″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Skip to piece
[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Cairo, Egypt” pin_address=”Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt” pin_address_lat=”30.0444196″ pin_address_lng=”31.23571160000006″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Skip to piece
[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Kyoto, Japan” pin_address=”Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan” pin_address_lat=”35.0116363″ pin_address_lng=”135.76802939999993″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Skip to piece
[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Florianópolis, Brazil” pin_address=”Florianópolis – State of Santa Catarina, Brazil” pin_address_lat=”-27.5948698″ pin_address_lng=”-48.54821949999996″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Skip to piece
[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Tallinn, Estonia” pin_address=”Tallinn, Estonia” pin_address_lat=”59.43696079999999″ pin_address_lng=”24.753574699999945″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Skip to piece
[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia” pin_address=”Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia” pin_address_lat=”3.139003″ pin_address_lng=”101.68685499999992″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Skip to piece
[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Mumbai, India” pin_address=”Mumbai, Maharashtra, India” pin_address_lat=”19.0759837″ pin_address_lng=”72.87765590000004″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Skip to piece
[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Beirut, Lebanon” pin_address=”Beirut, Lebanon” pin_address_lat=”33.8937913″ pin_address_lng=”35.50177669999994″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Skip to piece
[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”Plovdiv, Bulgaria” pin_address=”Plovdiv, Bulgaria” pin_address_lat=”42.1354079″ pin_address_lng=”24.74529039999993″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Skip to piece
[/et_pb_map_pin][et_pb_map_pin title=”San Pancho, Mexico” pin_address=”San Francisco, Nay., Mexico” pin_address_lat=”20.8965838″ pin_address_lng=”-105.4093552″ _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Skip to piece
[/et_pb_map_pin][/et_pb_fullwidth_map][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ prev_background_color=”#000000″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Bansko” module_id=”bansko” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]
Bansko, Bulgaria
Bansko is Bulgaria’s biggest ski resort, about 2 hours from the capital, Sofia. But, we love Bansko outside of ski season. In the Pirin mountains, it’s glorious for hiking, mountain biking and fabulous scenery. Think 30 degrees daytime in the summer, and decent sunshine. It’s laid back and living costs are inexpensive in Bansko. In 2017 we spent 2 months in Bansko our costs including everything like utilities and food and drink and going out (but minus rental) were US$19 per person per day – and we ate out every other day. That’s about US$570 per month, plus rent costs.
Budget US$180 a month for a nice private apartment+ utilities. The coworking space offers deals too and there is also now a Co-living space! Internet speeds are pretty quick in apartments and super fast at Coworking Bansko.
We’ll be spending 6 months in Bansko in 2018 – perhaps catch a little spring skiing and then hiking in the Pirin and Rila foothills and mountains.
Sarah and Nigel write at asocialnomad.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Cape Town” module_id=”capetown” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Cape Town, South Africa
I’m moving back to Cape Town for 2 reasons. First off, I fell in love with the city when I stayed there for 4 months this year. Cape Town has lots of things to offer: endless list of adventures, world class restaurants and wines, world class beaches and awesome landscapes. Cape Town is a thriving first class city surrounded by amazing nature. And the second reason is, I met a guy there who is worth flying for ;)
I spent about $1800-$2000/ month but that’s only because I eat out a lot and take Uber cars. I was also renting a 2-BR apartment through Airbnb which makes it more expensive. Other people can live between $800-$1000 in Cape Town but this means scrimping from little luxuries such as occasional wine testing, eating out and decent apartment in good location. And if you’re a digital nomad, make sure to get an apartment with internet and not just mobile internet. Although the mobile data providers are fast and reliable, the problem is mobile data plans in South Africa are so expensive. You will pay about $8-$10/ gb on your data alone.
I’m planning to stay 3 months but I will probably extend again.
Cape Town is lovely. And it’s my number one favorite city right now which says a lot as I have travelled to a lot of awesome places. But as much as I love Cape Town, it has serious security issues “according to statistics”. Cape Town is one of the countries with highest murder rates outside of South America and South Africa as a whole has the second highest sexual assault cases in the world. I quoted “according to statistics” because these numbers are relative. I say relative because most of these crimes happened in townships (slums) where tourists and even locals don’t usually go to unless they live there.
Christine Rogador blogs at https://www.thetravellingpinoys.com.
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Lyon, France
The city we pick is Lyon, the 3rd largest in France and famous for being the country’s gastronomic capital.
Anticipated cost of living per month is around $2,000 to $3,000 for the two of us, with rent taking the large proportion of that.
We plan to live there for roughly 12 months and use it as a base to visit other destinations in Europe and in Asia in 2018. Lyon airport is well connected with many international flights to most destinations in Europe and further afield. Lyon also is connected with the Eurostar.
The main downside is the airport. It’s being refurbished so the whole “airport experience” is around 3-4 hours, and worse when there are strikes in France – another common problem here.
Stefan and Sebastien write at https://nomadicboys.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Moscow” module_id=”moscow” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Moscow, Russia
We’re going to Moscow for Football World cup. For us it won’t be expensive we’re planning to stay with friends and cook for ourselves. But if you need a budget accommodation there are many hostels in Moscow, price from US$7 per person. Public transport in Moscow is not expensive you can buy a transport card and one trip will cost you US$0,7. Add to this entrance fees, going out, food shopping etc. and you’ll get about US$500-600 per month.
We’ll probably stay for 10 days or two weeks depending on our Russian trip itinerary. Like during any big international sport event the city will be very busy though it’s always crazy and crowded. Everything has to be booked in advanced. Luckily we have some friends to stay with so no worries about accommodation. As well as tickets we’re planning to travel Russia so will be somewhere around before the World cup.
Stingy Nomads (Campbell & Alya) write at https://stingynomads.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Saranda” module_id=”saranda” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Saranda, Albania
Why Saranda, Albania? Albania is perfect for digital nomads as the internet is really reliable and it’s a paradise, located right on the beach! The prices are incredibly cheap (meals are €1-3) and the tourism is still relatively new here. Albania has a great climate, which is like Greece, so during the summer, it can get up to 40 degrees. Albanians are incredibly hospitable and friendly people who are always happy to help you.
Also, it is very safe in Albania so there’s no need to worry about pickpocketing or other petty crimes. For an apartment, it’s €150 a month and roughly an extra €50-80 for unlimited power, water, and WIFI. I cannot wait to work from this undiscovered paradise from March until October 2018, as I spent 4 months here this year doing the same!
Anita Hendrieka blogs over at www.anitahendrieka.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Zipolite” module_id=”zipolite” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Zipolite, Mexico
It’s a bit funny to call Zipolite a city; it’s a tiny little beach town on the Oaxacan coast of Mexico. The costs are incredibly low, and life is, well, beachy! My office is literally a table on the sand, with a long extension cord to plug me in (my tent does not come equipped with power, unfortunately… though who wants to roast in there when I can have this spectacular view of the waves from my “desk”?!) Plus, the whole beach is clothing optional, which is amazingly freeing, whether you want to go naked or not.
It costs around $4 a day to camp, plus around $80 a week in food. So that’d be hoovering around the $500 a month point. I’ll be here for at least four months – who likes winters?! Not me, and I grew up in the freezing of -40 C in Edmonton, Canada. I like sunshine.
Not particularly any cautions or downsides, except that sometimes the internet goes down for a brief period. I have a handy portable wifi device so if it’s out for long, I just turn that on, as it only costs me $8 a day. One day all the power in the town went out for half the day, and I was probably the only one in town with an internet connection. So the one downside can easily be fixed!
Danie writes at https://www.
Vienna, Austria
In early 2018 we’ll be headed to Vienna, Austria for several months. We plan on making this city our temporary home because it sits centrally in Europe and offers us a history-filled homebase from which to explore eastern Europe.
Another reason we chose it was because Vienna is one of the safest cities in Europe. Of course there is always a chance you could wander into a bad part of town, but we don’t expect this to be a problem.
Our anticipated cost per living in Vienna is $2000. For housing option, we plan on booking an Airbnb. And when it comes to food, we seldom go out to eat. We like to live as temporary locals and shop in the markets, so our goal is to make home cooked meals. When it comes to entertainment, we enjoy leisurely and historic walks – which most often tend to be free. We can’t wait to get there!
Check out the best backpacker hostels in Vienna to help save you some money in Austria.
Scott and Hayley write at www.internationalhotdish.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Halong Bay” module_id=”halongbay” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Halong Bay, Vietnam
We are heading to Halong Bay in northern Vietnam. We chose this place because of the natural beauty- we’ve seen it on TV many times (including Top Gear!) and we want to see it ourselves. It’s increasingly attracting tourists and we’d like to see it now in case in becomes really over-visited in the next few years.
We estimate our cost of living to be around $1800 USD as we are a family of six (three adults and three kids). We really are going into it fairly blind, just with a general knowledge of the cost of living around various parts of Asia and information from friends.
We plan to be around Halong Bay for a couple of weeks, before heading south and visiting coastal towns before crossing over to Cambodia when we get to the bottom of Vietnam. We have no tight plans and the only thing that dictates when we leave is our visas, so anything could happen!
Hmm.. after travelling in Bali and Thailand, I have to admit that I’m a little skeptical about the ease of finding food that our kids will take to quickly, and also finding vegan food for myself. The only caution I would highlight to other travellers is the risk of Zika, (pregnant women and those who plan on becoming pregnant are advised to stay away)- as we have no plans in that regard, we are all set!
Hannah writes at https://www.adventuretravelfamily.co.uk.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Medellin” module_id=”medellin” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Medellin, Colombia
We’ve hear Medellin, Colombia referred to as the “Chiang Mai” of South America, and if it is what they say it is (safe, inexpensive, good weather, good wifi, big expat community, and great cafes), then we’ll surely fall in love with Medellin as we did with Chiang Mai. We love places that are not only budget-friendly but also offer a high standard of living. Additionally, it will allow us to explore the neighboring countries, on short trips, at a low cost.
Here’s how we see our budget in Medellin. This is costs for one month for both of us together:
Rent (includes wifi and other utilities) $700, Phones $30, Groceries and eating out $850, Fun Stuff $300
Total: $1880 USD (probably closer to $2200 since we like to go on day trips)
We plan to live in Medellin for at least 3 months. If we enjoy it, we’ll most likely extend that to about a year and even bring our Cat, Milton, with us like we did in Chiang Mai! Although we realize Medellin has come a long way from is Pablo Escobar days, there’s still some worry about crime and safety.
Taiss Nowrouzi writes at TogetherToWherever.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Chiang Mai” module_id=”chiangmai” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Mai has the charm of a small city, but with all the conveniences that I had in Canada. There are good hospitals, shops that carry my favourite brands, and easy transportation. It’s easy to get around with English, making it ideal for my two-month stay in 2018. Thailand also has every data plan imaginable, with excellent coverage at cheap prices. When it comes to food, Chiang Mai has many options at reasonable prices. In fact, $700 per month is the estimated cost of living. Of course, not everything is perfect in Chiang Mai, especially if you have food sensitivities. In this case, researching restaurants and street vendors is vital since food standards are less strict in Thailand.
Nancy writes at enSquaredAired.com.
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Lisbon, Portugal
From a digital nomad’s perspective, Lisbon has completely changed from when I first moved there in 2013. Back then, there were very few digital nomads. Today, it’s one of the top digital nomad hotspots in Europe. Having spent some time living in the Algarve, I’m moving back there for a couple of months to see how life has changed.
While Lisbon’s new-found popularity has pushed the cost of living up, it’s still the most affordable capital city in Western Europe. A monthly rental on Airbnb (Wi-Fi and bills included) starts at around $950. As with anywhere, some owners are willing to negotiate for longer stays. A weekly shop (either at the market or a supermarket like Lidl) costs around $35 per week, bringing the total up to $1100 per month.
Eating out can be affordable, although prices have definitely gone up in the past few years. It’s still possible to get a coffee (bica) for as little as $0.60 and a cheap main meal for as little as $5-6, but I would expect to pay an average of $18 per person for a meal out.
In terms of cautions and downsides there are none worth mentioning. Portugal is one of the safest countries in the world, and the 300 days of sunshine that it gets each year make it a very enjoyable place to live.
James writes at the Worldwide Shopping Guide.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Arequipa” module_id=”arequipa” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Arequipa, Peru
Natalie writes at www.unbridled.de.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”San Miguel de Allende” module_id=”sanmiguel” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
My family and I can’t wait to visit San Miguel de Allende next year! We began ‘worldschooling’ in 2017, which is learning while we travel with our kids. Many families are choosing to worldschool, and San Miguel de Allende has become quite a hub for travelling families, so we are looking forward to meeting some new friends there.
We are also very keen to try all of the amazing food and explore the beautiful city. It is an affordable place, with tacos only 50 cents and restaurant meals less than USD$5. Pricing has increased along with it’s popularity, but compared to Australia or the US it is still very cheap.
Mexico has several very safe places we want to explore, so we will probably move on from San Miguel de Allende after a month or two. There are also some unsafe areas of course, but knowing so many travellers who rave about their time there, I am sure we are going to love it. Bring on 2018!
Emma Walmsley writes at www.smallfootprintsbigadventures.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Hoi An” module_id=”hoian” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Hoi An, Vietnam
We’re returning to Hoi An, Vietnam for a month or two because we love the old world charm, daily bike rides through rice fields, and the availability of cheap and amazing food. We’re planning to head back to the same homestay not far from the Old Town area, which includes a hotel-like suite in a family’s house, hot breakfast, bicycles, decent internet, and laundry for under $20 a night (or $350 for the month). Last year, our homestay hosts took us to visit their family’s village, gave us a free ride to see ancient temples, and taught us how to make spring rolls. This time around, we may rent our own scooter, but we still expect to spend under $700 a month.
We learned to always have a good rain poncho when out and about because the rain comes on fast and heavy – and though the riverside is nice, we also made sure to book our stay away from areas that typically flood.
Michelle writes at intentionaltravelers.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Bucharest” module_id=”bucharest” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]
Bucharest, Romania
After having spent more than a month there in the summer of 2017 I plan to make Bucharest, Romania my base for the summer of 2018.
The city has a lot to offer digital nomads- some of the fastest internet in the world, it’s well connected to the rest of Europe with budget airlines, a vibrant nightlife, tons of great restaurants, and an affordable cost of living.
Regarding cost of living, I would think you could easily live in Romania for $1000 USD month. I had no issues with my monthly budget of $1500/mo and that covered a large apartment in the downtown area, eating out every meal, and going out with friends for drinks most nights.
The only potential downside I could see would be the winters, which look brutal and also why I plan to only stay during the spring/summer.
Nathan Aguilera writes at www.foodieflashpacker.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Playa del Carmen” module_id=”playa” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Playa del Carmen, Mexico
We chose to use Playa del Carmen as a temporary home base, staying here for a total of 18 months (spread out over 2 years). We love it here for many reasons:
- warm, friendly culture
- great weather and access to nice beaches
- availability of co-working spaces in town with high-speed internet that we can depend on
- digital nomad families regularly pass through, so there are opportunities for meet-ups
- reasonable cost of living (our family of four spends about $2400/mo)
- there are lots of great things to see in the area, such as Chichen Itza (a Unesco World Heritage site)
One downside is that medical care here can be pricier than you might expect if something really serious happens to you. Although the public system is said to be affordable and provide high quality care in some parts of Mexico, we’ve been told that in Playa you should stick to private hospitals. But, the private hospitals in this area have a bad reputation for charging very high prices to non-residents. For this reason, it’s a good idea to have a decent health insurance policy to cover you.”
Sheralyn writes at https://www.paradise-found-in-maui.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Sofia, Bulgaria” module_id=”sofia” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Sofia, Bulgaria
Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital, is one of my favorite spots in Europe. Most importantly for the digital nomad, it’s full of cafés with cheap coffee and excellent wifi. The cost of living is low to boot, making it great for those with tight budgets: I spent $350 on an Airbnb for a month and spent another $400 or so on food, drinks, day trips, and incidentals. I’ll be based there for about half the year — one of the other reasons Sofia is great is because Bulgaria is outside of the Schengen Zone. That means that even non-EU citizens can stay for up to 90 days out of every 180 without a special visa. Bulgaria is still a developing country, so there are some things that may be shocking to someone new to the Balkans. Issues with litter and stray animals and streets in need of repair are common, but Sofia is incredibly safe, vibrant, fun, and friendly. Luckily, Sofia is pretty much as close to the mountains as you can get. Whenever city life gets to be too much, you can be hiking on a 2300 meter mountain in about 30 minutes!
Allison Green writes about day trips at eternalarrival.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Barcelona, Spain” module_id=”barcelona” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Barcelona, Spain
The city of Barcelona is alive, it is a character a protagonist onto itself. You can feel the life of Barcelona as you walk through its medieval old town with it’s small cobblestone streets and antique Mediterranean stone buildings. You can feel the exquisite architecture and art in this cosmopolitan city.
To also be located on the Ocean is a treat. Within minutes, you can windsurf, swim, paddle board, etc in the ocean. Or, simply sit on the shore and watch as the mediterranean sea crashes onto the shore. The lovely people, food and culture buzzing around you adds to the great feeling of Beautiful Barcelona.
Barcelona also has a great public transportation system, a growing startup ecosystem, and beautiful weather. These are some of the reasons why living in Barcelona is a great experience and it’s why we plan on staying here for the foreseeable future.
The cost of living in Barcelona is about $1,500 per month for one person. This means you can either rent a complete apartment to yourself outside of the city center or share a nice apartment in the city center. This includes all home expenses as well as going out, and enjoying the many activities of the city.
The downsides of living in Barcelona: the massive amounts of tourists that pass through Barcelona can be overwhelming. Also, getting all your paperwork in order to live and work in Barcelona can be very frustrating. If you’re going to do it, enlist help and have patience.
If you can deal with the tourists and the bureaucracy, Barcelona is a great place to live.
Amy Cancryn writes at mykidsintow.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Bali, Indonesia” module_id=”bali” _builder_version=”3.4.1″]Bali, Indonesia
In 2018, I am heading to Bali again to stay put for a couple months. To me it is the ultimate digital nomad destination. I love the islands lifestyle: good and healthy food, driving around on a scooter, green, inspirational, magical, spiritual, fantastic local people and such a vibrant expat community! Cost of living never exceeds more than $1,000 USD per month and for that money I live in a huge shared villa eat out 4 times a day, get some drinks in the evenings, work in co-working spaces or lovely coffee shops and go on cool trips around Bali and the nearby little islands. One of the downsides is the visa process as you only get a 1-month visa and an extension cost a bunch of money, time and effort. If you’re looking for loads of inspiration, check out this post on 101 awesome things to do in Bali with kids.
If you are heading to Bali, check out our guide to the best hostels in Ubud!
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Tioman Island, Malaysia” module_id=”tioman” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Tioman Island, Malaysia
While being a digital nomad in a thriving metropolis is great and Uber convenient (pun intended), an island break is always welcome. In 2018 I’m taking a month working break on Tioman Island, off the East coast of Mersing in Malaysia. I want to get my PADI and I know that Tioman is the perfect place to learn to dive.
Budget accommodation is fairly cheap (roughly $18/day), you can have a seafood BBQ feast for around $10-15 and internet is abundant (on XPAX you can get 15GB for $20). Bonus – it’s also a tax-free island. One of the downsides of being on an island is internet connectivity, which can be sporadic at times. When there are issues with the one cable that runs the entire island, everyone loses reception. But it’s a small price to pay to start your day off snorkeling with ancient turtles in a diver’s heaven.
Callan Wienburg writes at https://www.singaporenbeyond.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Cairo, Egypt” module_id=”cairo” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Cairo, Egypt
In 2018 I will be heading back to one of my favourite countries, Egypt, and will be basing myself in the capital Cairo for an extended period of time.
Egypt may be a surprising destination for most as it has had a lot of bad press over the last few years, with so much scaremongering and fear being peddled about terrorism and inaccurate reports of the whole country being unsafe, to the point where Egypt’s tourism industry has been absolutely decimated. 2018 is time to change everyone’s perceptions on that and Cairo makes for a perfect base.
Apart from being just a stones throw away from some of the worlds premier tourist attractions and the only remaining ancient wonder of the world (and almost no tourists around to see them), Cairo is a great travel hub to get to anywhere else in the country including my second favourite part of Egypt, Alexandria (where I will probably spend quite a bit of time too). It is also extremely cheap, with costs for food, private accommodation, travel and a few other essentials averaging out at around $750 to $1000 a month living quite comfortably. That cost can go down if you skip a few comforts.
Michael Huxley writes at bemusedbackpacker.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Kyoto, Japan” module_id=”kyoto” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]
Kyoto, Japan
Japan is a special place so unique and special to other countries in the world. There are many wonderful cities, but my all-time favorite to spend time in is Kyoto. That’s why I am heading there in 2018 to live for a few months.
Why Kyoto? Well for one Japan has solid internet connection, which is exactly what digital nomads need. The city is the center of Japanese culture and there is plenty to immerse yourself in. From temples and shrines to delicious Japanese food it’s hard to ever get bored.
Not only is the culture exciting, but there are plenty of outdoor activities to get involved in. I can’t wait to go hiking on Nakasendo Trail or meditate in the bamboo grove.
Kyoto is also less than two hours from Kansai International Airport, which services flights all around Asia. My goal for 2018 is to explore for of Asia and to do that I need to base myself near an efficient airport.
The bad thing about Kyoto is that it isn’t cheap. I anticipate my costs for living to be between $1300-$1500. This is with a full apartment that I split with my spouse. There are certainly cheaper places in the world to live, but as it is my dream to experience more of Japan I am willing to pay the price.
I plan to stay in Kyoto around three months. Japan gives most foreigners a 90-day visa on arrival, and I think that is the perfect amount of time to stay in a country and decide if it’s right for you or not.
The only downside of living in Japan is the cost. Japan is not a cheap country to live or travel in and is about on par with living in the United States.
Natasha and Cameron write at theworldpursuit.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Florianópolis, Brazil” module_id=”florianopolis” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Florianópolis, Brazil
Why Florianópolis? Well first of all, business. One of our offices is very close to Florianópolis, a beach destination in southern Brazil. Secondly, because it is one of the most beautiful places in Brazil, made up of 42 beaches, with lovely weather for most of the year.
We love Florianópolis is because it has such a chilled out surf vibe with loads of quirky shops, cafés and eateries to sit down in and get stuff done. It’s also one of the safest, most developed cities in Brazil… and did I mention the beaches were beautiful? In terms of internet reliability, not the best. But you’ll find that’s the case throughout most of Brazil. You walk into a café, ask if they have WiFi, they do – cool, you sit down, order a coffee, open your laptop only to find the internet doesn’t work at all. In some cases, though, you’ll find luck.
Rent is roughly $1,000 a month, and then we’ve got transport and entertainment as well. I’d say we’ll spend around the $1,800 mark for 2 adults and a baby. It is Brazil so you do still need to be wary when you’re out on the streets. You know, basic things like not waving your new iPhone around or leaving your bag unattended. It can also get really busy with tourists during the summer months. Go in March if you want a quieter, more relaxed experience.
Florianópolis is a fantastic city for digital nomads, so if you’re heading this way, put it on your itinerary!
Hannah Finch writes at storyv.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Tallinn” module_id=”tallinn” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Tallinn, Estonia
The northernmost of the Baltic states has recently positioned itself as a top Digital Nomad destination. Perhaps Estonia doesn’t have the most desirable climate. Instead, Estonia does something that’s currently unique in the world: the government offers e-residency and the opportunity to open a business to any human on Earth. This piques the curiosity of us wandering entrepreneurs, who tread the legal grey-area of not having a fixed home.
This beautifully compact city I’ve once visited before also has an interesting start-up scene I’m determined to check out. As I’ll be hitchhiking around the country for about one month – and totally winging it – I guesstimate my daily costs inside the ‘expensive’ capital city to be below $15 per day, or under $450 per month.
Iris writes at mindofahitchhiker.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia” module_id=”kuala” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Why Kuala Lumpur? There are three main reasons: English is widely spoken, they have fast internet and really delicious food! What three things could a digital nomad family want more? People in Malaysia are very friendly and great with kids which is well suited to us as we are travelling with a 9year old and a 4-month old baby. What really drew us towards Kuala Lumpur was the cheap connections to other Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam for as little as $25. Malaysia also has many National parks with beautiful scenery to visit.
For around USD$1,500-2,000/month, you can live quite comfortably in the city. Eating out is around $4-$8 per person for a generous meal, there are many street food vendors which sell amazing foods so you’ll be spoilt for choice. Taxis are very cheap as well as clothing and weekend activities to national parks and beaches on the coast. One downside is the cost of alcohol as a Muslim country, but for us it doesn’t matter as we don’t drink.
We are planning to spend a month in Malaysia this year before heading off to see the beaches of Southern Thailand and then up to the North in the jungle as well as other countries. We will be hoping back and forth the Kuala Lumpur as our main base in SE Asia.
Tina Louise writes at singlemumtravels.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Utrecht, Netherlands” module_id=”utrecht” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]
Utrecht, Netherlands
I decided on Utrecht and the Netherlands as a whole for a number of reasons. Mostly, it’s because I find the Netherlands to be highly progressive (in most cities) in terms of gender equality and social programs, which I really appreciate. It seems like a perfect student city to live in, that has a lot going on and a lot to discover in terms of Dutch culture.
I plan to find a sublet in a share house, so my rent should be somewhere around 500€/month with WiFi included. I expect to spend another 400-500€ on food per month. For living comfortably, but with budget-friendly choices in mind, I expect to be able to live for around 1200-1500€ per month as a solo nomad.
I’m going to be living in Utrecht for a month or so to begin with, but I could be staying up to two or three months depending on how much I like it. It would be a great base to get around other parts of Europe cheaply. Besides the weather, the drawbacks to Utrecht seem to be minimal. Since I’m staying for under three months and I work completely remotely for my own business, I don’t need to apply for a visa ahead of time.
Mimi McFadden writes at theatlasheart.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Mumbai, India” module_id=”mumbai” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Mumbai, India
If you’re looking to move somewhere away from the mundane, then Mumbai is the place to be! Other than buzzing with culture, lots of events and good nightlife, it’s an ideal place for a digital nomad as, if you stay a little on the outskirts of the city, it costs cheaper, and you can easily get to the city by making use of a variety of public transport options.
There’s no shortage of budget restaurants nor shopping and the flight connectivity is amazing! The neighbouring cities are great to explore as well and can be got to quickly. The anticipated cost of living is approximately $400 – $450 per month, inclusive of the expenses for a one-bed apartment, food and transportation.
I plan to be there for approximately 3-4 months. The only downside is that it does get difficult to move about during the monsoons as the rains can be very unpredictable and if you rely on public transport there can be massive delays. Electricity cuts frequently happen as well during the monsoons although they last only for a few hours. During the other times of the year, these issues are rare.
Lavina Dsouza writes at https://www.continenthop.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Beirut, Lebanon” module_id=”beirut” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]
Beirut, Lebanon
Beirut has a great, young vibe and lies directly at the Mediterranean coast. It’s not overcrowded by other bloggers and digital nomads. So the atmosphere working there is quite intimate. I would say the cost of living is something between 900 and 1200 US dollars.
I’ll be there for about a month, at least. The neighboring countries are not the quietest ones, however. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south. One surely has to have an eye on the latest news inside the country as well, as the country has been facing difficulties with Saudi Arabia lately.
Clemens Sehi writes at travellersarchive.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Plovdiv, Bulgaria” module_id=”plovdiv” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]Plovdiv, Bulgaria
f you’re looking for a relatively unknown digital nomad hub in 2018 then Plovdiv, Bulgaria is the place to go. Located less than two hours from the already well established capital of Sofia, Plovdiv has everything you need to set up base for a couple of months of work. It’s also cheap and the internet is incredibly fast! Renting our own studio apartment in the center of Plovdiv cost us around $400 for the month, which came with a small kitchen and fully furnished. In 2016 we spent 2 months living in Plovdiv, which was the perfect amount of time. The town is cute and has some historical elements right in the middle of town that are interesting to explore. There’s an up and coming hipster type area that is emerging with some cool cafes and bars that will keep you occupied during the day and night. In 2018 we’re thinking about heading back to our little apartment, so if you’re thinking of Plovdiv you should get yourself there. We can split a 2L plastic bottle of beer together!
Jules writes at dontforgettomove.com.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”San Pancho, Mexico” module_id=”sanpancho” _builder_version=”3.0.90″]
San Pancho, Mexico
San Pancho, otherwise known as San Fransisco has a population of 2000 people and sits in the state of Tepic, Mexico. It has the perfect beach to surf, sunsets to inspire, apartments, internet cafes, yoga and Pilates. Surround by jungle it has a good traveller, expat vibe to it. The travel community is dynamic and active, but you will also find artists, musicians and bakers. Live music, people bustling, tacos, ceviche. One of the biggest celebrations is NYE, dancing in the street, carnival style. See the sunset, watch baby turtles crawl into the sea. With Sayulita around the corner and Puerto Vallarta an hour away, you are in the perfect location.
The downside can be the tourism, just like any place. Some cash machines can be dodgy, always ask before. This is the next place for your digital nomad. Time to go: December – April. Cost of living per month would be around $450.
Alex Gibb writes at sz-jinxinyuan.com.
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