Digital Nomads: The Best Places to Work and Travel

Pack your laptop, explore the world: how to get started with location-independent work.

1. What Are Digital Nomads?

Digital nomads are people who work remotely while travelling the world. This is made possible by jobs that require only a laptop and a stable internet connection: software development, graphic design, online marketing, writing, translation or e-commerce.

The lifestyle has spread massively since 2020. Estimates suggest there are over 35 million digital nomads worldwide – and the number is growing.

Important: Digital nomads are not permanent tourists. They work regularly, pay taxes and organise their lives independently.

2. The 10 Best Places for Digital Nomads

What matters: fast internet, affordable living costs, coworking infrastructure, safety and quality of life.

Bali, Indonesia

The classic. Canggu and Ubud offer a dense coworking scene, affordable living (from 800–1,200 EUR/month), tropical climate and a huge community. Since 2024 there is a B211A Remote Worker Visa for up to 6 months.

Lisbon, Portugal

Europe's nomad capital. Excellent internet (fibre almost everywhere), mild climate, fantastic food and a vibrant tech scene. Living costs: 1,500–2,200 EUR/month. Portugal offers the D7 visa for remote workers.

Medellin, Colombia

The 'City of Eternal Spring' with year-round 22–28 degrees, low costs (900–1,400 EUR/month) and warm culture. El Poblado is the epicentre of the nomad scene.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

A magnet for over a decade. Extremely affordable (600–1,000 EUR/month), excellent street food and one of the largest nomad communities worldwide.

Tenerife, Spain

A European hidden gem with year-round mild climate (20–28 degrees). EU time zone, fast internet, no visa issues for EU citizens. 1,200–1,800 EUR/month.

Budapest, Hungary

One of Europe's most affordable capitals. Fast internet, thermal baths, vibrant nightlife. 1,000–1,600 EUR/month.

Bangkok, Thailand

Paradise for urban nomads. State-of-the-art coworking spaces, unbeatable food scene. 800–1,500 EUR/month.

Mexico City, Mexico

Cultural richness, first-class cuisine and a booming startup scene. Roma Norte and Condesa are the nomad neighbourhoods. 1,000–1,800 EUR/month. 180 days visa-free.

Cape Town, South Africa

Stunning nature and a favourable exchange rate. Time zone compatible with Europe. 1,000–1,700 EUR/month.

Tbilisi, Georgia

The rising star. Visa-free for one year, extremely low costs (600–1,000 EUR/month), 'Remotely from Georgia' programme and 1% flat tax for small businesses.

3. Coworking Spaces: Your Mobile Office

Coworking spaces offer fast internet, ergonomic workstations, networking and community events.

Day pass: 5–25 EUR depending on country
Monthly pass: 50–200 EUR – worthwhile from one week
Hot desk: Flexible seat, cheaper
Dedicated desk: Your own spot with lockable storage
Private office: For teams or frequent video calls

Platforms like Coworker.com, Croissant and Nomad List help with the search.

4. Internet and Wi-Fi: The Lifeline

No stable internet, no remote work:

Speed test before booking: Ask the landlord for concrete speeds
Local SIM card: Always buy a prepaid SIM as backup
eSIM: Services like Airalo or Holafly – activation in minutes
Minimum speed: 10 Mbit/s upload for video calls, 25 Mbit/s download for normal work
VPN: NordVPN, ExpressVPN or Mullvad for security
Mobile hotspot: A small GL.iNet router with local SIM as ultimate backup

5. Digital Nomad Visas: Working Abroad Legally

There are now over 50 countries with special remote work visas:

Portugal (D7): Residence indefinitely renewable
Spain (Digital Nomad Visa): Up to 5 years, 2,520 EUR/month
Croatia: 1 year, tax-exempt, 2,540 EUR/month
Georgia (Remotely from Georgia): 1 year, no minimum income
Estonia: Up to 1 year, 4,500 EUR/month
Indonesia (B211A): Up to 6 months, specifically for remote workers
Thailand (LTR): Up to 10 years, highly skilled remote workers
Barbados (Welcome Stamp): 1 year, 50,000 USD/year

Important: A regular tourist visa does not officially permit working in most countries – not even remotely.

6. Taxes as a Digital Nomad

The tax topic is complex but solvable:

Keep residence in Germany: Full German tax liability
Deregister from Germany: No more German tax liability, but need a new tax residence
183-day rule: After 183 days in a country, potentially tax-resident there
Popular tax locations: Georgia (1%), Cyprus (12.5%), Dubai (0%), Portugal (NHR)

Definitely consult a tax adviser specialising in expats.

7. Health Insurance for Nomads

For digital nomads there are specialised international health insurances:

SafetyWing Nomad Insurance: From approx. 45 USD/month, designed for nomads
World Nomads: Flexible travel insurance with adventure options
Genki (Dr. Walter): German provider, from approx. 60 EUR/month
Foyer Global Health: Comprehensive expat insurance
BDAE: German provider with worldwide long-term health insurance

What to look for: Emergency repatriation, dental treatment, pre-existing conditions and whether your home country is covered.

8. The Right Equipment

Your equipment is your capital:

Laptop: Light, powerful – MacBook Air/Pro, ThinkPad X1 or Dell XPS 13
Noise-cancelling headphones: Sony WH-1000XM5 or AirPods Pro
Universal adapter: With USB-C ports
Power bank: At least 20,000 mAh
Portable monitor: 15-inch USB-C doubles your productivity
Laptop lock: For coworking spaces
Cloud backup: Google Drive, Dropbox or iCloud

9. Time Management and Productivity

The biggest challenge is discipline when working:

Fixed working hours: Define and communicate your core hours
Mind time zones: World Time Buddy helps with planning
Pomodoro technique: 25 minutes focused, 5 minutes break
Morning routine: Work productively in the morning, explore in the afternoon
Deep work blocks: Notifications off, headphones on

Pro tip: Many successful nomads work from 7am to 1pm and use the afternoon for exploring.

10. Community and Networking

Loneliness is the underrated downside:

Nomad List: The largest platform with forum and Slack community
Facebook groups: 'Digital Nomads', country-specific groups
Coworking events: Weekly meetups and workshops
Coliving spaces: Selina, Outsite or Sun and Co
Retreats: WiFi Tribe or Hacker Paradise
Local meetups: Meetup.com for tech and freelancer gatherings

11. Finances and Banking

Traditional bank accounts are often impractical for nomads:

Wise: Multi-currency account, cheap international transfers
N26 / Revolut: Mobile-first banks with good international rates
DKB: Free current account, fee-free worldwide withdrawals
Payoneer: Ideal for international platform payments

Tip: Always carry at least two cards from different providers.

12. Is the Nomad Life Right for You?

The digital nomad life is not for everyone. Honest questions:

Can you work disciplined without a boss or fixed office hours?
Can you cope with knowing nobody personally for weeks?
Are you willing to deal with bureaucracy (taxes, visas, insurance)?
Do you have a stable income or sufficient savings?
Can you handle uncertainty and constant change?

Our advice: Start with a test run of 4–8 weeks in a nomad-friendly city like Lisbon or Chiang Mai.