Digital Nomads: The Best Places to Work and Travel
Pack your laptop, explore the world: how to get started with location-independent work.
15 minutes · By the HolidayGenie editorial team · Updated:
Where are the best places to live and work as a digital nomad?
The best places for digital nomads combine fast internet, affordable living costs, coworking options, safety and quality of life – classics include Bali (from around €800–1,200 a month), Lisbon (around €1,500–2,200) and Medellín (around €900–1,400). Before you go, sort out your visa, taxes and health insurance.
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.
What are the 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.
How do I find a good coworking space?
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.
How do I get reliable internet on the road?
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
What visas are there for digital nomads?
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.
Where do you pay 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.
What health insurance do digital nomads need?
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.
What gear do digital nomads need?
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
How do I stay productive as a digital nomad?
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.
How do I connect with the nomad community?
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
How do I handle finances and banking as a digital nomad?
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.
Is the digital nomad life right for me?
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.
Ready for your adventure as a digital nomad?
