Best Places to Work Remote
Digital nomad Destinations
“The farther you go, however, the harder it is to return. The world has many edges, and it’s easy to fall off.”
-Anderson Cooper
It’s no secret the world has changed a lot over the past 20 years. In few areas is that more true than the business world specifically- when and where we work. There has never been more opportunities to find a ‘non-traditional’ job (working outside the traditional 9-5 schedule) or ways to make money from anywhere in the world.
Thanks to the advancements in technology and how business is being done, a group of people is choosing to live the lives they have always dreamed of wherever they want to live them. The group is called “Digital Nomads” and they are changing the ‘live to work’ narrative into very much “working to live.”
It’s becoming more and more common to hear about digital nomads and, for some, even trying to set themselves up as one. Usually, this involves choosing to live frugally and creating (innovative) ways to make money regardless of your physical location. Digital nomads believe that living/working from wherever they want in the world is the ultimate dream and sign of freedom drastically increasing quality of life.
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We won’t be covering the different revenue streams that make the digital nomad life possible, but will instead highlight the best digital nomad destinations and the best places to work remote in the world.
What is a digital nomad and what do they need?
What is a digital nomad? This term refers to people who leave the standard work model of a 9 to 5 job, (usually) in an office or behind a desk, to live a more free and location independent life. Being a digital nomad is about creating a life that isn’t limited by your location or your “office hours”.
To put it simply, you work when and where you want.
You have to be able to make enough money to sustain your way of life. That can be done by offering services others are willing to pay for and delivering the work (or product) on time. If you can do those things, you’ve got a shot to be a digital nomad.
Related: 11 Ways to Make Money Traveling
Since the people paying you don’t care about where you do the work as long as it gets done well, you can work remotely from any part of the world and leverage your skills (e.g. the service you can provide that people are willing to pay for) with the technology around you to stay ‘on the road’ indefinitely.
To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.
Requirements for a Digital Nomad
Being a successful digital nomad isn’t as simple as grabbing a computer, moving to a trendy place, and sipping Old Fashioneds while you lay by the pool. Becoming a successful digital nomad is something that requires a lot of work and even more creativity.
Becoming a digital nomad, means assuming complete control of your own life. In most cases, there is no ‘employer’ or ‘manager’ to check in on you or to make sure you get stuff done, hit deadlines, or produce a good product. It’s all on you, which is both the best and worst part of being a digital nomad.
Things to think about before becoming a digital nomad and picking a location:
Is being a Digital Nomad really for you?
Let’s get this out of the way now, working remotely isn’t easy nor is it for everyone. You have to have a skill, product, or knowledge people are willing to pay for. You have to be willing to be the sales person, project manager, executer, accountant, and marketer of your skill. Which means you have to be pretty damn self-driven.
How are you going to make money?
Before you start dreaming of the amazing places you’ll work from, you have to figure out how you are going to make money. Will you sell a physical product? A digital one? How much will you charge? How will you get word out about your product. Questions like these are things you need to be able to answer and have a plan for before jet setting off across the world.
The location makes sense for your business model
Wherever you chose to live and work should make sense for who you are, your business model, and your goals. Sometimes these can really impact the location you chose. If your entire business relies on a strong internet connection so you can take Zoom meetings, then it doesn’t make sense to live in a remote place with unreliable or slow WiFi.
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If you need access too seashells it doesn’t make sense to live in the mountains. When you are first starting out, picking a location that you like, but is an actual asset to your business is more important than picking one you love.
An excellent internet connection.
99.9% of digital nomad jobs require access to the internet. It’s the most powerful tool you can leverage, and if it isn’t available, it’s going to be really hard impossible to make a living as a digital nomad.
That’s why, when we created this list of the best digital nomad destinations and best places to work remotely, we made Wifi one of the judging criteria.
Cost-effectiveness.
You work to make money and you make money to live. So you can do the things you want to do. If you are living in an amazing place but have to work 24/7 to pay for your rent, that isn’t much fun.
Which is why, for each of the best digital nomad destinations, we took cost of living into account. After all, what’s the point of being a digital nomad in paradise if you can’t work hard and play harder?
Ease of Access Getting into the Country
It’s not always as easy as landing in a country and immediately paying for a cheap visa. For some countries, you need to provide a lot of paperwork and a lot of it too. A great example would be European countries needing to know more about ESTA, as this can actually be a lengthy process for some who want to go to the US. In general, you need to see how easy (and costly) it would even be for you to enter a country. All digital nomads need to keep that in mind.
One last disclaimer…
This isn’t a comprehensive list of everywhere in the world you could be a digital nomad and be happy. There are a vast number of places in the world that are each suitable for different kinds of digital nomads based on their goals and preferences.
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However, this list of the best digital nomad destinations should help point you in the right direction, give you a starting point, and will help you know what to look for so you can find the best place to work remotely for you.
Digital Nomad Destinations:
The best places to work remote in the world
1. Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, Thailand, is one of the larger cities in northern Thailand and I can only be described it as a charming jungle town. Which depending on your vibe, may be the exact thing you are looking for as a digital nomad.
Why is it one of the best places to work remotely?
It’s just a cool and unique place to be. Chiang Mai has a truly one of a kind combination of city and nature. It is full of historical temples, natural sites, while still feeling like you’re in a big town. Additionally, it is one UNESCO world heritage because of all its ancient temples.
Average cost of living
Usually cool places cost lots of money. Not Chiang Mai. It is one of the best places to work remote because the cost of living is one of the cheapest you may find in the world. Low costs for accommodation, food, and pretty much everything, only strengthen its claim as one of the best digital nomad destinations.
The average cost of living in Chiang Mai per month is $1070.
Average Wi-Fi speed
The average Wi-Fi speed at 10 Mbps (on average) is more than enough for most of your needs making internet connectivity not an issue.
Yeah it’s great, but what’s the downside?
Although there are not many downsides to Chiang Mai, it is far away from other stuff. Whether that be other cities in Thailand or over a dozen timezones away from your clients. Also, the air quality over isn’t the best.
2. Playa del Carmen, México.
Living the digital nomad life might be one of your dreams, and finding the best location for this dream is the ultimate goal. Well, it’s tough to go wrong in Mexico and Playa del Carmen is one of the best locations in Mexico for digital nomads and remote workers.
Why is it one of the best places to work remotely?
“Although the place has already become an attraction for a lot of digital nomads and English teachers in Mexico, the reason is that Playa del Carmen provides the perfect mixture of business and pleasure. The city is big enough to have a solid infrastructure, the food in Mexico is fire, and being close to the beach puts an already great spot over the top for many digital nomads.”
Average cost of living
Not only is the environment here amazing, but another factor that attracts a lot of remote workers is the average cost of living which is $1450 per month.
Average Wi-Fi speed
For most remote workers, this could be a great option-the average speed of Wi-Fi here is 12 Mbps which should be more than enough for most of your needs.
Yeah it’s great, but what’s the downside?
No place is perfect and it’s necessary to keep in mind that the Mexicans are sometimes known for their aggressive behavior. It isn’t always peaceful here, and the freedom of speech isn’t always what it is in other places.
3. Barcelona, Spain
Everyone knows Barcelona. It’s known for so many things: sports, food, culture, and nightlife make it one of the most famous in the whole world.
Why is it one of the best places to work remotely?
Barcelona is on the list of the best digital nomad destinations because of the environment it provides to remote workers. Barcelona is basically instant inspiration. If you are the person whose job needs help with new ideas then Barcelona is the right spot for you because it will constantly inspire you.
Average cost of living
Barcelona is one of the more expensive spots on our list of the best places to work remote. But some people don’t want to live in Asia or South America and would rather pay a little more to have access to all that Europe has to offer.
The average cost of living here per month is $2900.
Average Wi-Fi speed
The average Wi-Fi speed is about 31 Mbps making it more than enough for most of the needs.
Yeah it’s great, but what’s the downside?
There are some downsides to almost every place in the world, and one of the downsides of Barcelona is that population density. If you are looking for a place with plenty of space and room for activities this may not be the best option.
4. Medellin, Colombia
Medellin is a city that was once known for its violence and crime scenes, However things have changed. In recent years, it has become one of the best digital nomad destinations and is known as the “Silicon Valley of South America”.
Why is it one of the best places to work remotely?
Technology is one of the most important aspects to being able to work remotely and the Medellin has seen a surge in tech infrastructure over the last few years hence its new nickname.
Average cost of living
One of the best things about Medellin is that the cost of living here is very wallet-friendly, making it one of the best places to work remote for many digital nomads.
The average cost of living here per month is $1050.
Average Wi-Fi speed
The average Wi-Fi speed is 11 Mbps which is not that bad for digital working. Additionally, there is huge number of cafes that provide great Wi-Fi so you’ll be able to explore and work at the same time.
Yeah it’s great, but what’s the downside?
Looking at the downsides of living here and working remotely, your overall safety could be an issue. Additionally, the lack of English-speaking people may make it a difficult place to adapt to depending on your own situation/knowledge.
5. Kuala Lumpur
The capital of Malaysia is one of the most advanced technological cities in Southeast Asia. Kuala Lumpur is a tourist favorite in Malaysia, and now it has also become a favorite place for the digital nomads.
Why is it one of the best places to work remotely?
What makes it very attractive for the remote workers is that the place offers a very rich cultural experience for people all over the world. Not only does the technology work great in this regard, but the food, infrastructure, and religious values of remote workers living here make it a great place.
Average cost of living
One may be surprised to know that the average cost of living here is a lot less than many other locations with similar standards in the world. Despite the advanced mode of living, the cost of living here is very cheap.
The average cost of in Kuala Lumpur per month is $1300.
Average Wi-Fi speed
Being an advanced place in terms of technology, Kuala Lumpur offers an average Wi-Fi speed of about 27 Mbps.
Yeah it’s great, but what’s the downside?
Although this is a great place because of the living experience one can get, however, there are some certain downsides. Traffic safety and freedom of speech are things that must be considered And one of the most severe downsides is that this is not the best place for the solo female digital nomads.
“I travel not to cross countries off a list, but to ignite passionate affairs with destinations.”
Nyssa P. Chopra
6. Taipei, Taiwan
Another city from Taiwan in our list of the best digital nomad destinations in Taipei. This is a city that provides a great blend of the busy city streets, tall buildings, and natural sights as well.
Why is it one of the best places to work remotely?
In recent years, Taipei has emerged as a great digital nomad hotspot because of all the benefits that living in Taipei comes with. One of the biggest is that this is a 24-hour city making it a perfect option for people looking for international work or multiple remote jobs.
Additionally, the place well connected to different places like Japan and China because of its convenient ways of transport that work every time.
Average cost of living
The cost of living here may not be as cheap as a lot of other places in Asia; however, compared to other places in the world it’s still relatively cheap. Additionally, the convenient traveling options make it a great option for remote workers.
The average cost of living here per month is $1950.
Average Wi-Fi speed
The average Wi-Fi speed you can get in Taipei is about 19 Mbps here.
Yeah it’s great, but what’s the downside?
If you are a person who does not like a lot of people, then this may not be the option for you because this city has a high population density. Considering one of the best digital nomad destinations, a lot of people are still looking to move here.
7. Lisbon Portugal
Lisbon is a city that is known for its traditional infrastructure and beauty. However, because of these things, it is now becoming more and more attractive to remote workers.
Why is it one of the best places to work remotely?
A digital nomad looks for the three main things, location, cost, and internet, and Lisbon is the city that has all of this to offer and more.
With a wide range of options to select from, this might be a perfect location for every type of remote worker, whether they are a digital content creator or some sort of service provider.
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Additionally, the public places here, like the art galleries and museums, will really help you to experience the culture and learn more about Portugal and Lisbon- after all, understanding the culture of where you decide to live, should always be main goal of a digital nomad.
Average cost of living
If you look at the standard cost of living here as compared to some other places, then Lisbon may seem a bit expensive. However, if you compare the cost with the fun that you can get by living here and the things that you can explore, then this might be one of the best ways to spend your money.
The average cost of living here per month is $2100.
Average Wi-Fi speed
With 30 Mbps of average internet speed, this is a perfect place for remote workers.
Yeah it’s great, but what’s the downside?
If you look for the downsides of living here, there are not many; however, the healthcare isn’t the best and to some it may be more expensive than what they are looking to spend each month.
8. Tbilisi, Georgia
This city might seem like an outlier when it comes to the selection of one of the best digital nomad destinations. However, you will be surprised to know that this is the city that will provide you the living experience of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, and the experience might be great.
Why is it one of the best places to work remotely?
As far as the inspiration is concerned, this could be one of the best places to work remote. It is because of the perfect mixture of amazing architecture, nature, and culture. So, if you are the person who needs privacy or you need to roam around the beautiful locations, this is the city that will fulfill all your needs.
Apart from this, the city is a great place for your off days as you can visit the relaxing lakeside, or you can head up the mountains according to your liking.
Oh, and Georgian food is fire (and my favorite cuisine) s/o Khachapuri
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Average cost of living
In the middle, but on the lower site, the average cost of living here per month is $1150. However, things like cheap public transport make it a more of a budget-friendly location.
Average Wi-Fi speed
The average internet speed here is 13 Mbps. This may be enough for most of the needs of remote workers.
Yeah it’s great, but what’s the downside?
One of the major downsides of living here is that the air quality here is not that great. Additionally, it comes in ranking at 106 on the country happiness index which is something you should know before going in.
9. Seminyak, Bali
Bali is a place known for its natural beauty, and Seminyak is the city that makes the best option for remote workers in Bali. Here is what makes it one of the best digital nomad destinations.
Why is it one of the best places to work remotely?
If working and enjoying your life at the same time is your main goal, then this might be the best place for you. The nightlife is great. The scenery beautiful. And the culture is super welcoming. You can spend the days working and relaxing and the nights having a blast. Another thing about Seminyak is that the co-working spaces and the shopping options are amazing for an island.
Average cost of living
The average cost of living here per month is $1250***, but there is a reason why I put the *** there. While the accommodation can be managed under the budget, if you visit a nightclub every other night, you will find yourself spending a lot more that $1250 per month.
Average Wi-Fi speed
The average Wi-Fi speed is a not great 5 Mbps. However, if you aren’t downloading and uploading video footage it may not matter to you.
Yeah it’s great, but what’s the downside?
The low internet speed, bad healthcare structure, less traffic safety, corruption, and a less than friendly environment for solo female travelers are the main downsides of living here as a digital nomad.
10. Da Nang, Vietnam
One may love to live the digital nomad life in the big cities because they offer a lot to explore. Well, Da Nang will make you forget about the big cities.
Why is it one of the best places to work remotely?
Da Nang is a ‘just right’ sized city. The overall population and street rush in the city is far less than others in Vietnam or Asia as a whole. At the same time, the city has a lot to explore. Whether you are looking for some relaxing beach time or you want to wander around the city streets, Da Nang has it all.
Average cost of living
One of the best benefits of choosing Da Nang to live and work is that the cost of living here is very low. From the accommodation, traveling to the food options, everything here is available at cheap rates making it very affordable for a lot of people.
The average cost of living here per month is $1000.
Average Wi-Fi speed
The average Wi-Fi speed one can expect here is about 8 Mbps.
Yeah it’s great, but what’s the downside?
Some of the downsides of living here are bad traffic safety options, bad air quality, low level of education, less happy people, and lastly, very little freedom of speech.
12. Buenos Aires, Argentina
If you are looking for a life with things like beaches and natural scenes, this is the perfect point for you. Buenos Aires will also amaze you with its amazing infrastructure.
Why is it one of the best places to work remotely?
The vibe of the city itself is more than enough for most people to love it as one of the best digital nomad destinations.
The food, the music, the hospitality, parks, matches, and everything that happens here will make you fall in love with this Buenos Aires. Apart from this, there are a lot of co-working spaces with excellent Wi-Fi options available that make it a great place for working remotely.
Average cost of living
With all Buenos Aires has to offer, it isn’t the cheapest of the options available. However, the cost of living is still justified because of the experience of living here. Additionally, if you are looking to live on a budget, then cheaper accommodation options will be available a little out from the center of the city.
The reliable and affordable traveling options will make up for missing the center of the city as well.
The average cost of living here per month is $800.
Average Wi-Fi speed
This is one of the best things for remote workers that the average speed of Wi-Fi here is 44 Mbps. Additionally, the city has free Wi-Fi coverage in most of the areas.
Yeah it’s great, but what’s the downside?
Honestly, I don’t think there is one. Even if you look for the worst quality, the lowest level you will find for things will be moderate, making it one of the best digital nomad destinations.
13. Belgrade, Serbia
This is the city that you can call one of the most underrated cities in the world. Especially when it comes to the selection of the best digital nomad destinations, this serves as a great city.
Why is it one of the best places to work remotely?
Belgrade is the city that provides the perfect options for remote workers because of its technological advancements. Not only this, but the cultural values, the entertainment, and the beautiful sights provide the best environment for the remote workers. As a digital nomad, not only can you work here, but you will actually enjoy working in Belgrade.
Average cost of living
One of the most attractive things that you can get from this place as a remote worker is the cost of living here. Considering the experience of living here, the cost is still a lot better than a lot of other options.
The average cost of living here per month is $1500.
Average Wi-Fi speed
Being a city with advanced technology, this city provides 32 Mbps of average Wi-F- a speed that may be should be more than enough for most of your needs.
Yeah it’s great, but what’s the downside?
There is not a lot that you may miss or lack while living here. However, one of the downsides is the quality of life here is pretty low- due to wages and their economy as a whole.
14. Prague, Czech Republic
Prague or “Praha” as its known in most places is a magical city. Prague is the city that is one of the best cities in Europe and one of the best digital nomad destinations as well. It is because it has so much to offer that one can never get bored of living here.
Why is it one of the best places to work remotely?
When it comes to the selection of one of the best digital nomad destinations, this is a must for the list because the old and romantic vibe of this city is found nowhere anywhere else in the whole world.
Whether you are looking for inspiration to create your content, or you are looking for peace to work calmly, this is the city that has everything to offer. At the same time, you’ll never get sick of things to explore here.
Average cost of living
All things come with a cost and the wonder of Prague is no different. The cost of living here as a digital nomad isn’t cheap, and the cost will add up as you explore things.
One can always find cheaper accommodation options by using several platforms; however, the expenditures of food can only be reduced if you plan your budget properly and avoid visiting the fancy restaurants the city has.
The average cost of living here per month is $2100.
Average Wi-Fi speed
The Wi-Fi speed that you can get here is unbelievably good, averaging at 37 Mbps. If you are a YouTuber or someone who loves posting live videos on social media, then this might be a great option because of the beautiful sights and the amazing Wi-Fi speeds.
Yeah it’s great, but what’s the downside?
Another amazing thing about this city is that there are not a lot of downsides. From safety to the things like air quality and hospitals, everything here is what you would hope for or even better.
That completes our list of the best Digital Nomad Destinations and The Best Places to Work Remote!
The world that we live in today has a lot of options for the digital nomads, and there are a lot of amazing cities to explore. However, no place is perfect, not even one of our best digital nomad destinations.
So, if you are interested in becoming a digital nomad I would encourage you to check out a few places before calling one ‘home’.
When you get to the right place for you, you’ll know.
Stay Gold.
The adventure comes to a head in the captivating world of mindblown madknows with a climax of mind-blowing revelations and insights. as the uncharted territory of digital curiosity.