10 Affordable Destinations For Digital Nomads and Expats Who Earn Under $30,000USD A Year
You Can Live A Decent Life In These Countries
Are you interested in becoming a digital nomad or ex-pat?
“An expatriate, or ex-pat, is an individual living and/or working in a country other than his or her country of citizenship, often temporarily and/or for work reasons.”
And
A Digital Nomad is — “a person who earns a living working online, in various locations of their choosing (rather than a fixed business location).”
Digital Nomads and Expats are usually remote workers who can live almost anywhere in the world, because of the flexibility their lifestyle allows them.
Living outside your home country can allow you to lower your cost of living expenses, access a higher quality of life, and have multi-cultural experiences.
You can learn how to make money online while living abroad in this article below:
You don’t have to be a millionaire to be able to access this lifestyle, anyone can do it. Even if you earn less than $30,000 a year.
Here Are 10 Affordable Destinations For Digital Nomads and Expats Who Earn Under $50,000USD A Year
1. Chang Mai, Thailand
Chang Mai, Thailand, is a hotspot for digital nomads and ex-pats.
It’s known for its vibrant nomadic and ex-pat community, gorgeous natural landscapes, an abundance of massage parlors, affordable cost of living, and fresh delicious meals which can cost as low as $2.
Many nomads and ex-pats say you can live here for less than $1000 a month. This makes it one of the best locations for digital nomads and remote workers who want to cut down their cost of living, without compromising on the quality of their lives.
Check out Ella Heart’s article to get some perspective from someone living there.
2. Bali, Indonesia
Bali is a dream destination for many digital nomads who want to live their lives living in charming villas while spending their days in cute popular insta-worthy cafes and coworking spaces.
Two well-known digital nomad hubs in Bali are Canggu and Ubud, with Ubud allegedly being relatively inexpensive.
In my research, I came across information that suggests you can live a comfortable life in Bali with about $1500 a month or less.
3. Da Nang, Vietnam
Da Nang is the fourth-largest city in Vietnam.
It’s the perfect city for urban city dwellers, who also love nature. You can get the best of both worlds here.
Vietnam is a digital nomad and ex-pat favorite because of the affordable cost of living it provides.
You can find decent accommodation in the city for less than $800.Of course, you can find more expensive ones, depending on your budget.
You can live comfortably in Vietnam for less than $1,000 a month if you’re prudent with your expenses.
4. Medellin, Colombia
Medellin is known for its amazing weather and cosmopolitan lifestyle.
Digital Nomads and Expats love Medellin because of its low cost of living, spring-ish weather, vibrant nightlife, and world-class restaurants.
According to the Nomad list, the average expenses are just above 1000 USD per month.
If you’re flying into the country as a Canadian, American, or EU passport holder, you can stay up to 90 days visa-free.
You can then leave the country and return for another 90-days, to a maximum of 180 days per year.
Sara Burdick lives and writes about her experiences living in Colombia. Although she doesn’t live in Medellin, you can read her stories to get more perspective about living in rural Colombia.
5. Siem Reap, Cambodia
Siem Reap is a budding digital nomad hotspot in Cambodia, although Phnom Penh and Kampot are also nomad favorites.
Siem Reap boasts co-working spaces and cute cafes with reliable and fast internet, making it the perfect spot to work remotely online.
The presence of other digital nomads makes it easy to meet and build community with other nomads.
You can live comfortably for $1000 or less a month in Cambodia, depending on your lifestyle and budget.
6. Cebu, Philippines
Cebu is one of the largest cities in the Philippines that offers a great mix of city and beach life.
Many digital nomads love this city because of its vibrant ex-pat scene.
You can find co-working spaces, pristine beaches, friendly locals, and a multitude of coliving and coworking options.
Cebu is a great location because it offers the best access to the Phillippine’s stunning islands such as Bohol and Palawan.
The cost of living in The Phillippines is relatively low. Your monthly expenses can be as low as $700 — $1000 a month.
7. Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Mexico is a captivating country with delicious food, delightful weather, friendly locals, and beautiful cities.
Playa del Carmen, a tropical city on the Caribbean Sea, is a favorite destination for digital nomads and ex-pats in Mexico, because of its comfortable access to the beach, as well as, affordable cost of living, in comparison to many cities in the United States.
Playa del Carmen is one of the fastest-growing towns in Mexico because of the influx of digital nomads and ex-pats from all around the world. This is a cause of rising local prices and cost of living.
You can live here comfortably on $1500- $2000 a month.
8. Portugal, Lisbon
Portugal is a hotspot for digital nomads and ex-pats in Europe.
Travelers love Portugal because it combines an affordable cost of living with a high quality of life.
Lisbon has one of the best climates in Europe and offers gorgeous architecture, mouth-watering Mediterranean cuisine, fast internet, a vibrant nomadic community, and an abundance of active co-working spaces.
You can rent an apartment here for less than 500 Euros a month.
You can live here for about $1,500 per month. Although, an extra $500 could improve the quality of life accessible to you.
9. Istanbul, Turkey
Turkey is a colorful and culturally rich country that spans two continents; Europe and Asia.
The city of Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, sits between the continents of Asia and Europe, making it a unique city because of its fusion of both Asian culture and European culture.
Digital Nomads love Instabul for its colorful and exciting flea markets, fine dining experiences, and clubbing scene.
You can live on about 1,000 USD a month in Istanbul.
10. Cape Town South Africa
Cape Town is also an attractive location for digital nomads because it offers warmth, sunshine, a beach atmosphere, and cafés digital nomads can work from.
You’ll find everything you need to live a comfortable remote working lifestyle in Cape Town.
You can find a range of hostels, posh hotels, B&Bs, and guest houses. Decent Airbnbs go for about $400 a month.
Keep in mind that you may be required to pay a 1 to 3-month deposit upfront when it comes to renting an apartment or room.
You can live comfortably in Cape Town for $1,500 — $2000 USD a month.
If you need more help with researching and choosing a new country to move to, you can download my E-Book: A Digital Nomad & Expat’s Complete Research Guide To Moving and Living Abroad
https://judithbanquist.gumroad.com/l/CompleteResearchGuideToMovingandLivingAbroad
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