I’ve been a digital nomad for about three years now, changing countries every month or two and basing my criteria on where the sun is shining, the surrounding nature, and where there is a good digital nomad community. 

My digital nomad travels have taken me from the United States to Central America, Europe, North Africa, and Asia. During this time I’ve found some truly incredible second homes and want to share with you my recommendations! These low-cost destinations all have great coworkings and colivings, amazing community, and plenty of things to do.

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My favorite digital nomad destinations as a full-time nomad

Bansko, Bulgaria (Europe)

Once you begin traveling as a digital nomad you won’t stop hearing about Bansko. Almost everyone raves about this place and after living there for three months I can see why. The community at Coworking Bansko is unbeatable, the nearby nature is incredible, the town is cute and safe, and the cost of living is very low.

I prefer to come to Bansko in April-September when the sun is shining, you can hike/climb in the mountains, there are fewer people, and the town is calm. However, if you prefer a party ski/snowboard scene, definitely come during the winter season.

Recommendations: Four Leaf Clover Coliving, Bansko Nomad Apartments, and Coworking Bansko.

Chiang Mai, Thailand (Southeast Asia)

Another famous digital nomad spot is Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. I love Chiang Mai because of the international community, endless amount of cute cafes with incredible coffee, great options for coliving and coworking spaces, great food, low cost of living, friendly locals, and hundreds of activities.

I stayed at Alt Coworking & Coliving and absolutely loved it. I appreciated the modern design of the coworking space and living areas, the immaculate cleanliness of the entire building, and strong community. It is pricier than renting a local apartment and working from coffee shops but to me the price was worth the community, comfort, and amenities provided.

Recommendations: Alt Coliving and working at these coffee shops.

Barcelona, Spain (Europe)

This isn’t a classic digital nomad destination—perhaps more of a remote workers hotspot—but it is still one of my favorite second homes. It’s definitely more expensive than other places but still cheaper than the U.S. and other parts of Europe. Barcelona has great weather, an international airport for weekend trips, the beach, lots of cafes and coworkings, and great nightlife.

I find the colivings here too expensive but fortunately Idealista is a great platform for finding accommodation. You can find cheap short term rentals or sublease a room and make some local friends.

Recommendations: Idealista for apartments and this blog for coffee shops with wifi.

Hoi An, Vietnam (Southeast Asia)

Hoi An is not as famous as Chiang Mai in the digital nomad world but it is quickly getting there. This French-influenced beach town is rich with history, offers incredible food, great cafes, endless activities, and everything is very cheap.

Also, if you’re like me and aren’t a huge fan of motorscooters (the primary form of transportation in southeast Asia), this town is a little haven as many people here use bicycles!

Recommendation: Hub Hoi An Coliving and Coworking.

Phuket, Thailand (Southeast Asia)

The first place that comes to mind for many people when they hear Phuket is Patong. This area is a wild resort beach town that felt rather unlivable to me. However, if you travel inland you will find the opposite of Patong: Phuket City. This town is very chill with a cute downtown, great markets, and great coffee shops.

I stayed at HOMA Coliving and Coworking and while I was disappointed to find a lack of community here I enjoyed staying at this massive luxury style complex. HOMA is very reasonably priced and includes comfortable studio rooms, a rooftop pool, restaurant, and gym. If you need a break from socializing and want to feel as if you’re on a luxury vacation (for half the price) this is my recommendation.

Recommendation: HOMA Coliving and Coworking.

La Fortuna, Costa Rica (Latin America)

I prefer small towns over big cities so La Fortuna is another favorite for me. The nature is unbeatable with volcanoes, jungles, hotsprings, and waterfalls; the town is very safe, the food is great, and there are endless outdoor activities. 

I stayed at Selina which is a hostel/coliving chain and found a great community here. There is a small coworking area or you can work by the pool or restaurant. They also have an outside yoga deck right by the river which was an amazing place for morning yoga sessions or aerial yoga class. The downsides are that Selina’s tend to be overpriced and the rooms are fairly small.

Recommendation: Selina Coliving & Coworking.

Bali, Indonesia (Southeast Asia)

Before I arrived in Bali, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I didn’t realize how different each area of Bali is and how huge it is! Choose your homebase carefully here because it takes forever to travel around thanks to the traffic. If you love the jungle, yoga, and spirituality, Ubud is a great fit. However, if you prefer surfing and parties, Canggu and Uluwatu are better.

My favorite parts of Bali were the yoga classes, hiking, local warungs, and fun nightlife. My least favorite parts were how unwalkable it was, tourist saturation, how expensive certain things were (like gyms and coworkings), and Bali belly. I usually never get sick but in Bali I had several days of mysterious illnesses. This is definitely one the places where you’ll be happy to have travel medical insurance. I always recommend Safety Wing since it’s specifically for nomads!

Recommendations: Tropical Nomad Coworking Space and Outpost Ubud Coworking.

Puerto Escondido, Mexico (Latin America)

If you love surfing and want California vibes without the high cost of living, Puerto Escondido is paradise. Lots of digital nomads come here for the great surf, amazing food, low cost of living, and nightlife. The only downsides are that it gets incredibly hot and is fairly touristic, although it is much better than Cancún or Tulum.

I think it is best to come from November to March when it isn’t unbearably hot. However, peak surfing season is late April to September. The best time to live here really depends on if you’re surfing or not!

Many people worry that Puerto Escondido has bad wifi but if you stay at Casa Losodeli & Coworking or Nomadico Escondido Coliving you won’t have to worry.

Recommendations: Casa Losodeli & Coworking, Nomadico Escondido Coliving, and visit Oaxaca City.

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