One of the absolute key considerations that makes a location great for digital nomads is cost. Whilst safety, location, local culture, WiFi connections, and other elements are also important considerations, the cost is arguably one of the key factors for many nomads.
So, without any further ado, let’s look at seven of the cheapest places for digital nomads.
Table of Contents
1. Bansko (and Other Parts of Bulgaria)
There is a reason why certain locations are so popular and have such as strong digital nomad community, and none so more than Bansko, Bulgaria.
As a place to stay, Bansko is fantastic all year round in terms of the cost of accommodation, with USD$350 enough to pay for a whole month’s apartment rental, and in the center of town.
Bansko is a small mountain town and thus it is very easy to get around and there is a continually growing community of digital nomads working from here, many choosing to stay long-term.
As with Bulgaria in general, the cost of food and other everyday essentials are very cheap, with the prices some of the lowest in Europe.
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In addition to being extremely affordable and with a great digital nomad community, Bansko is great because it provides:
- Mountain Hiking and outdoor activities in the summertime (and lots of summer events via the nomad community such as BBQs and road trips)
- Affordable skiing in the winter months
- Very cheap transport via bus from the main international airport in Sofia
- A friendly compact town with plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops and events such as the annual Jazz Festival and other cultural events
Whether you are a digital nomad on a budget or a nomad not worried about costs (but looking for a great social scene), Bansko is one of our favorite nomad destinations.
2. Costa Rica
What is there not to love about Costa Rica?
This country is so diverse in terms of bio-diversity with the chance to visit the jungle, see such a wide variety of animals (including sloths), with a Caribbean and Pacific Coastline, and so much to see and do.
Furthermore, as a digital nomad, Costa Rica is a paradise also in terms of the cost of living and the fact that this country is embracing inviting digital nomads to their country (read our post on digital nomad visas).
Costa Rica promises:
- A cheap and inexpensive cost of living
- You can find coworking spaces there including in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Jaco and San Jose.
- As mentioned, fantastic natural surroundings in terms of rain forests, jungles, high-quality beaches, and an abundance of wildlife to discover.
- The new ‘Costa Rica Rentista Work Visa’
- What for me as a person who loves world foods, and culture is a fascinating country all round.
Although popular with those from North America (the U.S.A. and Canada), nomads from the UK, Australia, and a number of other countries are discovering Costa Rica and it continues to grow as a digital nomad hub.
3. Bali, Indonesia
Another cheap location for you as a digital nomad and one that has long been discovered and long been popular is Bali in Indonesia.
Even though prices have risen a little over the last few years, Bali remains one of the most affordable.
Given its location, close to Australia, New Zealand, and other countries in Asia, Bali attracts a number of Aussie coworkers.
The beauty of working digitally from Bali includes:
- Very cheap accommodation and food
- Numerous stunning beaches
- Very active digital nomads scene in many locations
There are numerous locations you can work online from in Bali so you can try out various co-working spaces and move around the island.
Some of our favorites that we tried include:
- Dojo Bali – is in a great location close to Echo Beach (Kuta Utara) and it has a fantastic vibe and caters specifically to digital nomads. Everything you need is here including organized events and, of course, the beach. We love this place.
- LivitHub – has excellent facilities, is well run and you can expect high-speed WiFi. Great views of the city from the rooftop and an excellent atmosphere and great place to meet other digital nomads. (Location ungut Sari No.6, Sanur, Denpasar Selatan).
- Kembali Innovation Hub – This is one of the best coworking spaces we worked at in Bali and is arguably one of the best also for networking. They also have a lovely coffee shop out the back and it’s in a lovely building, also with a nice green space out the back. They also hold lots of events and workshops and high-speed WiFi.
4. Tirana, Albania
Albania, I appreciate, might not be in your mind when first thinking about places around the world to work from online, but it is one of the cheapest locations and is another increasingly popular nomad location on the circuit.
If cost is absolutely key to what you need in terms of a place to work online from, and if you are looking for somewhere different, but with a great culture, then Albania is definitely worth considering.
Albania has a coastline on the Adriatic Sea and has some nice beaches, and, as a country, do expect a fascinating experience that combines the old and the new, the historical with the modern.
Tirana also has some great co-working spaces including:
- The Dutch Hub – a wonderful small community-type co-working space where you get to meet some great people and it’s a great place to work from.
- Coolab – is another great option and they also hold a range of event for you and it’s in a great location in Tirana.
5. Ko Lanta, Thailand
Ko Lanta (as you will have seen on our post about the best beach co-working spaces worldwide) is a stunning place from which to work and it’s inexpensive.
Like many places in Thailand, the cost of a co-working space, accommodation, food, and local transport tends to be very cheap.
You can see why Thailand is so popular in the digital nomad circuit. It really combines everything you need culturally and as a digital nomad (i.e., the cost, good WiFi, and so on).
If you use Kohub Coworking Space, for example, you are literally right on the beach and you can benefit from:
- a dynamic coworking environment with lots of events
- watersports nearby
- good WiFi speeds
If affordability + beach + a good social scene = what you are looking for, then Ko Lanta is a really good option.
6. Medellin, Colombia
In the last 5 years, Medellin, Colombia, has also become a firm favorite with many digital nomads and it is not hard to understand why.
You can visit Columbia for up to 90 days on a tourist visa (such as from the U.S., UK, and EU) and you can find high-speed WiFi in one of the many coworking spaces.
Our favorite coworking spaces in Medellin that we have tried include:
- ZonaWork Coworking El Poblado – fantastic facilities and easy to meet and socialize with others, in addition to a good place to get work done. In a good part of the city and great hosts.
- Impact Hub Medellín – is another extremely good option and one that we stayed in for one week. This is favorite in Medellín. Great location and met so many good people here.
It is easy to live very inexpensively in Medellín and there is an amazing digital nomads scene here with so many nomads from the United States and Canada staying here.
7. Vietnam
One of the most interesting locations we have had the pleasure to visit in the last few years as digital nomads and that we highly recommend is Vietnam.
Whilst all of the countries mentioned above in this list are all interesting culturally, it was Vietnam that we found most fascinating and so very different from everywhere else.
Some of the highlights as a digital nomad include:
- Incredible cheap and amazing foods. So many interesting foods and you must try Vietnamese coffee!
- Lots of great nomad locations including in the cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi.
- Some lovely beaches
- Tonnes to take in culturally and to experience
A couple of useful Facebook Groups I would recommend if you plan to visit Vietnam as a digital nomad, are as follows:
What is your favorite country, city, or location around the world as a digital nomad? Let us know in the comments below so that we can all find new great places to work from.
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