Who has ever dreamed of leaving their routine? Halfway between work and vacation, the life of a digital nomad is mouthwatering, especially since the COVID-19 crisis.

What exactly is a digital nomad?

 “Digital nomad” qualifies teleworkers who do not have a fixed workplace, who travel frequently, all while working on a digital tool: a laptop computer with a good Wi-Fi connection. In short, the digital nomad does not need much – and it is thanks to this that he/she can work in all places on Earth – provided there is a minimum of Internet connection.

Now, only certain trades can be practiced and carried out. For example, the digital nomad can be a web writer, web developer, website designer, community manager, personal development coach, etc.

Benefits of the Digital Nomad Lifestyle

A digital nomad is free to organize his working day as he/she wishes. Whether in terms of working hours, break times, days worked, the workplace, the digital nomad is completely autonomous.

By having control over working conditions, the digital nomad gains in productivity, because they choose exactly the pace of work that best suits them while being in a dream destination.

A Boom Due to COVID-19

The COVID-19 crisis brought teleworking to new heights. Since the confinement of March 2020, many occupations in the tertiary sector saw their working conditions change to work-from-home setups.

This new way of life accentuated a feeling of isolation among some teleworkers. Many people wanted to change this situation, to leave their apartment for a completely exotic place to live, abroad, on the other side of the globe.

Now that the world is opening back up and international travel is possible again, adopting the digital nomad lifestyle is a viable option.

Digital Nomadism Referral Sites

There are several websites to help find the best destinations for digital nomads, with advantages, disadvantages, and opinions from others who have adopted the lifestyle.

Nomadlist.com

At first glance, Nomadlist looks like Pinterest. The site, accessible by a paid subscription of approximately $160 per year, gives access to information concerning a variety of destinations.

The site is powered by digital nomads who have left written reviews on the destinations they have visited. A rating system allows digital nomads to see at a glance if the destination corresponds to them under the criteria of:

  • Cost of living
  • Internet connection,
  • Amusement of the destination
  • Security level

The site also offers an average monthly budget related to the destination, including factors such as the cost of accommodation, food, transport, etc.

Hoodmaps.com

Created by the founder of Nomadlist, Hoodmaps is based on a participatory map system informing users of the population present in a particular district of a city.

Hoodmaps will break down neighborhood dwellers into different typologies such as hipsters, tourists, college students, suits, rich, and normal. It may be a little reductive and stereotypical, but you get caught up in it quickly.

Numbeo.com

A little less intuitive than the previous two, Numbeo is still very rich in information. It is a huge database fed by its users, updated according to the living conditions of destinations in the world.

The site is based on a color system ranging from green to red, passing through yellow and orange in order to determine the ideal destination. This color system groups together data such as:

  • Cost of living
  • Health care
  • Traffic
  • Pollution
  • Housing indicators
  • Crime rate

Best Destinations for Digital Nomads

Cape Town in South Africa

The capital of South Africa, Cape Town, recently won the prestigious Design Capital of the World award and is widely known for its wine regions.

Medellin in Colombia

With its many co-working spaces, eternal spring, very affordable prices, food that makes the taste buds dance, and its world-famous café, Medellin is a destination of choice for digital nomads.

Chiang Mai in Thailand

Chiang Mai is a city popular with digital nomads, as there are many youth hostels, cafes, and co-working spaces, as well as a plethora of healthy restaurants to keep in shape!

Ubud in Bali

Bali, what could be more heavenly? Wonderful landscapes, cafes, yoga, low prices; Ubud is THE destination to start your days with your feet in the water.

Hanoi in Vietnam

Vietnam is a popular destination for trekking fans – and digital nomads are falling in love with it. For what reasons? Incredible culture, warm hospitality, food, nightlife, and low prices challenge the majority of digital nomadic destinations.

Some Limits …

The life of a digital nomad is something to dream of. However, a few constraints should not be overlooked.

Money

The first difficulty that a digital nomad could face is finances. The advice that many digital nomads give is to have at least six or seven months of savings before starting the journey.

This is often the case with entrepreneurs or freelancers who struggle to find clients quickly – who find themselves having to pay travel expenses without having income.

For some countries, additional costs may be expected. For example, in Japan, when you rent a house, you have to pay all the rent fees at once, which is a considerable sum if you want to stay for several months.

The life of a digital nomad does not rhyme with living well for cheap. There are many expenses that must be anticipated to not have worries in your daily life and to be able to take advantage of the environment.

What Are You Waiting For?

Digital nomadism is a bit like a vacation without being on vacation.

Obviously, you have to work and know-how to enjoy the place where you are. However, it is difficult for some digital nomads to combine work and leisure. Work takes up a lot of space in the life of an entrepreneur or a freelancer.

Regardless of your choices, the main thing is to prepare for it, to have thought about it, and not regret it. The life of a digital nomad is an extraordinary experience, which brings a great deal of joy, both on a personal and professional level.