Countries for digital nomads: a guide with the 22 best

Being a digital nomad has never been easier. With widespread internet around the world and plenty of jobs available online, you can easily work from your computer and make enough money to support a traveling lifestyle.

While working as a digital nomad, you can travel the world and live the life you want in your free time. Live by the beach in Thailand or live in the mountains of Europe. You can build your dream life, as long as you work hard enough to make a decent income online.

In this article, we will discuss some of the best countries for digital nomads. Of course, where you move to be a digital nomad will depend on what type of culture, landscape, and living style you are looking for. But this article will provide some ideas for countries around the world that are great options for digital nomads.

There are some gorgeous countries around the world in many different continents where you can live an amazing life while working remotely. Let’s get started!

Top 22 best countries for digital nomads to go and live

First, we will touch on what being a digital nomad actually is and how to become one. Then we’ll give a brief list of some of the best countries for digital nomads to go and live in.

Volunteering with Worldpackers is a great way to live abroad as a digital nomad. You can do your volunteer work and live with locals in any given country, then work on your online jobs in your free time. This is a great way to meet people and learn about the local culture when you first move abroad.

You can also save money on accommodation, which is awesome if you’re new to digital nomadism and you are still working out your business.

For certain countries, we’ll list some unique work exchanges that you could try to get a more immersive cultural experience while living abroad as a digital nomad.

What is a Digital Nomad and how to become one?

Digital nomadism can come in many different forms. You can be a writer, blogger, videographer, digital marketer, or photographer and sell your work online. You can also be a language teacher, life coach, or therapist all from a remote location. With video chatting, you can work jobs that used to only be done face-to-face.

There are many more ways to become a digital nomad, but those are a few of the most common online jobs where you can make a living online. You can also own your own online business and be in charge of everything, or you could just be an employee or a freelancer and get paid by someone else.

You do have to work hard and put in a lot of hours to be a successful digital nomad, but you can enjoy the flexibility of remote work and be able to live anywhere.

To become a digital nomad, you have to pick your job and your goal. Then learn and master the required skills, build connections, apply for jobs and projects online, and put yourself out there. It may take some time before you gain credibility and experience, and you won’t make great money when you first start out.

But just be persistent, keep learning and working hard, and your efforts will eventually pay off.

Read more: Digital nomad resources: how to work while traveling full time

Best countries for digital nomads in Europe

Romania

This underrated eastern European country is a gorgeous place to visit. It has historic castles, dense forests, big cities, and super friendly, welcoming locals. 

Romania is an awesome place to live as a digital nomad because the cost of living is very cheap.

For a unique cultural experience in Romania to enjoy in your free time, you can help with childcare with a local family in Bucharest, the capital city.

Croatia

Croatia is one of Europe’s most stunning countries. For digital nomads, this is a great place to live and enjoy diverse, beautiful nature. Swim in the ocean, hike in the mountains, visit charming towns and do it all on a budget. 

Croatia is cheap to live in, so you can easily live here and work as a digital nomad.

If you stay in Vojnić, how about learning about permaculture and sustainable life in this amazing volunteering position?

Germany

Germany is another one of the best European countries for digital nomads. It is a modern country with great wifi everywhere, and many people there are multilingual. Germany has a huge international community, particularly in big cities like Berlin.

To give back to the community, consider this work exchange. You will be helping out at a shelter for refugees and the homeless.

United Kingdom

The UK is another awesome place to live and work as a digital nomad. From the rolling green hills of England, to the rugged mountains and islands of Scotland, to the country towns of Wales and Northern Ireland, there is so much to do here.

The UK isn’t the cheapest country to live in, but a work exchange can help you in that area. If you have a knack for the arts, you can save money on accommodation in the UK through this work exchange at a local arts studio.

Ireland

Right next to the UK is Ireland, another stunning country in Europe. Ireland has a proud local culture and lots of natural beauty. 

You can see all the available volunteering positions in Ireland here.

Belgium

This small nation is another one of the best European countries for digital nomads. Belgium has delicious local cuisine, lots of history and cool architecture, and plenty of beautiful small towns in addition to the cities like Brussels.

Belgium is also nearby to lots of other European countries and has great public transport, so you can easily explore Europe in your free time! 

There are plenty of volunteering opportunies in Belgium.

Bulgaria

Located just south of Romania, Bulgaria is one of the cheapest countries for digital nomads in Europe. It doesn’t have many tourists, so the locals are very welcoming and love showing travelers their country. 

Bulgaria has some stunning mountains, and the capital city of Sofia is filled with history and culture.

You can find a great opportunity for voluteering in Bulgaria!

Portugal

Plenty of people may be asking, “Why is Portugal good for digital nomads?” Portugal is cheap as far as Western Europe goes. You can rent and buy your necessities for much less than France, Germany, or Spain.

Portugal also has great weather, lots of fun things to do, and an overall high quality of life. To really experience the best of Portugal as a digital nomad, consider volunteering on a permaculture farm. You can get in touch with the earth and your fellow volunteers while getting your online work done in your spare time.

If you want to stay longer than what the tourist permit allows you, check the possibility of applying for a Portugal Digital Nomad Visa.

Best countries for digital nomads in Central, South and North America

Guatemala

A small but diverse nation in Central America, Guatemala is another one of the cheapest countries for digital nomads.

Whether you want to live in the Highlands, surrounded by volcanoes and crater lakes, or you want to live by the beach, in the jungle, or in the city, Guatemala is very affordable and has lots of amazing places to base yourself for digital nomad work.

And you can find a volunteering position that suits you.

Ecuador

This beautiful South American country is also very affordable for digital nomads to live in. They even use the US dollar as their local currency, so that’s convenient if you’re coming from the US or you get paid in US dollars online.

Ecuador is one of the best South American countries for digital nomads, and there are some great work exchange opportunities there if you’re looking to have a deeper social impact. 

Costa Rica

The land of “Pura Vida”, Costa Rica draws in travelers, ex-pats, and digital nomads constantly. It has a relaxed pace of life and lots of diverse nature and wildlife to explore. It’s also a very safe country to live in, so if you’re looking to relocate to Latin America, Costa Rica is a great option.

It is a little bit more expensive to live here than in other Central American countries, so you can consider a work exchange to help cover your living costs.

Panama

Full of beautiful beaches, misty mountain towns, and cosmopolitan cities, Panama is an often overlooked country in Latin America. But, it is also a great place for digital nomads to live. The food and coffee are delicious, the people are nice, and it is a safe country to settle down in.

If you’re a digital nomad who is experienced in photography, videography, and social media, you can put your skills to even more use by volunteering for this NGO in Panama and helping them with their online presence.

Nicaragua

This is an incredible country for digital nomads who want to get off the grid and just enjoy life. Nicaragua has a breathtaking natural landscape full of lakes, volcanoes, and beaches. 

Living there is super cheap, so you can settle down somewhere beautiful, work on your digital work, and live a relaxed, beautiful life in tropical Nicaragua.

Mexico

Mexico is another one of the best countries for digital nomads. Especially if you are moving abroad from the USA, Mexico is close by so flights are cheap and it’s easy to move there. Mexico is also just a beautiful place to live. It is a large country and there is so much to explore.

To give back to the community while living in Mexico, you can volunteer at a children’s refuge and help make a difference in a local kid’s life.

Don't miss out: What you need to know about being digital nomad in Mexico.

Brazil

One of the largest countries in South America is Brazil, which is also an awesome place to live as a digital nomad. Whether you want to live in an exciting city like Sao Paolo or Rio De Janeiro, or you want to venture off the beaten path into the Amazon, Brazil holds so much beauty and wonder.

Brazil is a pretty affordable country to live in as well. For a unique cultural experience while living in Brazil as a digital nomad, consider volunteering at an NGO and helping out with gardening, painting, decorating, and arts. You could even learn some new skills here!

USA

Last but not least on our list of the best countries for digital nomads in the Americas is the USA. Each state in the USA offers different landscapes, cuisines, and cultures, so you can feel like you’re in a different country every time you cross state lines.

The USA is not typically a cheap country to live in, but a work exchange could really help you live there affordably. 

Best countries for digital nomads in Africa, Asia, and Oceania

Thailand

One of the cheapest countries for digital nomads is Thailand. You can rent a place to stay, eat food from the local street markets, and go on boat tours and hiking trips all for a fraction of the cost you’d pay in Europe or the USA.

Thailand is also just a wonderful place to live. They don’t call it “The Land of Smiles” for nothing! The food is amazing, the people are so kind, and the landscapes are gorgeous.

You can work as an English teacher with Worldpackers in exchange for a free stay in Thailand. So if you’re already working as an English teacher for your digital nomad job, you can put in some extra hours to get free accommodation!

Vietnam

Another incredibly cheap yet gorgeous destination in Southeast Asia is Vietnam. Lots of digital nomads are moving here for the warm weather, the incredible, cheap food, and the diverse landscapes. The culture is also very special, and it’s a great place to live if you want to try something new and learn about a new way of life.

How about volunteering to help this project for children with autism?

Indonesia

Indonesia is an interesting country to visit because it is made up of thousands of islands. Everywhere you go is unique and different, but it is all affordable and you can learn something new.

Most travelers head to the popular islands of Bali or Lombok, and that is a great place to base yourself if you want to meet other travelers. But if you’re living there as a digital nomad, you can really get to know the country and explore all the islands in your free time. 

Teach English at an NGO in addition to your online work for some extra social impact in Indonesia.

New Zealand

One of the most stunning countries in the world is New Zealand. It has some of the craziest natural landscapes and some of the kindest, happiest people. However, flights to New Zealand are expensive and it’s not a cheap place to live.

If you’re a well-established digital nomad, living in New Zealand may be the best time of your life. But because it is expensive, I wouldn’t recommend this country for new digital nomads who aren’t as financially stable. You could make living in New Zealand a goal to work towards!

Check our volunteer positions for New Zealand.

India

Another one of the best Asian countries for digital nomads is India. This massive country is home to secluded beaches, massive cities, dramatic mountains, relaxing islands, and dense jungles. There is also delicious local food and a vibrant local culture to experience in India.

A great way to make a difference in India is by volunteering for an NGO. If you like kids, you can help out with childcare and teaching languages in exchange for a free stay. This is an awesome way to get to know the locals and to positively impact the country.

Australia

The Land Down Under is last on our list of the best countries for digital nomads! Australia is just as amazing as people think it is, with its incredible beaches, amazing surf spots, unique wildlife, and laid-back, charming people.

Similar to New Zealand, Australia is far away from most of the world and it is expensive to fly here and live here. Living costs are on the expensive side, but it is still doable for digital nomads to live here. 

To save money on accommodation costs, you can help out at this permaculture project in exchange for a free stay.

Thanks for reading our list of the best countries for digital nomads 2022! 

If you work hard enough and know how to make money online, you really can live anywhere.

Just do your research before moving abroad and make sure you are prepared. Also, make sure you check visas and whether you are allowed to live and work there as a digital nomad before packing up and making the move.

Did you like these ideas? Subscribe to the Worldpackers Community for free and start saving your favorite volunteer positions until you are ready to get verified.

Keep reading: Digital nomad visa: all you need to know about it and the countries that offer it