5 Cheapest Locations For Digital Nomads According To A New Report

The one good thing that the pandemic taught us is that we can work from home, which has led to digital nomads, working around the world. All you need is your trusty laptop and an Internet connection and you are set up. However, not all countries offer the same benefits and a new report from Flamingo has revealed the five cheapest destinations for digital nomads to make a living. In many cases, it is cheaper to work from other countries than it is to work at home.

Cheapest destinations for digital nomads

As noted by Flamingo, since the rise in remote workers, more and more countries are introducing digital nomad visas to welcome remote workers and freelancers. These visas allow digital nomads to live and work in the country for a specified period, whilst being employed and drawing an income from a business based outside the country.

The report analyzed the average cost of living (rent, transport, utility bills and food) in the countries against the average full-time salary in the US and the UK. Now, the business website has released the top five cheapest countries for digital nomads from their own research.

5. Indonesia for digital nomads

When it comes to travelers, Southeast Asia has always been popular, but these days, digital nomads are also getting into the game. All this year, Bali has surged in popularity and it is easy to see why. Bali’s gorgeous scenery, fascinating culture and affordable cost of living make a huge draw for remote workers. However, it isn’t just Bali, the whole country is among the cheapest places to remotely work and live.

Making a living, while saving money and enjoying great travel experiences puts Indonesia at number 5 in the report.

4. North Macedonia for remote working

You might not know much about North Macedonia, but its neighbor, Albania has recently been booming with digital nomads. Known for short as Macedonia, this off-the-path European country is becoming popular with remote workers, who travel there for a laid-back and affordable stay.

To give an idea, a budget of under $2,000 per month is comfortable to live and work in the capital of Skopje. Alternatively, heading out of the city to a lakeside town is even better.

3. Colombia for digital nomads

Strictly speaking, Colombia and Macedonia were an even tie in Flamingo’s research. Here, the beautiful city of Medellin is one of the most popular for remote workers. In fact, travelers have enjoyed a cheap way of life here since before digital nomads became a thing.

One thing that makes the city great is the large expat community to help them settle down. Meanwhile, it was popular before working remotely became a major thing and more cities have opened up for digital nomads besides Medellin, including Santa Marta.

4. Remote working in Argentina

Back in 2022, Argentina announced a goal of welcoming 22,000 digital nomads by this time in 2023. However, they probably didn’t anticipate the main reason why the country is so popular with remote workers. Unfortunately for Argentina, there has been a huge drop-off in the value of its currency.

However, this benefits digital nomads by making it even more affordable. Moreover, this South American country was already popular with budget travelers, it is now attracting remote workers, who are only too happy to save some money.

1. Sri Lanka cheapest for digital nomads

Surprisingly, Sri Lanka comes out tops as the cheapest location in the world for digital nomads. All this year, the beautiful island nation has been trending as a popular travel destination. However, now is has become the top place for remote workers.

This news comes at a time when Sri Lanka has announced a new digital nomad visa, making the way for remote workers to live, work and play here. Moreover, the minimum income requirement is $2,000, which is easy to manage. The only caveat is that the income must go through the Sri Lankan banking system.

Meanwhile, the visa lasts for one year and as long as the income requirements are still being met, it can be renewed. Applying for the visa costs $500, but this gorgeous, scenic destination and low cost of living make it worth the price.

Find out more about the research carried out on Flamingo’s website here.