By Athenas Cati Malavé | @athenasglauks
If you are passionate about travel and have the veins of an entrepreneur, you have surely thought of taking your laptop and all your work to a wonderful destination. Therefore, whether you’re an expert or just exploring what it’s like to work as a freelancer, I’ve selected a list of the best cities for digital nomads. These places will not only allow you to do your job, but they are incredible for enjoying new cultures.
What is a digital nomad?
When you hear about digital nomads, you should know that it is the term that has been used lately to refer to people who work independently of the geographical location where we are, using the technology of the cities to fulfill our tasks.
While it is true that graphic designers and writers use the appellation of freelancers, in the world of the Internet, recent trends have opted for the name of digital nomad, which although it may sound abstract, current researchers in the area of Human Resources, have estimated that in 2035, one billion people on the planet, will work in different cities under this mode, having the advantage of visiting different cities while developing a project.
This is partly because more and more people are unhappy with the standard model where they spend 8 or 9 hours working in cramped workspaces for 5 days a week, and that’s not counting overtime and setbacks that many have to deal with in an average office or city.
Thanks to the development of the modern digital age and remote communications, old working rules and structures are disappearing, and new opportunities to work remotely in other cities are increasing.
However, while your friends may be jealous when they see your latest digital photos of you with your laptop on the beach, it is also important for you to know that deep down it is not all glamorous because they do not know the other side of the coin, where certain practical and technological aspects could be difficult to cope in the life of a digital nomad, regardless of the cities you might visit.
Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Many think they can arrive in these cities and instantly connect their devices. Well, let me tell you that on more than one occasion I had headaches even at airports, where connectivity is not always so easy to get.
Anyway, this expertise will be perfected and expanded, and possibly in less than you think you will be getting your travel backpack ready to visit some cities and take that big jump.
What makes a great location for digital nomads?
There is no single answer to this because digital nomads (YouTubers, Instagrammers, Bloggers, writers of different categories and graphic designers) can occupy 1 million jobs in different cities. However, you can also find diverse writers, online teachers, virtual assistants, voice instructors, translators, artists, etc.
Whatever your profession, choosing a location is very important. Adventurous YouTubers in grey and monotonous cities would struggle to obtain material, and an online class broadcast by a teacher from that cocktail bar on an exotic beach would be considered unprofessional.
So here are 3 essential features for a city to be considered excellent for a digital nomad.
Internet
Without access to the network, it’s like you’re a horseless rider. Not only must you have WIFI service with which you can share the requested material with the world and your Clients, but the connection of these cities must be good and stable. So if you are digital nomads living in Venezuela, it is better to pack your bags for your next destination.
Profitable
This is not very important if you are making a lot of money, but most digital nomads have fluctuating incomes. It is thus important that you research the cost of living in the cities you like by destination.
You should also know that technology in digital environments moves so fast, algorithms change and can cripple any online business overnight. Nothing is safe, so you will always want to keep an eye on your spending and think that when you visit other cities it is better to rent seasonally, not for a whole year.
Inspiring
This type of digital work tends to be quite solitary, so while it is true that you will spend much of your time by the side of your laptop, in your free moments you should take advantage and look for inspiration in such cities.
That’s why when you select digital nomadic cities, it should be an extra task for you to do it thinking about vibrant cultures, creativity, beautiful natural landscapes and of course some tranquility at the time of the siesta.
Inspiring destinations
Now it’s time to meet some inspiring destinations. In these places, you will enjoy the benefits of being a digital nomad.
Canggu, Bali
For the nomads who love Asian destinations and those gastronomic-cultural environments surrounded by beaches, you will surely love island cities such as Canggu, a small coastal town of 10 km, located on the southern coast of Bali, Indonesia.
This is one of the places that for a long time was the favorite destination of hippies, hipsters, and bohemians, but after the boom that the digital nomads have been having in different cities of the world, since 2012, it was transformed into a place indicated for travelers interested in business, offering coworking spaces specialized in corporate and independent, only that some places are noisy and concurred, although always you will find others calmer.
If you are not very demanding, you will perceive that most of these environments and cybercafes have decent internet, food points, and a low cost in terms of accommodation and food; however if your lifestyle includes beach parties and cocktails, you will spend your digital savings quickly.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Changing completely from the scenario of Asian cities, one of my favorite destinations in Argentina is Buenos Aires. The city offers exceptional architecture and pleasant hospitality by its people, which is capable of seducing curious souls.
Although it is not one of the cheapest cities for those of us who are digital nomads, if you stick to the budget, and rent 1 single room within walking distance of the center, and even outside the central area, you could have a good time.
There you can refresh your ideas in bohemian and multicultural environments, full of parks, a beautiful Japanese Garden (which I always visit), good live music, tango, street art, protests, etc. Besides, you don’t have to worry about renting a car since public transportation is affordable and reliable. And as for your work, don’t worry, as Buenos Aires not only has hundreds of areas for digital nomads doing corporate work but also hosts thousands of Starbucks and other incredible cafes, which provide excellent free WIFI.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Again Asia calls me, but this time to go to the north of Thailand to one of the most relevant cities of the country, and with a lot of diversity for digital nomads.
This is Chiang Mai, located 700 km from the capital Bangkok, which offers a mixture of hundreds of Buddhist temples, beautiful natural landscapes, and a combination of the bustle of the city, creative digital games and free yoga sessions scattered around the city, along with important spiritual retreats for you to meditate.
Although it cannot be considered the most beautiful city in Thailand, the cost of living is difficult to overcome for digital nomads.
Thus you will find in Chiang Mai, one of the cheapest cities in the Asian continent, from accommodation to street food, cafes, bike rental. You will also have shared and designed workspaces with different sizes and many services, which are usually open 24 hours a day.
Mexico, City
Even though we know that it is not one of the cities that offer the best security and that the cost of rentals is of average level, the Mexican capital is offering many innovations in terms of technology and intelligent digital spaces where any research and business team can fit together getting everything in one place.
Consequently, in the capital you will find an excellent area with nomadic workers, cyber cafes, delicious traditional food, museums of historical relevance, colonial buildings, a lively nightlife illuminated by digital lights, as well as a host of qualities that will invite you in the day to day to explore, work, close business as nomads of this last generation.
Medellin, Colombia
For those who are digital nomads from the north of the American continent, can take 1 flight and go further south, so they will know another of the emerging cities with great potential in this world.
I am referring to Medellín, which although it still has a reputation for being full of rampant and dangerous violence, with crimes everywhere in terms of wallet theft and drug trafficking, is just that, the bad reputation of the past. The panorama it offers us today is completely prosperous, technological and vindicated, suitable for digital nomads.
Recent investments in infrastructure, commerce, finance, and networking have attracted passive income earners, as well as graphic designers and digital writers. The place is friendly, profitable and offers good fun for those who love dancing, and those who appreciate hiking while providing workspaces in keeping with the relentless pace of the nomads and the last-minute clientele, as well as cozy cafes with greater privacy and excellent WIFI.
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest marks our first European entrance for digital nomads, and it comes to give us a completely different feeling to the exotic beach, but it is excellent for historians, researchers, writers, artists and passionate about culture, history, and museums, giving us the contrasts that the river Danube has marked with time: the old and the most contemporary.
Besides being the capital and offering a quite cheap cost of living in comparison with other places in Western Europe, Budapest has beautifully lit buildings that will leave you breathless especially if you like to walk at night; the efficient transport service and hundreds of cafes and spaces perfectly equipped with the latest technology, so all the digital nomads, will get in this corner of the world, one of the most affordable cities to work.
Krakow, Poland
I’ve always thought that everyone should spend some time in this city of medieval origin. In spite of having the harsh winter, in other seasons its temperature is delicious, besides Krakow is one of the cheapest places in Europe, suitable for digital nomads, with fast internet, an incredible culture, history, and night activities; but, if you want to explore more, you could plan visits to archaeological vestiges that date from the Stone Age near Wawel.
Now for the features you are looking for among the cities for digital nomads, you can count on incredible offers of accommodation, and abundant and inexpensive spaces for teamwork, which will allow you, once you finish your work, to spend time visiting other sectors of the Lesser Poland voivodship.
Lisbon, Portugal
If the cold weather is not for you and you are looking for other cities with better characteristics for digital nomads, I will recommend you a visit to Lisbon, which in addition to an excellent climate, can offer you open and closed office spaces that range from the most luxurious to other contractually bohemian, inviting us to work as a team or alone.
Besides, it has given way to the creation of important creative artistic centers, whose function is to extend your creativity to the limit. These centers are located in art galleries, museums, and pubs, so you will find inspiration in Lisbon. The cost of living is more expensive than Asian cities, but the amount of fun you can have here is worth every euro. From the digital creative spaces, I mention to the night activities, beaches, surfing, wine, fish, beer, history, culture and architectural heritage, which make this geographical destination a paradise for digital nomads.
Tbilisi, Georgia
Although Georgia is a world away from the typical choices that nomadic freelancers crave, it is worthy of being next to the list of the best cities, as its strategic geographical location between Asia and Europe has given it a historical diversity between the modern, the medieval and the ancient, when it was part of the Silk Road.
Nowadays I can tell you that the budget to live there is competitive, but you can save something if you stay outside the city, and as the public transport is super cheap, you will not have any problem to get quickly to the center, also if you are nature lovers, you can take advantage and enjoy the range of mountains that surrounds the region.
As far as working spaces are concerned, they are slowly starting to emerge, but the tendency is to standardize this type of business; but don’t worry as you can always find a coffee shop and an excellent free WIFI connection, which will facilitate any of your investigations and submissions.
Prague, Czech Republic
If you want to find one of the cities that are part of the European charm, Prague is one of those real jewels. It’s beautiful, ancient, romantic, and mysterious. It seems that there are always new avenues, little corners, beer gardens, cafes, and magic gardens.
It is a joy to walk through the cobbled streets and listen to people from all over the world passing by, surrounded by every language and every accent.
Although accommodation is not the cheapest thing in the world, you can find good deals through Airbnb or rent privately, and if you can avoid the temptation of eating out in one of the millions of delicious restaurants, you can easily control your expenses.
As for the list of digital nomad cities, I offer you, I can tell you that the community for these shared offices is small, but there are many cybercafes designed even by nomads. What I must warn you is that during the summer the places fill up quickly and you will hardly find quiet places when you need to concentrate on your work.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Again in Asia, it is essential to recommend Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Its facilities are low cost but exotic enough for nomads, reminding you that you are immersed in another culture, so maybe it is not the right place for the more experienced but for beginners you will find it great.
Its offices and work areas are abundant and economical, also have meeting rooms and social events where you can intertwine friendships and new contacts with other digital nomadic colleagues, in charge of Social Networks. Without a doubt, it is among the cities you should go at least once, so have your documentation ready in your passport holder.
Tenerife, Spain
When you think of Tenerife, you probably associate it with a party town or family vacation. While the beach atmosphere is impressive, along with the natural landscape, outdoor activities, and nightclubs, you can find more to the north, nomadic areas of personal and shared work with good free connectivity of which I suggest you use a VPN.
Accommodation ranges can be luxurious, but you will also find cozy apartments with a view to the Atlantic, quite affordable and you can rent them when you need to breathe some fresh air.
Sofia, Bulgaria
Another city of digital nomads that has increased its development is located in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria as the workplaces are perfectly equipped with the best technology, which includes from an excellent connection, desks, printers, burners, centers to install your portable battery charger, etc. They even have specialized personnel that will assist you in the creation of networks if required.
The accommodation is very affordable, and the budget to invest is as a dream compared to other European destinations. The city is also beautiful, offering mountain and sea views, and with low-cost airfares, you can easily explore Romania, Greece, Turkey, Serbia, and Macedonia.
Barcelona, Spain
Another of the digital nomadic cities famous all over the world for the beauty of its Gaudi buildings, its history, gastronomic multiculturalism, beaches, and nightlife activities, is Barcelona, so you should be encouraged to experience it at least once in your life.
The city offers a lot of inspiration in these workstations. They have designs that invite you to increase your creativity. They also have a Silicon Valley and beautiful coffee shops where you can watch the world go by while working with excellent Wi-Fi. The only problem is that the boom and reliability have increased the cost of living as they have become one of the most popular destinations for successful freelancers.
Estonia
If you’re ready for me to cheer you on and say: «The world is waiting for you, work where you’ve always wished», pay attention to this last location of digital nomads. I know, Estonia is a country and not a city, but in its entirety offers great advantages in the world of technology as it was the birthplace of Skype and Transferwise, also has developed the first Digital Nomad Visa in the world, offering from the best connectivity when working with social networks, to workspaces in environments surrounded by forests, beaches, and urbanism.
® Athenasglauks | Athenas Cati | Athenasojosdelechuza 2020
_________________________________________________________________________
Other Sources
Images
@manuelramirezdg, @Mariamichelle, @victormattei, @Julianza, @tpsdave, @nextvoyage, @DimaLiss, @mostafa_meraji, @Roman80, @dMz, @CD_Photosaddict, @sharonang_
Athenasglauks 