Are you a digital nomad or would like to become one? Whether you’re just new to this world or have been working remotely for some time already, in this guide you’ll find dozens of tips and resources to make the most of your life as a digital nomad. From websites to search for remote jobs to the best destinations for digital nomads, coworking directories and other useful links. Keep reading to learn more about this lifestyle!
Becoming a digital nomad: how to find a remote job
If you already have a remote job, you can skip to the next section. But if you would like to live the digital nomad life, and your current situation doesn’t allow it yet, don’t worry. You shouldn’t give up. Possibilities are endless, but here are your two best bets: (1) becoming a freelancer, or (2) working remotely for a company.
Becoming a freelancer
Are you passionate about anything or have a hobby that you wish you could turn into a business? These days, everything is possible! If you don’t even know where to start, you can maybe get inspiration from these books for freelancers, where you’ll find tons of useful tips that will contribute to getting that idea of yours off the ground.
Starting your own business and building a solid client database is not a piece of cake and takes a lot of time and effort. Granted. But once you’ve overcome the obstacles of setting up your business, you’ll be able to live the life that you want, with the freedom to choose where you want to be. Forever. So despite all the hurdles you’ll face in the beginning, isn’t it worth the try?
Did you know that the Czech Republic is one of the countries offering better tax benefits to freelancers? If this sounds interesting, then you should totally check out this post about how to become a freelancer in the Czech Republic.
Working remotely for a company
Freelancing is not your cup of tea? Don’t worry, you can still be a digital nomad! Just find yourself a remote job. In the last few decades, and especially in the aftermath of the pandemic, there’s been a sharp rise in the number of companies that have become location-independent, hiring employees from all over the world. Needless to say that this has led to an increasing number of job search sites that focus mainly on this type of employment. Below you’ll find a list of some of the best ones that are available for free.
10 best sites to search for remote jobs
- Angel List
- Crossover
- Jobespresso
- NoDesk
- Otta
- Remote OK
- Search Remotely
- Truly Remote
- We Work Remotely
- Working Nomads
Where to live as a digital nomad
The best part about becoming a digital nomad is that you have freedom to choose where you’d like to work, be it at home in your own country or abroad (or a mix of both depending on your mood!). Those who prefer to embark on an adventure abroad have two main possibilities: (1) long-term stays in one country, or (2) traveling around.
Long-term stays in one country: best destinations
We are very lucky to have a lot of digital nomads visiting our coworking space. Here’s a list of their 5 most mentioned destinations.
Madeira (Portugal)
In February 2021, the Tourism Board of Madeira launched a new project aimed at attracting digital nomads from all over the world. The new Digital Nomad Village offers remote workers countless benefits: free coworking space, events every day of the week, a Slack community to connect with other nomads on the island and a team of hosts, among other things.
Gran Canaria (Spain)
Good weather all year round, amazing beaches and surfing after work. This is what awaits you in Gran Canaria! No wonder the island has one of the largest digital nomad hubs in Europe.
Thailand
Be it for its idyllic beaches, its beautiful nature or for its affordable cost of living, Thailand has become one of the most popular destinations in Asia for digital nomads. Some of the top destinations inside the country are Chiang Mai, Koh Lanta or Phuket.
Cabo Verde
Cabo Verde has just launched a program similar to that of Madeira. The Remote Working Program offers self-employed professionals a temporary work/tourism visa valid for 6 months. The project is still at a very early stage, but we can already predict that this archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean will become a hot spot for digital nomads in the next few months.
Prague (Czech Republic)
Alright, we might be a bit biased, but we’re not the only ones to claim this. In fact, Prague is often ranked the best city to live in Europe for digital nomads and remote working. Among other things, it stands out for its low cost of living, but in this post you’ll find 10 reasons why Prague is a good city to live in as a digital nomad. What’s more, the Czech Republic offers digital nomad visas for non-European freelancers and digital nomads who wish to stay in the country for more than 90 days – which is the maximum period allowed with a tourist visa -.
Other destinations for digital nomads
You shouldn’t limit yourself to the destinations above. The possibilities are endless and there are many cities in the world that provide great conditions to remote workers. Some examples are Lisbon (Portugal), Cape Town (South Africa), Buenos Aires (Argentina) or Bali (Indonesia). Click here for a full list of the best rated cities.
Traveling around
Some people have itchy feet and prefer to take this opportunity to explore the world. If that sounds like you, just know that you can either travel solo or join a group of other digital nomads. Companies like Hacker Paradise or Remote Year run trips for remote workers all year round and to thousands of destinations around the world. South Africa, Argentina, Kenya or Indonesia are only a few examples. Their trips usually include accommodation, coworking space (we are a regular host for both companies), and activities on site, and the main advantage is that you travel with a group of other digital nomads, so you’ll certainly make new friends.
Coworking spaces
Being a digital nomad has numerous benefits, but also a few drawbacks. One of them is loneliness. If you work alone all day, you might miss some human interaction. That’s why coworking spaces play a key role in digital nomads’ daily life. So whenever you travel to a new destination, make sure to get yourself acquainted with the coworking options available in the area. There exist many good directories where you can search for coworking spaces all around the world. You’ll find one of the most comprehensive lists at coworker.com.
And if Prague is on your bucket list, you should totally give Locus Workspace a try. It has a reputation for being the best coworking space for digital nomads in the city, with international members coming from more than 20 different countries and English as the main language in the space.
Other useful resources for digital nomads
Nomad List
Nomad List is one of the most useful resources to search for the best places to live as a digital nomad. Every city is scored based on different parameters, such as cost of living, temperature and safety. Definitely a great starting point to pick a destination.
Hobo With A Laptop
Hobo With A Laptop shares valuable insights for people who would like to learn how to make money online from anywhere in the world. Some examples of resources available on their website are how to plan your travel, learning to blog and even a course on crypto crash.
Outsite
Outsite offers coliving spaces in cities all around the world, with accommodation options ranging from apartments to studios and private rooms. By becoming a member of their community, you’ll also get the chance to connect with their 2,500+ members and benefit from many other perks. On top of providing accommodation and a solid community, Outside also organizes retreats and owns a couple of cowork cafés in Lisbon (Portugal) and Puerto Vallarta (Mexico).
Xolo
Xolo is a tool aimed at helping independent solopreneurs across the globe with compliance, taxation and invoicing.
Digital nomad stories
If you’d like to get inspiration from other digital nomads, you can check out our interview with Fredrik Hagen, who told us about his life as a digital nomad.
