Digital Nomad Guides

Cheapest Countries for Full Time Digital Nomad in 2024

Despite the raging inflation that took over the world lately, there are still countries in this world where you can get a big bang for your buck.

If you’re a digital nomad – or working remotely – you can always take advantage of the lower cost of living in some amazing foreign country.

Today, I will share with you my list of the top 10 cheap countries to be a full time digital nomad in 2024.

From popular choices like Thailand and the Philippines, to lesser known options, I am sure that my list will offer amazing options!

Basically, you can choose any from my previous list of countries where you can live on $500 per month – but in today’s article, I am also including those that require a bit more, but also offer more in return.

Plus, these countries are better suited to fit digital nomads, offering at least decent and reliable WiFi, being great hubs for nomads so you can meet people like you and are very safe for foreigners.

So without further ado, let’s check out below the 10 best cheapest countries for digital nomads!

10. Thailand

modern Thailand

You really can’t have a list of hot spots for digital nomads these days without including Thailand.

So even though you heard this over and over again, I have to say it too: Thailand is cheap and beautiful and has a lot to offer to digital nomads. And yes, with a bit of budgeting, it’s still possible to live in Thailand on $500 per month!

Sure, there will be some adjustments you’ll have to make if you decide to live in this country, but with a single room renting for as low as $150 per month and a full meal available for 50 cents, you can easily get past the downsides.

And there is more to Thailand than Chiang Mai and Koh Samui, which are slowly becoming extremely Westernized (in price-terms as well). Pick a more remote location, embrace the local lifestyle and enjoy your new life!

The expected cost of living: $800 per month

9. Bulgaria

Bulgaria cheap digital nomad destination

One of the cheapest countries to live in the EU, Bulgaria is a rough gem hidden far away from the beaten path.

But with a nice history, party-loving and extremely friendly people and one of the cheapest costs of living in Europe, Bulgaria is definitely a great choice for those looking to explore Europe, maybe set up home base there and do it on the cheap.

You have great options when choosing your city, from the growing digital nomad hub of Bansko up in the mountains, to various beach resorts (Varna or Burgas) and everything in between.

The expected cost of living: as low as $1,000 per month

If interested in Europe, check out my previous article listing the best cities in Europe to set up home base as a digital nomad.

8. Bolivia

cheap digital nomad destination bolivia

If you’re looking for a country with decent weather all year long, but also with a low cost of living, Bolivia is a great choice.

This South-American country is landlocked, so no beaches for you, but you do get amazingly beautiful cities, no matter if you choose the picturesque ones in the mountains or the smaller ones in the plains.

I recommend choosing Sucre, actually, as it meets a bit of both worlds – but you really can’t go wrong with any of the major cities in the country. And you also have a high chance to meet fellow nomads in the region.

So if you want to be closer to the US than with most of the other options, but at a fraction of the cost of living in the US, Bolivia is a great choice. If not, I also have an article listing the best US cities for digital nomads, so make sure you check it out as well!

Expected cost of living: as low as $800 per month

7. Indonesia

Indonesia cheap digital nomad destination

Although I haven’t been to Indonesia yet, it is high on my “to see” list and I hope that I will be able to spend a lot of time there sooner rather than later. And not just for the great Indonesian women

I love the people from what I’ve seen and heard, I love the Indonesian culture and all the beautiful things you can see there, I love everything about Indonesia and I know that it can be really cheap to live in the country.

I am not only talking about Bali here, which is the most popular destination – the entire country is beautiful.

Just put your finger on the map to choose a place in Indonesia and it will be lovely! Or follow the same route that most are following, rent a room in Ubud and be surrounded by fellow nomads living the life there!

Expected cost of living: as low as $800 per month

6. Vietnam

Cheap countries to be a digital nomad in - Vietnam

A cheap country even by SE-Asia standards, Vietnam is quickly growing and becoming a top destination for digital nomads and those people looking for a really cheap – yet extremely beautiful – place to live in.

It’s true that most of the country can still be considered rural and you’ll have trouble finding high speed internet there, but there are still plenty of options available and prices are incredibly low.

Even if you get scammed there, as all tourists get eventually, you will still consider it cheap! And if you plan to spend more time there, you might want to check out my guide to Vietnamese girls too.

Expected cost of living: as low as $700 per month

5. Albania

digital nomad woman in Albania

I think that this is the most underrated country on this list. A real hidden gem, this small European country is perfect for being a digital nomad in.

Go for cities like Sarande or Ksamil and you’re basically in Greece, but at half the price. (Literally, you can see the Greek island of Corfu).

Any of the coastal cities in Albania are a great choice – and those that have recorded the most massive growth recently – but so is Tirana, the capital.

Albania is not in the European Union, nor in the Schengen area, so it makes it easier to play with the Schengen visiting rules. The country itself is charming and has a lot of old-school charm, with people being extremely friendly here.

And with Albania not being as popular of a tourist destination as many other countries, it’s also one of the most authentic experiences you can have, on the cheap, in Europe. And if you’re interested to maybe set some roots there, check out my Guide to Dating Albanian Women.

The estimated cost of living: as low as $750 per month

4. Laos

Cheap countries to be a digital nomad in - Laos

This one is more for the people who enjoy out of the beaten path destinations in SE Asia, similar to Vietnam, I would say.

If you want a dusty, almost Western living experience when you work, you’ll get it here, but you’ll still be surrounded by nature anywhere you go.

The capital is on the border with Thailand, so it’s close to the action. And then, you step away from there and get to the heart of Laos, where it’s jungles and temples all over the place! Awesome!

Expected cost of living: as low as $700 per month

3. Cambodia

Cheap countries to be a digital nomad in - Cambodia

A nice commuter plane ride away from Thailand, this country is laid back, but be on the lookout as always: the history here is wonderful.

The prices are low, the people are still extremely friendly towards foreigners and even though the quality of the internet is lacking in most areas, there are many other things to make up for it. (And you can still get some work done in the mean time)

Living in Cambodia is also extremely cheap even by SE Asia standards, so expect to pay as low as $700 per month living here.

2. Colombia

Cheap countries to be a digital nomad in - colombia

While this is not one of the safest countries in the world, with petty crime still being the norm if you choose to explore the shadier neighborhoods (I know, I was robbed in Bogota), Colombia remains a solid and generally safe country to be in as a DN, as long as you take common sense precautions.

An amazing culture, great weather and incredibly friendly people – these are the things that will make you fall in love in Colombia.

The prices are still very low in the country, although I’ve seen them going up more and more, as it becomes a more popular choice among foreigners, but you can still make ends meet here on a lot less than in many parts of the world.

And have I mentioned that this country is beautiful? I have – but you can never say it enough! And the same goes for the fiery Colombian women (and Colombian men, for that matter)!

Expected cost of living: as low as $800 per month

1. Philippines

digital nomad enjoying nature in cheap Philippines

I think even with all the corruption here, it’s worth a look and the bang for your buck is bigger than in most of the South Eastern Asian countries.

Not to mention the fact that the country itself is absolutely beautiful and the people extremely friendly towards foreigners.

And you do have to try the food there, even if you don’t plan to stay for too long: some people absolutely hate it, but most – myself included absolutely love it. You have to see it for yourself and try it before you decide.

I went a bit more in depth sharing the cost of living in Cebu, but there are way cheaper cities (maybe even more charming ones) where you can live on less and really enjoy life as the locals are very friendly towards foreigners.

Expected cost of living: as low as $800 per month

Wrapping up

So these would be some otherwise unsurprising choices for the best cheap countries to be a digital nomad in.

South East Asia is still dominating the charts and basically any country there can be considered a solid option, with very low costs.

Whether you call yourself a digital nomad or a location independent individual, the truth is that one element is extremely important when it comes to choosing your next destination: costs.

Everybody knows that living a life of constant travel is not cheap and even if you are as frugal as possible, expenses do add up – you can read more about the costs of being a digital nomad here.

But the truth is that some countries are cheaper to live in than others. For those lucky enough to earn a living (or have savings) in a strong currency like the USD or Euro to mention just a couple, their money will actually buy them a lot more in some countries.

And this is the case with all the options recommended above. You probably have heard about them already, but maybe my descriptions can help you choose one and go there. And if you still need more options, this article will sure come in handy, as it’s all about budget-oriented living:

What other cheap countries would you add to the list for digital nomads on a budget?

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Calin Ciabai

Living a location-independent lifestyle since 2008, I love to create content and manage websites. I write mainly about travel, video games, and health, but also other passions of mine. On Nomad Not Mad, I'm sharing all the knowledge I have gathered over all these years of traveling the world, the highs and lows, the beautiful places I visited, and all the disappointing ones as well.

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2 Comments

  1. Nice article Callin. I agree with most options on the list, the only one I am questioning is Cuba. As far as I know, interenet is still a rarity there. So if you need to work online, it’s not ideal. But I’ve been 5 years ago. Has it changed since then?

    1. That is correct, internet is really bad in Cuba but things are much better now than they were 5 years ago. You’ll still have to go old school and visit an internet cafe to do some work, but that’s part of the Cuban charm and a new way for you to meet new people. A challenge as well – even though internet seems to get better and better each year.

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