With the rise of remote work and the increasing popularity of digital nomadism, more and more people are seeking out locations that offer a balanced lifestyle. These destinations need to provide a mix of affordable living, a thriving community, good work-life balance, and access to amenities and activities. In this blog post, we will explore the best digital nomad destinations for a balanced lifestyle in 2023, taking into account the cost of living, community, work-life balance, access to amenities, and more.
Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain Barcelona is a bustling city with a rich history, culture, and nightlife. The city has a high quality of life, with great food, wine, and beaches. The average monthly cost of living in Barcelona is around $1500, with rental costs starting from $700 per month. Internet speeds are generally fast, with many coworking spaces offering high-speed internet. Barcelona also offers a great work-life balance, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy the city’s many parks, museums, and cultural events. In 2023, high inflation has impacted most of Europe. Its best to check the inflation rate and cost of living before moving there.
Medellin
Medellin, Colombia Medellin is a vibrant and affordable digital nomad destination with a thriving expat community. The city offers a great work-life balance, with plenty of opportunities to explore the city’s many parks and outdoor spaces, as well as its museums, art galleries, and cultural events. The average monthly cost of living in Medellin is around $1000, with rental costs starting from $400 per month. Internet speeds are generally fast, with many coworking spaces offering high-speed internet. There is a stigma associated to Columbia. Columbia has changed, in particular Medellin. I will write more blog post and deep dive into each these locations in a separate blog.
Lisbon
Lisbon, Portugal Lisbon has become a popular digital nomad destination in recent years, with its combination of affordability and European charm. The city offers a great work-life balance, with plenty of opportunities to explore its many parks, museums, and cultural events. The average monthly cost of living in Lisbon is around $1200, with rental costs starting from $500 per month. Internet speeds are generally fast, with many coworking spaces offering high-speed internet. In terms of food, its a foodies’ paradise. Lisbon has an excellent food scene with plenty of wine and tapas bar. There is a huge selection of seafood and local produce to satisfy your food cravings.
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, is an up-and-coming digital nomad destination with a vibrant culture and a low cost of living. The city offers a great work-life balance, with plenty of opportunities to explore its many parks and outdoor spaces, as well as its museums, art galleries, and cultural events. The average monthly cost of living in Ho Chi Minh City is around $900, with rental costs starting from $300 per month. Internet speeds are generally fast, with many coworking spaces offering high-speed internet. The thing to note is Ho Chi Minh City’s population is 12 million and if you are not after a busy city, its best to look at the other cities in this list.
Buenos Aires, Argentina Buenos Aires is a cosmopolitan city with a rich history, culture, and nightlife. The city offers a great work-life balance, with plenty of opportunities to explore its many parks and outdoor spaces, as well as its museums, art galleries, and cultural events. The average monthly cost of living in Buenos Aires is around $1000, with rental costs starting from $400 per month. Internet speeds are generally fast, with many coworking spaces offering high-speed internet. Similar to Ho Chi Minh City, Buenos Aires has a large population. The city has approximately 15.5 million inhabitants and if you are not after a busy city, its best to look at the other cities in this list.
In conclusion, there are many destinations that offer a balanced lifestyle for digital nomads in 2023. Whether you are looking for a vibrant city with a rich cultural scene, a relaxed beach town with great surfing, or a cosmopolitan hub with a thriving expat community, there is a destination out there for you. By considering factors such as cost of living, community, work-life balance, access to amenities, and internet speed, you can find the perfect digital nomad destination to suit your needs.
One more thing! When getting around different countries and trying to transfer funds around, I use TransferWise (Known as Wise). This is a multicurrency card used by digital nomads all around the world. it’s the “Most International Debit Card in the World”. You do not need to wait for the physical card. You can use it via Google or Apple Pay straight away. It only takes about 5 minutes to set up. I’ve included a link to the latest deal. If you sign up using this link, you’ll get up to a fee-free transfer up to $1000 when you sign up with this link. Click here to go to Wise.