Trust us; we know not all digital nomads are well-off entrepreneurs based in Dubai or Saint Lucia:
In fact, most probably wouldn’t even meet the financial criteria for getting one of those expensive Digital Nomad Visas, let alone leading a luxurious life in a tax haven country––in fact, chances are they’re aged 25-30 and traveling the world on a shoestring budget.
If that resonates with you, you’re probably appalled at how increasingly expensive nomad hotspots have become in recent years, from long-time favorites Portugal and Mexico to (formerly) offbeat gems Georgia and even Argentina.
Have you checked rental prices in Tbilisi or Buenos Aires lately? Wildly higher than before.
Luckily, not all hope is lost for budget-conscious travelers, as these underrated, still-affordable digital nomad destinations continue to offer amazing opportunities, cultural value, and most importantly, they won’t break the bank.
Here are 5 surviving nomad havens where you can still live for under $2,000 a month in 2025:
Vitória, Brazil
With none of the Rio crowds or staggering crime levels, Vitória is your typical Brazilian coastal city fringed by sun-kissed, golden sands and centered around a colonial Old Town dotted with landmark religious structures.
The city center is dominated by a stained glass-decorated Metropolitan Cathedral. Perched on a hilltop, the historic, 16th-century Penha Convent boasts breathtaking views of the city’s high-rise-lined waterfront and its many beaches.
Most importantly, living costs in Vitória average an acceptable $1,801 a month, as estimated by Nomads.com.
Whole, fully furnished apartments can be rented on Airbnb, no contract needed, from only $326 a month.
Sanur, Bali (Indonesia)
Canggu and Ubud are undisputed leaders in Bali when it comes to attracting digital nomads, yet once you look past the jam-packed surfing towns and their overdeveloped jungles, there’s a much more authentic, unspoiled Sanur.
Straddling the southeastern end of the island, it has a long sandy beach wedged between crystalline waters and a biking path, charming eateries right on the shoreline, and it’s even rich in history: the landmark Pura Blanjong is a coral-built temple raised in the 10th century.
The local social scene is far from being as lively as Bali’s usual nomad ‘colonies’, though we say paying only $992-a-month to be based here, instead of $1,910 in Canggu, and benefitting from a more peaceful environment, away from party-ridden backpacking hostels is a fair trade off.
Mendoza, Argentina
There’s no denying digital nomad darling Buenos Aires is becoming increasingly more expensive to live in, with the fluctuating dollar, rising Airbnb rates, and market saturation––nevertheless, this does not mean you have to give up on Argentina as a whole:
There’s always Mendoza, an equally-elegant city in the Cuyo region, famous for its leafy streets flanked by Art Deco buildings and controversial modernist interventions, Spanish-style plazas, and of course, the rolling vineyards that surround it––Cuyo is, after all, Argentina’s wine country.
At this moment, Mendoza is one of the most affordable places to relocate to in Argentina: an inexpensive meal in a local restaurant is $10.50, a one-bedroom city center rental is roughly $353.33, and total expenses average $1,467.
Chiang Rai, Thailand
You’ve probably heard of Chiang Mai, the city of over 300 temples and Thailand’s trendiest digital nomad hub right now, due to its cheap prices and fast-growing expat community––but what of its Northerly counterpart Chiang Rai?
Best known for its ornate temples, most notably Wat Phra Kaew, or ‘White Temple’, Chiang Rai is gaining traction just as quickly amid nomads due to its smaller size, slower-paced lifestyle, and off-path appeal:
If Bangkok’s hectic traffic scenes have traumatized you, this is your chance to heal.
For $1,801 a month, you can browse fruit markets, marvel at colorful temples a short tuk-tuk ride away from your $430-a-month home rental, go for nature walks to unwind in your free time, and gorge on delicious street food from as little as $1.78.
Baku, Azerbaijan
Tbilisi’s golden era as a digital nomad paradise may have arguably passed now that the Russo-Ukrainian War has led to an influx of refugees pouring into Georgia and staggering increases in rent and consumer prices, but there’s a silver lining to be found in Baku, in neighboring Azerbaijan.
An ancient queen combining medieval elements and 21st–century innovativeness–think a UNESCO-listed, walled Old Town backed by a string of glass-and-steel-clad skyscrapers–it is Eurasia’s best-kept secret and the natural follow-up to what’s now an overcrowded Tbilisi.
For instance, it is located in the same geographical region; similarly to Georgia, the local culture has elements of Turkic, Persian, and post-Soviet, and it’s as cheap and off-the-beaten-path as Tbilisi would have been only 3 years ago:
In short, you should budget $1,737 to live in Baku as a nomad.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
