One of the greatest authorities in the digital nomad community, the Nomad Capitalist, has finally unveiled its prized list of Best Countries For Digital Nomads in 2025.
As these top experts note, there’s been a big jump in the number of remote workers last year compared to 2019, rising from 7.3 to 18.1 million: a mind-blowing 147% increase.
That’s attributed to the popularization of the nomadic lifestyle and the workcation trends, as well as the introduction of digital nomad visas, which have made it easier for long-term travelers to set up bases abroad and the overall relaxation of rules.
In curating their list, the Nomad Capitalist took into account 5 main points:
Safety: in this ever-evolving, crazy world of geopolitics, with conflicts erupting left, right and center, this remains a primary concern for nomads traveling across borders
Digital nomad community: the best workcation hubs are the ones where you get to meet like-minded people, and nomad-friendly services are widely available
Immigration policies: it usually helps if the country in question has easier visa rules or even a Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) in place
Tax regime: the whole point of working remotely for some is not being burdened by tax in their home country, and in that case, zero or low-tax destinations provide a much-needed relief
Investment opportunities: be it the entrepreneurial scene or the real estate landscape, the best nomad hubs are the ones welcoming foreigners who want to settle with open arms
Of course, your tried-and-true favorites that we have been covering extensively for months now have made it, but there have been a couple of surprises we didn’t see coming.
Without further ado, here are the top 5 countries Nomad Capitalist believes should be on your radar going into 2025:
Costa Rica
A beautiful Central American country characterized by its lush, volcanic nature, unspoiled coastline, and sprawling capital city, colonial-era San José, Costa Rica is a paradise for nomads keen on friendlier tax regimes and low bureaucracy.
It’s not the cheapest country in the Global South, but it offers a lower cost of living than the average North American city, and foreigners based in the national territory are formally exempted from taxes on foreign-earned income––how great?
Plus, Costa Rica recently launched a DNV, allowing location-independent workers to stay for an entire year, so long as they fulfill two main requirements: they must earn a minimum $3,000 monthly, and from a foreign-based source.
Among other strengths is the thriving expat community in Costa Rica, which serves as an indication there is infrastructure in place to accommodate them: according to the Nomad Capitalist, over 500,000 out of 5 million residents are non-locals.
Georgia
As in the country, not the state: nestled between the Caucasus Mountains and the Black Sea, in a gray area sometimes considered to be Eastern Europe, and more often than not as Western Asia, Georgia is an incredibly ancient nation that never fully took off as a tourist destination.
However, it’s found its true calling as a digital nomad haven, with the national capital Tbilisi in particular having become a favorite in recent years for its cafe culture, affordable prices, and fascinating architecture, spanning over 1,500 years of human activity.
That being said, the recent influx of Russians and Ukrainians following the Russo-Ukrainian War has resulted in a fluctuation of rental prices, and though the cost of living has risen, Georgia remains a cheaper alternative to a euroized Europe.
Its greatest triumph lies in a liberal immigration policy and low taxes: Americans and citizens of at least 90 countries can stay in Georgia for an entire year visa-free while paying taxes as low as 1% when registering as Individual Entrepreneurs.
Thailand
One of the non-surprising features is that Thailand is the global Mecca for digital nomads for two main reasons: first, it is simply downright gorgeous, from the idyllic, mountain-traversed north to the island-fringed coast, and second, it is a steal of a deal for those making dollars.
Bangkok has been named countless times one of the world’s leading nomad destinations, owing it to a sizable expat community and riotous nightlife, whereas Chiang Mai, in the north, is the more laid-back alternative with amazing food and cheap rent.
The islands are a tad too touristy for our liking, particularly Phuket, yet you’re sure to find your crowd there if you’re a beach-loving backpacker or a social butterfly (just make sure you budget accordingly as daily expenses on these resort islands are higher than the mainland).
Unfortunately, Thailand doesn’t have a DNV in place: instead, it has a Golden Visa, allowing big-earners to live in the country for ten years if they have US$25,000 in the bank––alternatively, as a U.S. passport holder, you can stay as a tourist for up to 2 months at a time.
Indonesia
The country of over 17,000 islands, the most famous of which is nomad-colonized Bali, Indonesia is hyped for its picturesque rice terraced-countryside, rustic villas with plunge outdoor pools in the heart of the jungle, tropical beaches and epic sunset hikes.
It’s a nature lovers’ version of what heaven looks like, and when you add to that the hostel parties, laptop-friendly eateries, and $8 curbside massages, you start getting a sense of what life in a sun-drenched island in Southeast Asia could feel like.
Unfortunately, long-term visas are limited to affluent nomads, high-profile individuals, or expats with a job offer: the average Joe can only be present in Bali and Indonesia as a whole for 30 days upon purchasing a visa on arrival.
This can be extended for an additional 30 days if you plan on staying longer in the Island of the Gods––the Nomad Capitalist adds that nomads have the option to request a C211A visa, granting them a 6-month stay on the basis of earning at least $2,000-a-month.
Malaysia
Typically overshadowed by Singapore, the highly-developed city-state just off its mainland, Malaysia is a rapidly developing country best represented internationally by Kuala Lumpur, a skyscraper-dotted financial center nomads have been flocking to lately for that vibrant city life.
Despite its relative anonymity, Malaysia boasts some of the most beautiful natural sceneries in Southeast Asia, from the rainforests of Penang Island to the otherworldly bat and monkey refuge that is the Batu Caves, and you could easily spend an entire lifetime here and still not see it all.
Whether it’s an offbeat Pangkor, an unspoiled island where turquoise seas lap white-sand beaches, or the charming George Town, a colorful European-style settlement packed full of brightly-painted facades, British landmarks, and bars, life in Malaysia comes really cheap.
Based on Nomads.com, you can spend as little as $895 living like a local in Malaysia without the excess luxuries short-term visitors find themselves indulging in, and you’re even welcome for up to 3 months as an American without a visa.
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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.
