Top Digital Nomad Destinations 2025: Where to Live and Work Abroad

Asia and Pacific Hubs

Asia remains a hotspot for nomads. Thailand’s Chiang Mai and Bangkok offer excellent infrastructure, low costs, and large expat communities; Chiang Mai is famed for its coworking spaces and visa services for freelancers. Bali (Indonesia) continues to attract with beaches and a lively nomad scene in Canggu and Ubud, though costs have risen in popular areas. Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang are rising stars – affordable living, fast internet, and good food draw many remote workers. For those seeking a unique East Asian experience, Taiwan (Taipei) and South Korea (Seoul) offer modern cities with advanced infrastructure, though visas can be more restrictive.

European Favorites

Europe has several great nomad bases. Portugal’s Lisbon and Porto combine pleasant climates, modern amenities, and the popular D7 visa for long stays. Spain’s cities like Valencia and Barcelona are trendy thanks to warm weather, good coworking spaces, and relatively low living costs for Western Europe. Eastern Europe is gaining attention: Tbilisi, Georgia is extremely affordable and issues a one-year remote-work visa, while Prague and Budapest offer a mix of history, reasonable prices, and strong expat networks. The Canary Islands (Spain) are also popular for offering EU residency with year-round springlike weather.

Americas and Other Regions

In the Americas, Mexico City and Playa del Carmen are top choices – both have vibrant expat communities, affordable living, and good health infrastructure (Mexico also has a friendly visa program for retirees and remote workers). South America’s Medellín (Colombia) remains beloved for its spring-like climate and digital nomad community, even though security concerns remain moderate. Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro are options for Spanish/Portuguese speakers seeking Latin culture. Among “alternative” spots, Tbilisi (Georgia) bridges Europe and Asia with a digital nomad visa, and islands like Bali or Thailand’s Phuket cater to nomads seeking island life. When choosing a destination, weigh factors like cost of living, language, visa ease, internet reliability, and climate. A good rule: places with established coworking spaces or nomad meetups tend to be easier to settle into quickly.