The concept of a digital nomad is pretty new. Essentially, it’s people who work online while traveling the globe. You can work anywhere there’s an internet connection, which is pretty standard nowadays, from different countries and cities. It’s a bit like working from home, except home is wherever you’re sleeping that night.
Why would you want to be a digital nomad? If you love to travel and explore, this could be right up your alley. You go where you want when you want, so you could come back to the US for the holidays then fly back out to catch the New Year in China. You can fly to the southern hemisphere for their summer and then back up to the northern for their summer, or just travel to whatever country catches your fancy. Southeastern Asia? Surprisingly popular with digital nomads. Europe? The Eastern European countries are cheap, safe, and have excellent internet cafes. Africa? Yes, enjoy the unique culture and incredible wildlife with modern necessities. No place is too far (except maybe Antarctica, you still need an internet connection!), and these places are safe to live in.
The only things I would look out for when deciding where to go is are the US travel advisories. They’re a good record of what countries are safe for US citizens to visit, and therefore, live in. If you’re concerned about a city’s crime rate or safety, a quick Google search can give you all the information you need. But most cities around the globe are filled with people just like you! If they can live in the city safely, so can you. But always take some time to learn the culture and the language of the countries you visit. It’s appreciated by the locals, and what’s the point of traveling if you don’t learn about the places you go?
Digital nomads also benefit from having no home country, and therefore, no country they have to pay taxes to. You can still retain citizenship with your base country, but most tax codes say you only have to pay taxes if you earn your money there. Since you’re moving around so much, you never make enough in any country to be taxed. So, tax benefits.
Taxes aside, just how much would you need to make to live like this. Indeed an exorbitant amount for all that traveling and staying in other countries, right? Wrong. As long as you don’t spend three months in a hotel, you can travel the world for only $1,500 a month. Most of the time, you’re getting a short-term apartment or using Airbnb to find a place to stay for a couple months, and depending on your needs, you can find some pretty cheap living quarters. If you’re scoffing right now, I’ll assume you’re American. America has one of the highest cost-of-living globally; everything is more expensive there. A small studio apartment in New York could cost you more in a month than a year in a one-bedroom in the heart of Chiang Mai, Thailand. The only place in the world that comes near America’s cost-of-living is Western Europe, mainly the famous countries like Britain and France. Where you’re going might even be cheaper than your home country. So, traveling the world isn’t just feasible; it might be more affordable than where you are now.
There are downsides to being a digital nomad. You need to keep sharp, watch the news for any changes in the world that might affect you, and constantly research the places you’re going so you know what to watch out for. Traveling the world can be risky, even in the best of times. And it can be isolating. Unless you’re traveling with a partner, you’ll be globetrotting alone, similar to living independently, but you never stay in one place long enough to make good friends. But, at least for me, the promise of the entire world is enough to outweigh these negatives.
I’ve wanted to travel ever since I was a little girl, and the dozens of family vacations and road trips ensured I loved to travel and see new places (it also taught me how to sit still for very long periods). So it only makes sense that I would want to broaden my horizons and see everything the world has to offer when I grew up. Now I as an adult, I’m building my freelance writing business and biding my time until the pandemic is over and I can get out of the country. Digital nomading might not be for everyone, but it is for me, and maybe, it’s for you too.
Written For U 