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These Are The 5 Most Popular Digital Nomad Destinations Right Now According To Travelers - Travel of Path

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These Are The 5 Most Popular Digital Nomad Destinations Right Now According To Travelers - Travel of Path
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By: Vinicius Costa

Digital nomadism is at a new peak of popularity in 2024 with a majority of destinations not only lifting entry restrictions for remote workers, but easing migration paths: as reported by the World Tourism Organization, over half of all countries are offering Digital Nomad Visas.

It’s never been easier to hop around the globe and be location-independent as it is now, whether you’re taking a sabbatical year or going at it for the long-term, but where exactly are nomads most keen on relocating to, and which spots tick all the boxes for them?

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Thanks to Nomad List, the leading platform for digital nomads online, we know where travelers are flocking to, and they can’t seem to get enough of these five gems in particular:

Mexico City, Mexico​

Coming in at number five, the sprawling national capital of Mexico is a world-renowned cultural melting pot where vibrant ethnic neighborhoods, colorful street markets, verdant parks, and some of the finest examples of traditional architecture await.

Nomads love CDMX for how affordable it is – according to previous visitors, it costs on average $1,962 per month to live there – and the variety of work-friendly spots it offers, from the vast selection of quirky, tourist-friendly cafes to well-equipped coworking centers.


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Safety is another huge plus for foreigners relocating temporarily to Mexico City, as it is relatively safe compared to broad Latin American security standards, as is the weather: it is fairly warm year-round, with winter temperatures rarely dropping below 70°F.

Medellin, Colombia​

South America for the win: Medellin charts at number four on Nomad List‘s popularity ranking, and taking into account the low cost of living, the thriving expat community that now calls the Colombian hub home, and its lively, youthful scene, we can’t say we’re surprised.

Medellin is the country’s second-largest urban concentration, famous for its modern skyline, busy nightlife zones, rich Antioquian diet, which combines elements of native Andean and Iberian (Spanish) cuisine, and surrounding coffee plantations.

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It is also one of the cheapest digital nomad destinations globally, with nomads spending $1,584 on average per month to live in Medellin. The only major downside is how unsafe it has become in recent years, with violent crime and drug trafficking on the up.

Buenos Aires, Argentina​

A South American favorite, elegant Buenos Aires peaks currently at number three on Nomad List: serving as the Argentine capital, it is best known for being the birthplace of tango, its European-inspired Belle Epoque city-building, and its unrivaled food scene.

Whether you’re based in Palermo, the hippy stronghold, Puerto Maderno, the go-to spot for trying some of BA’s award-winning steakhouses, or Recoleta, the laid-back, upper-class district dotted by palatial structures, you’ll end up enamored with the Paris of the South just the same.

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Luckily for culture-buff nomads, Buenos Aires is a lot cheaper than its French equivalent, with travelers having reported spending a median of $1,635 for every month they stayed in town, thanks to affordable eating and decent Airbnb pricing.

Plus, it is the safest capital of the Global South.

Chiang Mai, Thailand​

Thailand’s second-largest and moated walled settlement littered with ancient temples and boasting UNESCO World Heritage Site status, Chiang Mai is once again proving it’s a strong contender for global digital nomad capital.

It is extremely safe, with very little crime reported. It has a wide availability of long-term rentals – including youth hostels, guesthouses, and private villas – and you could truly never exhaust your dining options, especially when staying in the historical Old Town.

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Based on the latest figures compiled by local publication One Stop Chiang Mai, there are around 40,000 foreigners ‘from dozens of countries’ who have set up base in the Thai city, and we suspect that the fact it costs $1,026 per month to live there may offer some explanation for the popularity boom.

Bangkok, Thailand​

When it comes to digital nomad preferences, Thailand’s Bangkok is officially the most popular, or top-reviewed destination on Nomad List, scoring ‘great’ in nearly all relevant subcategories, including ‘Community score’, ‘Cost’, ‘Internet’, ‘Fun’, and ‘Lack of crime’.

If the incessant humdrum of a big metropolis doesn’t faze you, and you can get used to excess humidity, you will find Bangkok is an extremely exciting place to be: much like New York, it never sleeps, and the cultural wealth is on a par with many European capitals, except it is safer and fits the budget.

Pickpocketing is uncommon across Bangkok, assault cases are so infrequent they are statistically irrelevant, and the median $1,435 per month required to live in Thailand’s number one city makes it an even more attractive alternative to the overpriced, increasingly dangerous Western World.

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Looking for one of the best ways to stretch your travel budget while earning rewards? Travel credit cards with cashback on everyday expenses or bonus points on local experiences can help you savor the best of Buenos Aires’ food scene or explore Chiang Mai’s ancient temples, maximizing your enjoyment and earning benefits.
 
I just posted this on another thread but I laughed when I read Argentina is so cheap. I don't find it so cheap these days.

 
I had NO idea that the # of Digital Nomads in Buenos Aires was so high. This article says 72,450 in 2022 and someone told me 2023 was even higher. Wow!

WOW. I have to be honest. I wasn't expecting the number to be this high. I assume the number is even higher than this? I am assuming if the government reported it then this is people that actually applied for some Digital Nomad visa? I'd have to assume many don't apply for any visa and just come in on a tourist visa.
 
I'm pretty sure that's the case. Only one of the DN from the US we met in CDMX last year had applied for a visa.
This is correct. Argentina makes it so easy to overstay that I don't think most Americans apply for an actual visa. It's difficult to know if any formal statistics are correct in Buenos Aires. I always laugh when people try to cite cellphone theft statistics here. Almost none of my friend reports a phone stolen when they get theirs stolen as they know the police can't do anything here.
 
This is correct. Argentina makes it so easy to overstay that I don't think most Americans apply for an actual visa. It's difficult to know if any formal statistics are correct in Buenos Aires. I always laugh when people try to cite cellphone theft statistics here. Almost none of my friend reports a phone stolen when they get theirs stolen as they know the police can't do anything here.
Yes I met a ton of digital nomads here through my friend and NONE of them applied for a digital nomad visa. I wonder if anyone is. There is an absolute explosion with digital nomads the past few years.

 
I had NO idea that the # of Digital Nomads in Buenos Aires was so high. This article says 72,450 in 2022 and someone told me 2023 was even higher. Wow!

I know some that were getting the visa a few years ago. The city was actually paying cash for digital nomads to come for a short time. Probably not a good use of cash.
 
Yes I met a ton of digital nomads here through my friend and NONE of them applied for a digital nomad visa. I wonder if anyone is. There is an absolute explosion with digital nomads the past few years.

It sounds like people want the sky but don't want to pay anything. I don't understand why someone wouldn't apply for a Digital Nomad visa for Argentina? It sounds very cheap and you can potentially stay for 1 year. Instead I read about people worrying about border runs and visa extensions. I would think applying for a Digital Nomad visa makes sense for Argentina.

People seem very lazy today.
 
It sounds like people want the sky but don't want to pay anything. I don't understand why someone wouldn't apply for a Digital Nomad visa for Argentina? It sounds very cheap and you can potentially stay for 1 year. Instead I read about people worrying about border runs and visa extensions. I would think applying for a Digital Nomad visa makes sense for Argentina.

People seem very lazy today.
To be fair though why pay for something if it's really not necessary? Argentina doesn't care if we overstay or do border runs. The fact that they allow you to pay a simple and low fine for overstaying makes it a no brainer.
 
To be fair though why pay for something if it's really not necessary? Argentina doesn't care if we overstay or do border runs. The fact that they allow you to pay a simple and low fine for overstaying makes it a no brainer.
Maybe because it is legal and the right thing to do??
 
As long as you plan to leave the country for good. Once you pay that fine, you are in the system.
The problem is that most people just keep paying that fine each time they overstay and leave and then expect to be let back in the country to start over each time they come back.
 
The problem is that most people just keep paying that fine each time they overstay and leave and then expect to be let back in the country to start over each time they come back.
Yeah until Argentina makes it more difficult you won't have these permanent tourists changing their behavior. Catch 22 as Argentina needs tourism and tourist dollars but Milei is a wildcard. He is seeing what is going on in Europe with massive amounts of migrants. Same in the US. I doubt he will let that happen to Argentina but you have to get ahead of it ahead of time and I think he will.

There is much talk lately about the lack of black people in Argentina. And also about racism in general in Argentina. I would argue that many Argentines are a bit racist. I have seen the same thing in Brazil and also Colombia. The older generations ARE indeed racist against black people. I doubt you will see an Argentina that allows mass migration and disruptions like you are seeing in EU. At least under President Milei.
 
I'm pretty sure that's the case. Only one of the DN from the US we met in CDMX last year had applied for a visa.
Same for Spain. I had a friend try for Spain last year and he said it was very cumbersome and a nightmare. He gave up. It is easy for many Americans to travel around much of the world without a need to formally apply and go on a few border runs.
 
Are there a lot of digital nomads in Buenos Aires these days? Last year I read more articles about it but I don't read so much about it. My friends told me they see lots of expats there but I don't read too much about it now.
 
Are there a lot of digital nomads in Buenos Aires these days? Last year I read more articles about it but I don't read so much about it. My friends told me they see lots of expats there but I don't read too much about it now.
Yes it is still popular here and highly ranked as one of the best spots for Digital Nomads. But prices went up over 100% since last year so not as many write about it.

 
I have a feeling a TON of digital nomads are going to be spending 2025 at different employers or coming back to the US. My friends in Buenos Aires that work for Amazon just got informed they have to come back to the office in January 2025 so they have to come back home. Many companies are doing that now. Game over for many digital nomads.
 
I have a feeling a TON of digital nomads are going to be spending 2025 at different employers or coming back to the US. My friends in Buenos Aires that work for Amazon just got informed they have to come back to the office in January 2025 so they have to come back home. Many companies are doing that now. Game over for many digital nomads.
Yes my friends that work at Amazon and mostly living outside of the States are having to go back to the office. Some are thinking about trying to find another job but it will be tough to find something else that pays the same. Amazon and other companies are doing things like this to lay off employees. They want them to quit. I have a friend that works at Northface and does customer service and they only got 5 days to decide if they would move. They were only offered $5,000 to move. They were working remote.

I hope my employer doesn't force the issue. Probably would have to go back home if so. Not sure this is the type of market to quit a great paying job.
 
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