The digital nomad lifestyle became more popular in the past few years, as working remotely and free lancing are each time more common. If you are considering this move, there are a few issue and adjustments you might be wondering how to work out – no worries! This guide covers everything you need to know to become a successful long-term digital nomad. Prepare your check-list, we will get everything done to set you to move abroad and live your most exciting life!
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1. Staying Connected: eSIMs & Mobile Data
Reliable internet is non-negotiable for remote work. What I usually do is to buy a SIM card at the airport whenever I get to a new place. It usually works well, especially in Southeast Asia – the plans here give you so much data for a very reasonable price. But it also depends on where you are flying to: the prices at the airport are much higher in huge touristy ports like Bangkok, while in cities like Chiang Mai and Da Nang you can find very affordable deals.
In Europe, I found SIM cards for around €29 at the airport of Barcelona and Lisbon. But in Rome (where I visited for 3 days), it would cost €50 for just a few days! Not worth at all. So I had to spend my time there relying on Wifi.
If you plan to move constantly for a while and convenience is important, instead of swapping SIM cards in every country you can use an eSIM . It is an embedded SIM, that doesn’t require to insert a physical SIM.
Also, some countries like Brazil do not sell SIM cards to foreigners – they require a local ID (the CPF) in order to buy one. In this case, an eSIM is the go to.
Best eSIM Providers for Digital Nomads:
There are two eSIMs that I can recommed: Nomad and Airalo.
Nomad is great for multi-country travel, with a good range of coverage. It is usually the cheapest one.
Airalo is a bit more expensive, but still affordable. From what I observed comparing people who use those in the same place, it has the most reliable service and coverage.
Other options are:
- Holafly – Unlimited data in some countries
- Google Fi (US-based) – Good for heavy data users
2. Banking & Credit Cards for International Use
Here is a mistake I made: I took too long to get a digital bank account with credit card for travel. While my bank’s card was working well, I was paying extra foreign transaction fees for everything and didn’t realize I could save on them*. Besides that, traditional credit cards usually add a markup in the conversion rates, while the mid-market rates are lower. In addition, transferring money between friends to split bills was not an option for me.
* important edition : this was directly related to Brazil’s regulations, which is my country of citizenship. The credit card transaction fees were 6.38%, while the fee to send money abroad was 1.1%. With Wise, you could send your money abroad and use as a local card, paying only 1.1%. That rule recently changed, making fees in both cases equal to 3.5%. Research you the regulation for foreign transactions in your country for better understanding.
Now I have Wise and Revolut. I use Wise as a credit card, and keep Revolut just in case. While Wise has better fees, Revolut is widely used in more countries. It allows me to have more control over the exchange rates I am being charged. You don’t need to pay to keep these services, just make a money transfer and currency exchange when necessary.
A newer option only for EU residents is N26, which seems to offer good exchange rates.
3. Finding Accommodation as a Digital Nomad
I have to admit that I need to thank Airbnb for the start of my digital nomad journey: because they started offering discounts for stays longer then four weeks, I began to consider the idea of moving to a different place every month. Now, it is not my favorite company and I understand it can be very harmful for locals in some situations.
If you prefer to be more flexible, a option is Booking.com. Many reservations have free cancelation, so you are covered if there’s a change of plans.
Agoda is a new option very popular in Asia, and I was able to find very good deals with it. It doesn’t offer as much flexibility thought.
If you prefer to avoid any platform fees, you can try Facebook Groups (e.g., “Digital Nomads [City]”) – it might required more effort though. And, at the moment you make a post telling you are looking for a rental, real state agents will be the first to answer, but not necessarily they will have the best deals.
And if budget is not a problem, but you would like to live and interact with fellow nomads, a co-living might be a good option. Look for Selina, Outside, Roam. Although the accommodations are many times even shared rooms (like hostels), they can be more expensive then having your own place. The reason is the whole lifestyle proposal they offer.
4. Visa Options for Long-Term Travel
Tourist visas usually last 30-90 days, but digital nomad visas allow longer stays. If you are not into country hopping, maybe you want to find a place abroad to call home. Having a digital nomad visa will allow will to have a bank account, rent a house, and, of course, stay longer.
Remember to check tax implications before applying (some countries tax worldwide income)!
Digital Nomad Visa Comparison (2024)
| Country | Visa Name | Duration | Key Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | D8 Visa | 1 year (renewable) | €3,480 /month income, health insurance, proof of accommodation |
| Spain | Digital Nomad Visa | 1 year (renewable) | ~€2,762/month income, remote work contract, clean criminal record |
| Thailand | LTR Visa | 5-10 years | $80,000/year income OR $1M in assets, health insurance |
| Thailand | DTV Visa | 5 years | 500,000 THB or proof of employment |
| Mexico | Temporary Resident Visa | 1-4 years | ~$2,600/month income OR ~$43,000 in savings |
| Costa Rica | Rentista Visa | 2 years | $3,000/month income |
| Estonia | Digital Nomad Visa | 1 year | €4,500/month income, remote employment or freelance contracts |
| Greece | Digital Nomad Visa | 1 year (renewable) | €3,500/month income, proof of remote work |
| Brazil | Digital Nomad Visa | 1 year (renewable) | $1,500/month income OR $18,000 in savings |
| Malaysia | DE Rantau Visa | 1 year (renewable) | $24,000/year income, freelance/remote work proof |
| Croatia | Digital Nomad Visa | 1 year (non-renewable) | ~€3,300/month income, remote work contract |
| Georgia | Digital Nomad Visa | 1 year (non-renewable) | $2,000/monthly or $24,000 in savings |
5. Booking Flights
The best way to save on travel is going by land (and more sustainable as well), but sometimes it might be either too difficult or too dangerous. To make sure you’ve got the best deals, booking in advance is usually the best choice. To understand the fares and compare prices, you can use websites like the ones below.
Some other tips:
- Midweek flights, or early morning/late night flights might be cheaper;
- Consider the costs of transportation in between airports during connections, as well as costs of staying overnight even if you don’t leave the airport – sometimes a meal there will make for the difference in price for that slightly more expensive flight;
- If you have luggage, compare the fees in different companies. Trip.com, Kiwi.com, MyTrip… they all have different rates.
Best Flight Search Tips:
- Use Google Flights (Explore Map) to find cheap destinations
- Skyscanner for flexible date searches – set price alerts when you start to consider a flight
- For people from the US, subscribe Scott’s Cheap Flights to receive deals
- Momondo – good at finding deals from lesser-known budget airlines.
- Hopper – uses AI to predict price trends and recommend when to book.
- Kayak – good for comparing across airlines, OTAs, and providing alerts.
6. Health Insurance for Digital Nomads*
*This is based on my personal experience and should not be considered professional insurance advice. Always check terms and consult a licensed advisor if needed
Medical emergencies abroad can be costly, so don’t skip insurance! It is even mandatory for some countries.
While there are many insurance options you can find in your country, they usually are only valid if you bought them before traveling. So, if you are on the road, you need a more specific service.
The two options you will hear of more often are SafetyWing and Genki. Personally, I have hired SafetyWing but switched later for Genki. Genki has a better coverage in general, and a more clear definition of pre-existing conditions. Another great advantage of Genki is that you don’t need to pay upfront in case of hospitalization. Because, yes, sometimes the bill might not fit into your credit card limit =/.
By the time I switched, SafetyWing had a deductible of $250 before you start receiving any reimbursements, while Genki added a $50 deductible per claim (if you have less then 5 health situations in a year, the longest time covered by each, you would pay less with Genki). That changed recently, as SafetyWing removed the deductible and Genki introduced new plans that are mosre costly, making SafetyWing the cheapeast option.
I still recommend Genki though, as it still has a better reputation for reimbursing claims, and the upfront payment is an advantage.
Genki also offers long-term plans for expats who plan to move for a longer period – you can check all the options here.
Final Tips for Success as a Digital Nomad
✅ Start slow – Try a 3-month trip before going full-time
✅ Join nomad communities (Facebook, Meetup, Nomad List) – it will make your travels more meaningful
✅ Track expenses and have emergency savings for at least six months
✅ Stay flexible – Plans change, embrace it!
Ready to Start Your Digital Nomad Journey?
If you have the chance to experience, it will be life changing!
🌍 Where will you go first? Let me know in the comments!
Liked this guide? Share it with fellow nomads! 🚀
