Skip to Content

5 Underrated Digital Nomad Destinations That Cost Under $2,000 Per Month

Share The Article


Trust us; we know not all digital nomads are well-off entrepreneurs based in Dubai or Saint Lucia:

In fact, most probably wouldn't even meet the financial criteria for getting one of those expensive Digital Nomad Visas, let alone leading a luxurious life in a tax haven country––in fact, chances are they're aged 25-30 and traveling the world on a shoestring budget.

Skyline Of Baku, Azerbaijan

If that resonates with you, you're probably appalled at how increasingly expensive nomad hotspots have become in recent years, from long-time favorites Portugal and Mexico to (formerly) offbeat gems Georgia and even Argentina.

Have you checked rental prices in Tbilisi or Buenos Aires lately? Wildly higher than before.

Luckily, not all hope is lost for budget-conscious travelers, as these underrated, still-affordable digital nomad destinations continue to offer amazing opportunities, cultural value, and most importantly, they won't break the bank.

Here are 5 surviving nomad havens where you can still live for under $2,000 a month in 2025:

Vitória, Brazil

Panoramic View Of Penha Monastery In Vitoria, Brazil

With none of the Rio crowds or staggering crime levels, Vitória is your typical Brazilian coastal city fringed by sun-kissed, golden sands and centered around a colonial Old Town dotted with landmark religious structures.

The city center is dominated by a stained glass-decorated Metropolitan Cathedral. Perched on a hilltop, the historic, 16th-century Penha Convent boasts breathtaking views of the city's high-rise-lined waterfront and its many beaches.

Most importantly, living costs in Vitória average an acceptable $1,801 a month, as estimated by Nomads.com. 

Whole, fully furnished apartments can be rented on Airbnb, no contract needed, from only $326 a month.

Sanur, Bali (Indonesia)

Aerial View Of Sanur, Bali, Indonesia

Canggu and Ubud are undisputed leaders in Bali when it comes to attracting digital nomads, yet once you look past the jam-packed surfing towns and their overdeveloped jungles, there's a much more authentic, unspoiled Sanur.

Straddling the southeastern end of the island, it has a long sandy beach wedged between crystalline waters and a biking path, charming eateries right on the shoreline, and it's even rich in history: the landmark Pura Blanjong is a coral-built temple raised in the 10th century.

The local social scene is far from being as lively as Bali's usual nomad ‘colonies', though we say paying only $992-a-month to be based here, instead of $1,910 in Canggu, and benefitting from a more peaceful environment, away from party-ridden backpacking hostels is a fair trade off.

Mendoza, Argentina

City Of Mendoza, Argentina

There's no denying digital nomad darling Buenos Aires is becoming increasingly more expensive to live in, with the fluctuating dollar, rising Airbnb rates, and market saturation––nevertheless, this does not mean you have to give up on Argentina as a whole:

There's always Mendoza, an equally-elegant city in the Cuyo region, famous for its leafy streets flanked by Art Deco buildings and controversial modernist interventions, Spanish-style plazas, and of course, the rolling vineyards that surround it––Cuyo is, after all, Argentina's wine country.

At this moment, Mendoza is one of the most affordable places to relocate to in Argentina: an inexpensive meal in a local restaurant is $10.50, a one-bedroom city center rental is roughly $353.33, and total expenses average $1,467.

Chiang Rai, Thailand

The White Temple In Chiang Rai, North Thailand, Southeast Asia.jpg

You've probably heard of Chiang Mai, the city of over 300 temples and Thailand's trendiest digital nomad hub right now, due to its cheap prices and fast-growing expat community––but what of its Northerly counterpart Chiang Rai?

Best known for its ornate temples, most notably Wat Phra Kaew, or ‘White Temple', Chiang Rai is gaining traction just as quickly amid nomads due to its smaller size, slower-paced lifestyle, and off-path appeal:

If Bangkok's hectic traffic scenes have traumatized you, this is your chance to heal.

For $1,801 a month, you can browse fruit markets, marvel at colorful temples a short tuk-tuk ride away from your $430-a-month home rental, go for nature walks to unwind in your free time, and gorge on delicious street food from as little as $1.78.

Baku, Azerbaijan

Panoramic view of Baku Old Town (Icheri Sheher), Azerbaijan, with modern glass Flame Tower skyscraper in background

Tbilisi's golden era as a digital nomad paradise may have arguably passed now that the Russo-Ukrainian War has led to an influx of refugees pouring into Georgia and staggering increases in rent and consumer prices, but there's a silver lining to be found in Baku, in neighboring Azerbaijan.

An ancient queen combining medieval elements and 21st–century innovativeness–think a UNESCO-listed, walled Old Town backed by a string of glass-and-steel-clad skyscrapers–it is Eurasia's best-kept secret and the natural follow-up to what's now an overcrowded Tbilisi.

For instance, it is located in the same geographical region; similarly to Georgia, the local culture has elements of Turkic, Persian, and post-Soviet, and it's as cheap and off-the-beaten-path as Tbilisi would have been only 3 years ago:

In short, you should budget $1,737 to live in Baku as a nomad.

Ready For Your Trip? Check The Latest Entry Requirements For Your Destination Here

↓ Elevate Your Travel↓

Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No ads, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!

✈️Join Our Travel Off Path Community Forum: Where travelers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even find like-minded travel buddies!


SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS

Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path's latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox.

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.


Florian Laux

Monday 24th of February 2025

Do you have to ruin Indonesia even more? I lived here before Digital Nomads were a thing and tried to get a visa the legal way. Trust me, not easy! You either needed 100,000$ minimum to invest or a job that no local can do or not enough, like surgeon, pilot, etc.

You couldn't just come with a visa on arrival, fly out and back in either. Nor were you permitted to work. So unless you brought tons of money, bribed the police successfully and had a good network and spoke some Indonesian, you couldn't stay here.

Now all those trashy posers, especially the many Russians have completely ruined the island!

I hope people are proud of themselves for gentrifying Canggu too, which was once known as "quiet place for surfers and old couples".

Now it's basically a hell hole full of hookers with locals priced out of the market.

Crime is on the rise (a lot by foreigners), locals are exploited and Bali will probably have lost all its charm in a few years.

And all thanks to trash that thinks it's "cool and trendy" and easy.

Trust me, it shouldn't be and never was!

Billy G

Sunday 23rd of February 2025

I love this line - "...you're probably appalled at how increasingly expensive nomad hotspots have become in recent years...". I wonder why 🙄🙄🙄

Rafael

Saturday 22nd of February 2025

I am in Bali, Sanur right now. Crystalline water? Forget that! I've been to several recommended beaches here. I didn't found one clean one.. plastic trash everywhere.

Discover more from Travel Off Path

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading