If you are familiar with digital nomad hotspots, then you probably know of Bali, Lisbon, and Chiang Mai. While they remain favourites among digital nomads, new hotspots are popping up across the globe. So, if you are looking for a low-key, affordable and exciting digital hotspot where you can balance work and pleasure, we have this list of places you probably haven’t heard of. Read through and select your next destination, while you get your Grey account ready to manage your finances as you go globetrotting.
Also read: How digital nomads celebrate the holidays abroad
While Lagos (Nigeria) and Lisbon (Portugal) are popular destinations for digital nomads, many people have been sleeping in Lagos (Portugal), and you have to wake up! The coastal city is known for a strong community, beautiful beaches, and a good balance of history and modernity. The town has reliable internet infrastructure, with high-speed fibre widely available in apartments, cafes, and coworking spaces, enabling efficient remote work. Lagos promotes a laid-back lifestyle with over 300 days of sunshine per year.
Read more: How to apply for a digital nomad visa in Portugal
Out of nowhere, there have been rumours of a buzzing digital nomad hub at the foot of the Pirin Mountains somewhere in Bulgaria. If you haven’t heard of this, then you’re not alone. We only just found out too. Bankso is one of the cheapest places to live in Europe, with monthly expenses under $900. You can find suitable studio rentals starting at around $250 per month. : High-speed fibre internet is standard across all coworking spaces and most modern apartments. Bulgaria has a digital nomad visa grant for up to 12 months if you earn around $30,000 per year (technically, 50 times the minimum wage in Bulgaria)
The ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’ has begun to stand out as a top-tier destination for digital nomads in Africa thanks to its exceptional safety, cleanliness, and rapidly developing tech infrastructure. The city has invested heavily in fibre-optic internet, has well-maintained roads, reliable public lighting, and a peaceful atmosphere. A comfortable monthly budget for a nomad is between $1,000 and $1,600. This covers a modest accommodation, daily motorcycle taxi transport (motos), and meals. From Kiyovu to Kimihurura and Rebero, you have access to serene residential areas, restaurants, coworking spaces, and cafes with amazing views. Kigali also offers exciting adventures, such as safaris in Akagera National Park or gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, if you love nature.
Also read: 13 essential tools and resources for digital nomads around the world
Riding on the waves of Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An has been making waves of its own in Southeast Asia. With Da Nang now getting popular and a little bit more expensive, Hoi An is the thriving alternative, not so far away from Da Nang. The UNESCO World Heritage site is known for its lantern-lit Ancient Town, rice paddies, and nearby beaches. It offers one of the lowest costs of living in Southeast Asia while maintaining a high quality of life. Whether you are working from Hub Hoi An or Sound of Silence (near An Bang Beach), Hoi An is optimised for work and pleasure. Most nomads usually settle in Cam Chau or Ancient Town and An Bang Beach for those who want all-day access to the coastal lifestyle.
If you are seeking a premium Mexican experience with a high quality of life and lower costs than Mexico City, Puebla is a must-visit. Just two hours from Mexico City, it offers a laid-back, safer environment for nomads seeking to escape the bustle of big cities. It is described as a colonial beauty with one of the world's best cuisines.
Read more: How to apply for a digital nomad visa in Mexico
Once described as a sleepy Bedouin village, Dahab has woken up in recent times, emerging as a vibrant digital nomad hub. If you are keen on desert adventures after work, then Dahab is just the place for you. The town is a global centre for freediving, scuba diving (notably the Blue Hole), and windsurfing. The surrounding Sinai desert offers trekking and rock climbing. Average monthly expenses for a single nomad are approximately $950 USD. Low-key meals cost around $3–$8, and a one-bedroom apartment in the centre can be found for under $250 USD per month.
Fukuoka is located on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu. Beyond its ancient temples, alluring beaches, and mountains, Fukuoka is fast becoming Japan’s digital nomad and startup hub. It is one of Japan's most affordable major cities. Monthly expenses for a single nomad are estimated at around $800–$1,200 USD, significantly lower than in Tokyo or Osaka. The city boasts excellent internet infrastructure, with high-speed fibre (100–300 Mbps) widely available in apartments and coworking spaces, and extensive 5G coverage. The city actively supports remote workers and hosts "Colive Fukuoka," one of Asia’s largest digital nomad events, which runs for a whole month and fosters strong community connections.
Finally, a place from South America! This is a legendary coastal town that has transitioned from a backpacker surf mecca to a vibrant digital nomad hub. If you have a "work-hard, play-hard" mantra, love the beach life, and surfing, you should start packing your bags for Montañita right away. You can live comfortably under $1,000 per month and live in a private room or studio apartment. The town has a vibrant social life, and most nomads prefer to live in the quieter La Punta neighbourhood for work, a 15-minute walk from where the fun’s at. Selina Montañita is perhaps the most prominent hub for nomads. It offers a dedicated coworking space with high-speed Wi-Fi, private booths, and a community of international remote workers. Ecuador's Digital Nomad Visa (Rentista for Remote Work visa) allows remote workers to live in Ecuador for up to two years (renewable) with a stable foreign income of around $1,425 per month.
Besides the struggle with pronouncing the name of this place, it is an absolutely fantastic remote location for digital nomads who want to disappear for a bit. The Outdoor Capital of Central Asia offers access to glacial lakes, mountains, and winter skiing. It is exceptionally cheap, with a monthly stay including three traditional Kyrgyz meals a day for $600–$900. A government-backed initiative has brought fibre internet to the village. Most major guesthouses (like Alakol-Jyrgalan Guest House) now provide speeds reliable enough for Zoom calls and standard remote work. Citizens of 60+ countries (including the US, UK, EU, and Canada) can enter visa-free for 60 days.
Away from the more popular Windhoek, Swakopmund is a charming coastal town known for its German architecture, laid-back vibe, and adventure sports. There is reliable internet coverage, with several coworking spaces available, such as Desert & Ocean Coworking and the Atrium. Food is not a problem here, as many restaurants and cafes cater to a cosmopolitan crowd. The cost of living is affordable, with various accommodation options including backpacker lodges and long-term rentals. Be prepared for a variety of adventures because the town offers a unique mix of ocean and desert environments. If you ever visit, you must explore the nearby Sossusvlei dunes, the Skeleton Coast, and enjoy local German cuisine at places like Kückis and Altstadt.
Also read: Beyond the basics: Smart ways to grow as a digital nomad
The best digital nomad destinations are not always the loudest or trendiest. Often, they are places where infrastructure works quietly, costs remain reasonable and daily life feels sustainable.
From Namibia to Bulgaria, a common challenge for digital nomads is managing their finances while travelling. Grey fixes this with ease. With USD, EUR, and GBP accounts, you can travel without being limited by payment options. A multi-currency account allows you to receive, convert, and hold funds in different currencies without needing multiple local bank accounts. Grey helps users avoid the hefty fees associated with traditional international banking by offering competitive exchange rates and minimal transaction costs for sending and receiving money. You also get a virtual USD debit card for seamless online payment from anywhere in the world.
Sign up on Grey today or download the mobile app and explore with no payment restrictions.
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