The work-from-home craze has taken over the workforce worldwide as more and more countries create digital nomad visas to accommodate one of the latest travel trends.
But, some places are quite surprising when it comes to such a vast array of destinations digital nomads have at their fingertips.
Whether it be Latin America’s hidden gems, far-flung hideaways in Europe, or dirt-cheap yet culturally rich hotspots in Asia, there’s no limit to digital nomads’ new base.
That being said, as popular as the Caribbean may be for American travelers, many places in the region don’t fit the mold of what digital nomads tend to look for.
Startups just revealed the next digital hotspot for 2025 and although it’s mega popular for Americans, it’s worth questioning if the island’s well-documented safety issues and affordability tick off the boxes for digital nomads.
Is Jamaica Too Boujee For Digital Nomads?
According to Startups, there’s a 250% increase in remote work in Jamaica. As someone who visited Jamaica in the last year or so, I can see how such an immensely welcoming culture and obviously drop-dead gorgeous island would be enticing to wake up to every day.
The truth is not every digital nomad is bankrolling.
When I visited Kingston, I hung out on the upscale side of the city known as New Kingston, where Bob Marley’s mansion is located.
There are new developments dispersed across this district with some really nice apartments available to rent, but the issue digital nomads face is pricing.
Many apartments, even in notoriously sketchy Kingston, resemble U.S. markets with rents in the $1000’s – a far cry from what many scope out when there are many destinations you’re total cost will be under $1000.
Then there’s obviously Montego Bay, laden with high-end resorts, followed by quaint, yet trendy Negril, and the up-and-coming hotspot of Port Antonio, the most authentic of the bunch.
According to Nomads, Kingston ranks #110 globally for digital nomads, with expected monthly costs pushing $3,000.
Jamaica’s Safety Concerns
Jamaica is no stranger to welcoming visitors with open arms. I found this island to be one of the friendliest places I’ve ever been.
Unfortunately, Jamaica is also no stranger to travel advisories, especially related to the capital, Kingston.
Wandering Downtown Kingston and passing run-down streets on my Uber from the airport, it’s easy to see why.
The latest advisory issued in July highlights high crime levels and lackluster health care, including slow response times to emergencies throughout the country.
Kingston also received low marks for safety on Nomads but surprisingly high scores for overall contentment with glowing positive experiences.
If I ventured to guess, most nomads would reside in New Kingston, where there are ample co-working spaces like The Hub and trendy cafes offering delicious Blue Mountain coffee sourced roughly an hour away.
However, Startup highlights Negril as Jamaica’s top beach spot for digital nomads with plentiful oceanfront cafes.
Kingston isn’t so much a beach town, although I did find a secret beach tourists largely don’t know about, but it wouldn’t be the best spot to work from since the seaside eateries are hole-in-the-wall shacks along unkept dirt roads.
As for Montego Bay, Jamaica’s most popular vacation destination, you can find affordable apartments on Airbnb on the outskirts of the city for under $800, but a quick Google search shows co-working spaces are lacking here.
Jamaica’s Entry Requirements
Jamaica doesn’t offer a ‘digital nomad visa’, but Americans can visit as a standard tourist for 90 days visa-free, the perfect amount of time to soak up winter sun.
As stated, there are monthly listings on Airbnb, so this is likely your best bet. Just familiarize yourself with Jamaica’s neighborhoods first.
There is a full list of Level 4 no-go zones listed on the U.S. State Department’s latest travel advisory, many of which are in and around Kingston.
When I booked an Airbnb here, I found the wifi to be reliable, but preferred working from New Kingston cafes, such as Cafe Blue.
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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.
