If you’re a digital nomad looking for somewhere warm to escape to right now and that won’t wipe your savings account clean, you’ve come to the right page.
Not everyone has the money––and the social currency––to access the inner circles of Dubai’s expat community, and we’re not sure about you, but Playa Del Carmen is the last thing on our minds when relaxation and a ‘quiet’ winter are concerned.
Thanks to Nomads (formerly Nomad List), the leading platform for gauging nomad trends globally, we can now tell you which are the top 5 destinations where the sun is shining right now, and where you can live on under $2,000 a month.
Spoiler alert: 90% of them are in Asia!
Kuala Lumpur, Malayasia
The vibrant capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is a jungle of steel-clad high-rises topped with Islamic motifs––dotted with the odd British colonial landmark––that’s been attracting a huge expat population as of late, and you may be wondering what are some of the reasons why.
Well, other than the warm temperatures and plethora of laptop-friendly cafes, it sits among the best-developed cities in Asia, boasting great infrastructure and high safety levels: public transport is efficient, traffic is well-managed, it’s a bike-friendly city and crime is low.
It’s a breath of fresh air in a continent where underdevelopment is rife, without the associated expensiveness: Airbnb rentals start from $439-a-month, you can eat affordably for under five bucks in local restaurants, and overall, the cost of living is an estimated $1,355 monthly.
Asunción, Paraguay
Forget Buenos Aires! The fastest-rising digital nomad hub in the Global South is a criminally-underrated Asunción, in Paraguay, a stately capital featuring colonial facades, lively street markets, and of course, friendly locals… the usual Latin American combo.
Whereas Buenos Aires has become considerably pricier to live in recent years, largely due to the fluctuating currency, Asunción remains a budget-friendly alternative–think 50-cent empanadas, weekly groceries under $20, and $428 on rent.
Overall, Nomad List reports remote workers spend an average $1,322 per month in Asunción, and they’re not overly concerned with their safety, either: a majority doesn’t feel unsafe living here, as violence and mugging rates are less pronounced than in other Latin metropolises.
Canggu, Indonesia
You know how the saying goes: you’re not a true nomad until you’ve had a month of healing, reconnecting with nature (and partying in backpacking hostels) in Bali, and there’s nowhere better to start your self-discovery journey than Canggu:
A laid-back village backed by the iconic terraced rice paddies and the Island of the God’s lush jungle, away from the Ubud crowds, it is the perfect winter nook for slowing down a notch and growing your online business without spending a lot of money on daily necessities.
Bali has certainly got a lot pricier in recent years, but in Canggu specifically, it’s still possible to find takeout favorite Nasi Goreng for around $3 in local restaurants and beachfront Airbnbs for $516, not to mention total monthly expenses are roughly $1,947.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
The second largest city in Thailand, and the cultural heart of the country’s mostly-rural North, Chiang Mai is a UNESCO-protected gem centered around a historic, walled Old Town, where the streets are lined with food stalls and monumental temples rise above a maze of modest houses.
In other words, it’s incredibly charming, and an open-air museum for History buffs; at the same time, Chiang Mai is known for its vibrant social scene, easy day-to-day living, as it’s much smaller than your average Asian cosmopolis, and abundance of nomad cafes.
It is also the cheapest destination on this list: even if you go out for all 3 meals every day, it will set you back by as little as $20, unless you’re a big spender, and one-bedroom apartment rentals start from $234––total monthly costs? A very-reasonable $1,116.
Bangkok, Thailand
We guess it’s Thailand for the win: Bangkok claims the top spot on Nomad List’s ranking for top warm destinations right now where monthly expenses cap at $2,000, and in all honesty, where do we even start with this juggernaut of a metropolis that never sleeps?
Whether it’s the centuries-old temples straddling a winding Chao Phraya River, the floating markets, overground trains whooshing futuristic skyscrapers, or a club-packed Si Lom Road, there are enough layers of a buzzing Bangkok to keep you entertained for months on end.
Seeing this is a global hub for innovation with so much to offer, you’d expect prices to be sky-high––that’s not the case at all: renting a fully-furnished apartment on Airbnb for a month, you’ll be paying $686, a Pad Thai dinner is a negligible $3, and your monthly budget is $1,510.
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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.
