The rise of digital technologies and remote work gave birth to a new employee: the digital nomad. These tech-savvy freelancers decide where and when they work, preferring shorter-term gigs to more secure (but also more restricting) full-time contract jobs. Their natural habitats include coffee shops, co-working spaces, and public libraries. In fact, as long as they can find a wifi hotspot, anywhere can be their office for the day.
Sounds great, doesn’t it? That’s why more people than ever are switching to the laptop lifestyle. But where are these new digital workers heading to? And which countries have the best facilities for remote workers? Resume.io decided to investigate. Using data collected from social media, the online resume maker identified the most popular destinations for digital nomads.
Vancouver is the number one location for digital nomads, according to the amount of related Instagram posts. Researchers found 57,000 Instagram pics tagged #digitalnomad in the Canadian city. Given Vancouver’s high cost of living, it’s surprising that many freelancers call it home – or at least for now.
But it also suggests digital nomads aren’t struggling to make ends meet. Instead, it looks like they’re making enough money to live a comfortable lifestyle in the world’s most expensive cities. London and New York are two more of the top digital nomad destinations.
So how can a bunch of freelancers afford to live in cities where average rents are over $1,000 a month? It’s simple. The majority of digital nomads have some of the most sought-after skills in the 21st-century job market, including coding, website design, and social media management.
Others are opting for more exotic (and affordable) destinations, such as Bali, Vietnam, and Thailand. The Thai government recently announced plans to introduce a new smart visa for remote workers. It would allow digital nomads to stay in Thailand for up to four years without a work permit.
If you could work anywhere in the world, where would you go? Let’s take a guess and say it would be somewhere pretty close to a beach. And you wouldn’t be the only one. Melbourne and Sydney tied for Oceania’s most popular digital nomad spot. Adventurous types are flying over to Moorea-Maiao island near New Zealand. The French Polynesian commune is an idyllic paradise island. Monday mornings aren’t so bad when you’re working under the shade of a palm tree!
Now see where others are going on their digital nomad adventures.
