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Digital Nomad
Created by @namkyu · Updated Aug 29, 2026
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Created by @namkyu · Updated Aug 29, 2026
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A digital nomad is someone who uses remote work and digital tools to work while living or traveling away from a fixed workplace. Digital nomadism is not a specific job or income model: digital nomads may be employees, freelancers, consultants, creators, or owners of online businesses.
Item | Details |
|---|---|
Common income models | Remote employment, freelancing, consulting, online business, creator income |
U.S. digital nomads | 18.5M estimated in 2025 |
Traditional employees among U.S. digital nomads | 11.2M |
Independent workers among U.S. digital nomads | 7.3M |
Countries with digital nomad visa programs | 64 reported by MBO Partners in 2025 |
Estonia income requirement | €3,960/mo equivalent financial means |
Croatia income requirement | €3,622.50/mo |
Spain income requirement | €2,442/mo for the principal applicant in 2026 |
Schengen short-stay limit | 90 days in any 180-day period for applicable travelers |
Major financial costs | Accommodation, transport, insurance, connectivity |
Major operational risks | Immigration, tax residency, employer restrictions, connectivity, unstable income |
Digital nomadism should not be confused with Freelancing. A freelancer can work permanently from one location, while a digital nomad can be a conventional salaried employee.
The popular image of a digital nomad is a self-employed worker traveling internationally with a laptop, but the population is broader.
MBO Partners' 2025 U.S. Digital Nomad study estimated 18.5 million American workers identified as digital nomads.
Of these:
approximately 11.2 million had traditional jobs;
approximately 7.3 million were independent workers.
Traditional employees therefore represented the majority of digital nomads in this U.S. dataset.
The number of U.S. digital nomads in the study was 153% higher than in 2019.
MBO defines digital nomads for its research more narrowly than casual use of the term. Its study population combines work and travel and includes additional travel-frequency criteria.
The figures should therefore be treated as U.S.-specific survey estimates rather than a global count.
There is no separate "digital nomad income."
The person must first have an income source that can operate remotely.
A salaried employee may work remotely while temporarily or permanently living elsewhere.
Examples include employees working in:
software;
design;
marketing;
finance;
customer support;
sales;
consulting;
research.
The employer remains the source of income.
This can provide more predictable earnings than self-employment, but employees may have less freedom over where they can legally or operationally work.
Freelancing is one of the most portable income models because digital services can often be delivered from anywhere with sufficient internet access.
Common services include:
software development;
design;
writing;
translation;
video editing;
marketing;
consulting;
virtual assistance;
data analysis.
Income depends on clients and rates rather than the location-independent lifestyle itself.
Independent specialists can sell advice or implementation work remotely.
Consulting is particularly compatible with longer stays because meetings, documents, analysis, and deliverables can often be handled online.
Digital nomads do not have a meaningful universal salary because digital nomadism describes a way of working rather than an occupation.
A software engineer working remotely, a freelance translator, and a travel creator may all be digital nomads while having completely different earnings.
The more useful calculation is:
Remote income − cost of maintaining the nomadic lifestyle = available income
A worker earning US$5,000 per month while spending US$2,000 may have better economics than someone earning US$7,000 while maintaining US$6,500 in monthly travel and living costs.
Currency differences can also matter.
Some digital nomads earn income from customers or employers in relatively high-income markets while living temporarily in lower-cost locations. MBO Partners describes this as geo-arbitrage.
However, lower living costs should not be assumed automatically. Short-term accommodation, frequent flights, coworking spaces, insurance, foreign transaction fees, and tourist pricing can make nomadic living more expensive than remaining in one location.
A digital nomad does not need specialized "nomad" equipment, but someone starting from zero still needs to obtain the basic equipment and connectivity required to work remotely.
The table below uses current U.S. prices for equipment and a Thailand eSIM example for mobile data. Existing suitable equipment can reduce the additional startup cost, but the purchase price is shown rather than assuming the reader already owns everything.
Requirement | Minimum option | Cost | Priority | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Laptop | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i, 15.6", 8 GB RAM, 128 GB storage | US$299.99 | Essential for most remote work | Current Best Buy price; suitable for basic browser, office, communication, and light remote work |
Smartphone | Samsung Galaxy A16 5G, 128 GB unlocked | US$169.99 | Recommended | Useful for authentication, maps, calls, hotspot, and backup connectivity |
Mobile internet backup | Airalo Thailand unlimited eSIM, 7 days | US$21.50 | Recommended | Example destination-specific price; local SIMs or other countries may cost less or more |
Travel medical insurance | SafetyWing Nomad Insurance Essential, ages 18–39 |
Traveling does not create remote income.
Someone planning to become a nomad should ideally establish one of the following before relying on the lifestyle financially:
remote employment;
recurring freelance clients;
consulting contracts;
a functioning online business;
another location-independent income source.
Attempting to build income only after arriving abroad increases financial risk.
Consider whether the work requires:
physical meetings;
local equipment;
secure company networks;
specific working hours;
regulated data access;
access to physical products;
frequent travel back to an office.
A technically remote job may not be compatible with unrestricted international travel.
Remote employment does not automatically mean:
work from any country
A company may allow home working but restrict international remote work because of:
tax obligations;
payroll rules;
immigration;
data protection;
insurance;
employment law;
cybersecurity;
time-zone requirements.
A digital nomad visa is generally an immigration route designed for people who perform remote work for employers, clients, or businesses primarily outside the destination country.
There is no global digital nomad visa.
Eligibility and terminology vary considerably.
MBO Partners reported in its 2025 study that 64 countries had created digital nomad visa programs.
That figure is a research estimate rather than a permanent count; visa programs can be introduced, changed, or discontinued.
The following examples demonstrate how different digital nomad programs can be.
They should not be treated as universal requirements.
Estonia offers a long-stay visa route for teleworking.
Estonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs currently lists required financial means for digital nomad teleworking at:
€132 per day, or €3,960 per month.
The applicant must also meet the applicable remote-work and visa requirements.
Estonia's digital nomad framework can apply to people working remotely for:
a foreign employer;
their own company registered outside Estonia;
foreign clients as a freelancer.
Estonian e-Residency is separate from the Digital Nomad Visa.
An e-Resident does not automatically receive permission to live in Estonia.
Croatia permits qualifying third-country nationals to obtain temporary stay as digital nomads.
Applicants must demonstrate remote work for:
a foreign employer; or
their own company outside Croatia.
Croatia's Ministry of the Interior currently states a minimum financial requirement of €3,622.50 per month.
For a 12-month stay, an applicant can alternatively demonstrate at least €43,470 already available.
The program also requires evidence including:
health insurance;
the purpose of remote work;
sufficient funds;
criminal-record documentation;
a Croatian address.
These figures can change because the financial threshold is linked to Croatian salary data.
Spain offers an international teleworking visa.
Someone traveling visa-free should still understand the permitted duration of stay.
For example, many non-EU travelers entering the Schengen Area for short stays are limited to:
90 days in any 180-day period.
The rule applies across the relevant Schengen countries collectively rather than providing 90 days in each country.
Nationality and residence status can change the applicable rules.
The right to enter for a short stay should not be interpreted as automatic authorization for every type of remote work.
First establish:
employment;
freelance clients;
consulting;
online-business revenue;
another remote income source.
Evaluate more than tourism.
Important factors include:
immigration rules;
internet quality;
time zone;
accommodation;
personal safety;
healthcare;
cost of living;
banking access;
employer restrictions;
tax implications.
Check the destination government's immigration information.
Possible routes may include:
visa-free short stay;
tourist visa;
digital nomad visa;
remote-worker residence permit;
working holiday;
ordinary residence permit.
Do not rely solely on travel blogs for current immigration requirements.
Short-term hotels can become expensive for longer stays.
Common options include:
monthly apartment rentals;
Digital nomad costs divide into normal work expenses and expenses created by mobility.
Accommodation is usually one of the largest expenses.
The amount varies too widely across locations, seasons, property types, and booking methods to give a useful universal monthly figure.
Frequent short stays can cost more than normal local long-term rent.
Costs can include:
flights;
trains;
buses;
taxis;
airport transportation;
baggage;
visas or border trips.
Changing destinations less frequently can reduce these costs.
Potential expenses include:
local SIM plans;
eSIM plans;
roaming;
coworking;
backup data plans.
The cheapest option depends on destination and length of stay.
A coworking membership is optional.
Some digital nomads work from:
accommodation;
hotel lounges;
libraries;
cafés;
private offices.
Others pay for coworking because they need reliable internet, meeting rooms, ergonomic workspaces, or separation between home and work.
International health or travel insurance can become a meaningful recurring expense.
As one current commercial example, SafetyWing lists its Nomad Insurance Essential plan for ages 18–39 at US$62.72 per four weeks.
Its broader Complete plan for the same age group is currently US$177.50/mo before optional coverage.
These are prices from one insurer and should not be treated as typical global insurance costs.
Coverage terms matter more than price alone.
Possible expenses include:
visa fee;
residence permit;
passport renewal;
criminal background check;
apostille;
certified translation;
health insurance;
document courier;
professional immigration assistance.
Requirements vary substantially by country.
Taxes can become one of the largest financial differences between nomadic arrangements.
The applicable amount cannot be inferred simply from the destination's advertised tax rate.
It can depend on:
tax residence;
citizenship;
employment structure;
business entity;
tax treaty;
source of income;
social-security rules.
Professional tax advice may become worthwhile when working across multiple jurisdictions or operating a company internationally.
Tool / service | Cost | Main use | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
Video meeting software | Free options available | Client/team meetings | Depends on work |
Cloud storage | Free tiers available | File access and backups | Recommended |
Password manager | Free options available | Account security | Recommended |
Local SIM / eSIM | Varies | Mobile internet | Recommended |
Wise | Free personal registration | Currency conversion and international payments | Optional |
Coworking | Varies | Reliable workspace | Optional |
International insurance |
The person needs work that can continue independently of a fixed physical workplace.
This is the fundamental requirement.
The traveler must comply with the destination country's immigration rules.
The relevant status depends on nationality and circumstances.
Immigration permission, employer permission, and tax compliance can be separate questions.
Employees should specifically confirm whether their company allows work from the intended country.
Some digital nomad visa programs impose minimum-income requirements.
Current examples include:
Country | Current example requirement |
|---|---|
Estonia | €3,960/mo equivalent financial means for teleworking D visa |
Croatia | €3,622.50/mo |
Spain | €2,442/mo for principal applicant in 2026 |
These programs use different eligibility rules and calculations. The table is for comparison only.
Some residence programs require proof of qualifying coverage.
Croatia, for example, requires proof of health insurance covering Croatia as part of its digital nomad temporary-stay application.
A company can permit remote working from home while prohibiting work from another country.
Ignoring the distinction can expose the employee and employer to immigration, employment, tax, and cybersecurity problems.
Being legally admitted into a country does not automatically establish the legality of all work arrangements.
Nomads planning longer stays or regular international work should investigate the specific immigration rules rather than assuming tourism rules cover remote employment.
Moving between countries does not automatically make someone tax-free.
Time spent in a jurisdiction, employment relationships, residence ties, company ownership, and tax treaties may all affect obligations.
Independent digital nomads face the normal risks of freelancing and online business alongside travel costs.
A decline in clients or revenue can become more difficult to manage when accommodation and transportation have already been prepaid.
Internet failure is an inconvenience for a traveler but can be a business interruption for someone whose income depends on online work.
Backup connectivity matters particularly for:
client calls;
remote servers;
live support;
trading;
large uploads;
fixed-time meetings.
A worker with clients in New York may need to take meetings at night while living in East Asia.
A theoretically location-independent job can therefore still have a practical geographic limit.
MBO Partners' 2025 U.S. survey found common reported challenges including:
No.
MBO Partners' 2025 U.S. research estimated 11.2 million digital nomads had traditional jobs compared with 7.3 million independent digital nomads.
Freelancing is only one way to obtain portable income.
Potentially, but the employer must allow the arrangement.
A remote-employment contract does not necessarily permit working from arbitrary foreign countries. Employers may impose restrictions because of tax, immigration, security, employment-law, or time-zone issues.
It depends on nationality, destination, duration, and the type of work.
Short trips may fall under visa-free or visitor rules for some travelers, while longer stays may require a residence permit or dedicated remote-worker visa.
Some countries now provide specific digital nomad programs.
There is no universal minimum.
Someone traveling domestically while keeping an existing remote job may require almost no additional work-related startup spending.
International digital nomad visa programs can impose much higher income requirements. For example, current official requirements include €3,960 per month for Estonia's teleworking long-stay visa, €3,622.50 per month for Croatia's digital nomad stay, and €2,442 per month for Spain's 2026 international teleworker requirement.
Many non-EU nationals using the Schengen short-stay regime are limited to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen Area.
However, entry rights and permission to perform remote work are separate issues. The applicable rules depend on nationality, country, and work arrangement.
Digital nomad status does not create a universal tax exemption.
A person can have tax obligations in their home country, destination country, or both depending on residence rules, citizenship, income source, treaties, employment, and company structure.
Not universally, but it can be practically important and some visa or residence programs specifically require qualifying insurance.
A digital nomad may own a business that can be operated remotely.
Examples include:
SaaS;
e-commerce;
digital products;
paid communities;
online education;
agencies;
websites.
A business can provide greater location independence but may also create more complicated banking, tax, company-registration, and compliance requirements.
Creators may earn through:
YouTube;
Blogging;
newsletters;
sponsorships;
affiliate marketing;
subscriptions;
digital products.
MBO Partners reported that 49% of digital nomads in its 2025 U.S. study earned money in the creator economy, although this does not mean creator income was necessarily their primary source of income.
US$62.72 / 4 weeks |
Recommended / sometimes required |
Coverage and prices change by age and destination |
Coworking space | Not required for minimum setup | US$0 | Optional | Work from accommodation when a suitable desk and reliable internet are available |
Using these example minimum options, purchasing the laptop, smartphone, one week of backup mobile data, and four weeks of travel medical insurance would cost approximately US$554.20.
An existing suitable laptop or smartphone can reduce the actual additional startup cost, but that should be treated as a cost-saving case rather than assuming the equipment itself has no value.
Accommodation and transportation are not included in this equipment/setup total. They are unavoidable costs when actually traveling, but there is no useful global minimum because the amount depends on the origin, destination, length of stay, accommodation type, and season. Representative destination costs should be compared separately in the Costs section.
Sources:
MBO Partners reported that 13% of U.S. digital nomads with traditional jobs in its 2025 study said their employer did not know they were working nomadically.
Another 18% said their company had no digital nomad policy but their manager had given permission.
Working from another jurisdiction without proper company approval can create risk for both employee and employer.
Being permitted to enter a country as a tourist does not automatically establish the right to work there remotely.
Rules differ substantially by:
nationality;
destination;
duration;
employment structure;
source of income;
local clients;
visa type.
Some countries specifically offer residence or visa arrangements for remote workers.
Others do not.
Immigration status and tax residence are separate issues.
A person may be legally allowed to stay somewhere while still becoming subject to tax reporting or other tax obligations.
Factors can include:
number of days in the country;
permanent home;
center of economic interests;
employment arrangement;
company ownership;
tax treaties;
local-source income.
Do not assume that being paid into a foreign bank account prevents local tax obligations.
Health or travel insurance may be financially useful and can also be required for some digital nomad visa applications.
Coverage should be checked for:
destination countries;
medical treatment;
emergency evacuation;
long stays;
home-country visits;
pre-existing conditions;
electronics where needed.
Standard short-trip insurance may not necessarily be appropriate for someone living abroad for months.
A worker who moves internationally may need to:
receive payments in foreign currencies;
access bank accounts abroad;
convert currencies;
pay local expenses;
receive authentication codes;
maintain access to payment processors.
Do not depend on a single card or payment method while traveling.
For 2026, Spain's consular guidance states that the principal applicant must demonstrate financial resources equal to 200% of Spain's minimum wage, currently:
€2,442 per month.
The first accompanying family member requires an additional €916 per month, and each additional family member requires €306 per month under the 2026 figures published by the Spanish consular authorities.
Applicants must also satisfy professional, employment or business, insurance/social-security, and documentation requirements.
The applicable procedure differs depending on the applicant's circumstances.
serviced apartments;
hotels;
hostels;
coliving;
extended-stay accommodation.
Before booking a long stay, verify whether the accommodation provides a workspace and sufficiently reliable internet.
Some visa applications also require evidence of a local address.
Internet is work infrastructure for most digital nomads.
Possible connections include:
accommodation Wi-Fi;
local SIM;
eSIM;
smartphone hotspot;
coworking internet.
Someone whose income depends on uninterrupted calls or uploads should avoid relying on one untested connection.
Useful practices include:
device encryption;
two-factor authentication;
backup authentication methods;
cloud or external backups;
screen locks;
remote device tracking;
separate work and personal accounts where appropriate.
Company employees may have additional security requirements.
Travel with access to more than one payment method where practical.
International services such as Wise can provide multi-currency payment and conversion features in supported countries, but availability varies by residence and account type.
Wise currently states that personal account registration is free and that international transfer charges vary by currency, with some transfers starting from 0.47%.
This is one provider example rather than a requirement for digital nomads.
Travel time consumes working time.
When changing destinations frequently, working hours may be lost to:
flights;
ground transportation;
accommodation changes;
check-in and check-out;
connectivity problems;
immigration procedures.
Longer stays reduce the frequency of these interruptions.
MBO Partners found that U.S. digital nomads in its 2025 study visited an average of 6.2 locations during the year and stayed an average of 6.4 weeks per location.
Both figures moved toward fewer locations and longer stays compared with previous years.
Varies |
Medical/travel protection |
Recommended / sometimes required |
A digital nomad does not need a large collection of specialist "nomad" subscriptions.
The essential tools are whatever is needed to keep the underlying work functioning reliably.
being away from family and friends: 26%;
financial stress: 26%;
personal-safety concerns: 25%;
travel burnout: 23%;
time-zone difficulties: 21%;
loneliness: 19%.
Only 11% of current digital nomads in the study had maintained the lifestyle for more than five years.
MBO estimated that roughly 19–22% return to a more traditional lifestyle each year.
These are U.S. survey findings rather than global rates, but they show that long-term nomadic work has practical costs beyond travel spending.
The policy needs to cover the countries, duration, and activities involved.
No.
Many digital nomads work from accommodation or other suitable locations.
Coworking becomes useful when reliable internet, meeting rooms, ergonomic equipment, professional surroundings, or social interaction justify the expense.
Remote-compatible fields commonly include:
software and IT;
design;
marketing;
sales;
writing;
consulting;
accounting and finance;
research;
customer support;
content creation.
MBO Partners' 2025 U.S. research found information technology, creative services, sales, marketing and communications, finance and accounting, research and development, and consulting among common digital-nomad professions.