What is a Digital Nomad? A Full Guide

1. What is a digital nomad?

2. Digital nomad vs. remote worker

3. Common jobs for digital nomads

4. What is the digital nomad lifestyle like?

Work-from-anywhere mentality
Travel and living abroad
Flexibility vs. stability

5. Benefits of digital nomadism

6. Challenges of being a digital nomad

7. How to become a successful digital nomad

Digital nomad skills
Tools you’ll need
Budgeting and financial planning

8. How to find remote work

9. Legal and logistical considerations

Visa requirements for digital nomads
Taxes and banking while abroad
Insurance options

10. The most buzzworthy countries in LatAm for digital nomads

Most popular countries
Most popular cities

11. Digital nomad guides

12. Methodology

13. Other popular destinations

14. States most interested in digital nomadism

15. Conclusion

The world of work has changed, and fast. More professionals are swapping cubicles for carry-ons, offices for Airbnbs. Howdy has worked with hundreds of distributed professionals across Latin America, so we’ve seen firsthand what works, what doesn’t, and what it really takes to thrive in a remote setting. Whether you're considering your first leap into remote work or looking to take your laptop abroad, this guide covers everything you need to know to navigate the digital nomad lifestyle:

What is a digital nomad?

A digital nomad is a location-independent worker who uses technology and remote work tools to earn a living while traveling or living in multiple locations. This lifestyle blends work and travel, allowing people to maintain consistent employment without being tied to a single office or city.
Unlike traditional remote workers who stay in one place, digital nomads move frequently — often between countries or regions — balancing professional responsibilities with the flexibility to explore new cultures, environments, and communities.

Digital nomad vs. remote worker

While all digital nomads are remote workers, not all remote workers are digital nomads. Remote workers may clock in from home offices, while digital nomads tap into coworking spaces, cafes, or beachside bungalows. The key difference lies in the lifestyle. Digital nomadism centers around location independence and regular travel, whereas many remote workers prefer to work from home.

Common jobs for digital nomads

Many digital nomads earn a living through freelance and tech-based roles:

Freelancers: Writers, graphic designers, marketers, social media managers, and influencers.
Tech professionals: Developers, UX/UI designers, data analysts.
Online entrepreneurs: E-commerce founders, digital coaches, affiliate marketers, consultants.

A key logistical consideration to becoming a digital nomad is how long you plan on being abroad; some employers require their remote workers to stay in the US, making freelance, fractional, or self-employment a more feasible option for embracing digital nomadism. What is the digital nomad lifestyle like?

Work-from-anywhere mentality

Nomads often work from coworking spaces, cafes, or hostels. They rely on cloud tools and video conferencing to stay connected. That means good Wi-Fi is non-negotiable.

Travel and living abroad

Digital nomads may bounce between global hotspots every few months or settle longer depending on visa rules and personal preference. Cities like Bali, Chiang Mai, Lisbon, Oaxaca, Buenos Aires, and Medellín are popular for their infrastructure, cost-effectiveness, and sense of community.

Flexibility vs. stability

Freedom is the biggest perk, but it has trade-offs. Creating routines, maintaining income, and building relationships can be harder without a fixed base. Coworking spaces and meetups help maintain structure and community.

Benefits of digital nomadism

To many Gen Zers, digital nomadism feels like the new American dream:

Freedom to explore new places
Work flexibility
Enhanced creativity and autonomy

In a recent digital nomad survey, aspiring nomads cited exploration (79%), low cost of living (49%), and a more intentional lifestyle (45%) as key motivations. Of those currently living the lifestyle, 88% recommend it.

Challenges of being a digital nomad

The same survey identified the biggest challenges in 2025:

Time zone alignment (44%)
Making enough money (39%)
Reliable Wi-Fi (38%)
Managing health insurance (27%)
Loneliness (22%)

Other hurdles include taxes, visa requirements, and general logistics.

How to become a successful digital nomad

Digital nomad skills

You’ll need self-discipline, strong communication, time management, and adaptability to succeed.

Tools you’ll need

If the world is your office, it needs to be well-equipped:

Tech stack. Laptop, noise-canceling headphones, portable chargers, adapters
Connectivity. Global Wi-Fi solutions, local SIMs, VPNs
Collaboration tools. Slack, Zoom, Notion, Trello

Budgeting and financial planning

Living abroad can be affordable, but costs like flights, temporary housing, insurance, and taxes add up. Freelancers especially need to understand visa, banking, and tax requirements.

The average digital nomad salary ranges from $30,000 to more than $100,000. Budgeting depends heavily on your region and lifestyle.

How to find remote work

Ready to leap? You’ll need a job that lets you. Finding remote work can be tough in the age of return-to-office, but there are options:

Remote job boards, like We Work Remotely, Remote OK, FlexJobs, and Working Nomads.
Freelance platforms, like Upwork and Fiverr.
Social Media offers many digital nomad-centric communities that function as informal job networks.

Legal and logistical considerations

There are more than just flights and coworking spots to think about. Administrative details matter.

Visa requirements for digital nomads

Most Americans can stay in many countries for fewer than 90 days on a tourist visa. For longer stays, digital nomad visas are available in places like Portugal, Costa Rica, and Mexico. These often require proof of income and health insurance.

Taxes and banking while abroad

Tax rules vary by country. If your employer is US-based, you likely still owe US taxes. Consult a cross-border tax specialist. Digital-first banks and international banking apps simplify access to funds.

Insurance options

Global health or travel insurance can cover emergencies, theft, and cancellations. It’s also required for many digital nomad visas to reduce strain on local healthcare systems.

The most buzzworthy countries in LatAm for digital nomads

LatAm offers short flights, same time zones, and rich cultural experiences. We analyzed 4,318 search terms to find where people in the US are most interested in becoming digital nomads.

Methodology

In July 2025, we analyzed 4,318 search terms having to do with Latin American destinations and digital nomadism, including “Digital nomad visa Costa Rica,” “where to live in Medellin,” and “digital nomad Mexico.” Looking at volume from June 30, 2024 to July 1, 2025.

US Census Population Data

Other popular destinations

Outside LatAm, Bali, Lisbon, and Chiang Mai remain digital nomad favorites.

States most interested in digital nomadism

We measured interest by per capita searches for “digital nomad visa.”

States with the most searches per 100,000 people

Conclusion

Whether you're driven by wanderlust or chasing a career beyond geographic limits, the digital nomad lifestyle offers a compelling path.

Before diving in, ask yourself: Are you self-motivated, adaptable, and energized by change? If so, this lifestyle might be your passport to a new way of working and living.

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