Digital Nomad Lifestyle

Imagine waking up in a different country every couple of months with the freedom to create your own working hours and live a unique lifestyle chosen by you. With the exponential rise of remote work, more and more people are asking how to become a digital nomad.

You see people on Instagram traveling the world and taking photos of their laptops in front of crystal blue waters in the Caribbean. You hear about nations introducing digital nomad visas for remote workers to come and live in their countries. In fact, the term “digital nomad” was just officially added to the dictionary!

Digital Nomad

A digital nomad is someone who works remotely while traveling the world. They can make a liveable income from their laptop or through passive income and are location-independent. To be a digital nomad, you must travel and be on the move every few months or so.

How to Become a Digital Nomad

There is no secret formula for becoming a digital nomad; it is a unique individual journey for every person who wishes to take on this lifestyle.

However, we can make it easier for you to achieve your dream in few steps. So, take these next steps as loose guidelines because your journey may look a little different.

Step 1: Is the Digital Nomad Lifestyle for You?

How hard can it be to travel to a foreign country with beautiful weather and gorgeous views while working from your laptop? Harder than most people think!

Before you begin your digital nomad journey, you must first figure out if it is something you actually want and if it fits your goals and desires. It’s important to know that there will be struggles living as a digital nomad, including feelings of discomfort, loneliness, and stepping out of your comfort zone.

So, how do you decide if being a digital nomad is worth it? Talk to people living the lifestyle, read blogs, and join online communities to learn from others’ experiences. This information will help you get a realistic picture of the lifestyle and if it’s something you want to work for.

Step 2: Start Making Money Online

When it comes to making money as a digital nomad, there are two options: making money online and having a passive stream of income. For the sake of this guide, we’re going to focus on remote jobs and working remotely.

Types of Digital Nomad Jobs

There are plenty of jobs catering to a variety of skill sets; you just have to find your passion and talent. Some of the most popular digital nomad jobs include:

• Web developer

• Graphic designer

• Crypto trader

• Virtual assistant

• Online coach

• E-commerce manager

• Content creator

• Freelance writer

Anything that you can do online to make money is a digital nomad job!

Some people have full-time remote jobs as employees working for someone else, while others work for themselves as freelancers or entrepreneurs.

In my opinion, if you already have or are willing to learn a skill, it is more beneficial to be a freelancer as a digital nomad. This offers you more control over your hours, rates, and clientele.

If you decide to go the freelance route, you can start finding jobs and advertising your services on Upwork or Fiverr to get started. Be creative and consider what you really enjoy doing when finding a way to make money online. It’s truly passion that drives success!

Whether you start a digital nomad online business or do freelance work in graphic design, the options are truly endless.

Essential Digital Nomad Skills

To be a successful digital nomad, you’ll need some specific skills when working a remote job. You may already have the skills I’m about to list, but if not, you can always learn and work on them.

Time Management

It is extremely important to know how to manage your time as a digital nomad. Since you aren’t working in an office, there is nobody there to look over your shoulder. Instead, you may receive emails and texts from coworkers or clients. However, in the end, it’s up to you to complete your tasks.

Personal Branding

If you choose to go the freelance route, you must learn how to build your personal brand. Anyone and everyone who knows you must be aware that you are a freelancer. Talk about your work on your social media and with your friends and family. Sometimes they can be your best referrers for new clients.

Tech Savvy

As a digital nomad, you’re going to be working on your computer a lot. While you don’t have to be a tech expert, you should still know your way around computers, especially when it comes to protecting your personal information with a VPN.

Super Organized

There are a lot of different things happening at once in the life of a digital nomad. From meeting deadlines for work to scheduling travel and transportation, it’s important to stay organized. You don’t want to miss a flight or a bus because you booked the wrong day or completely forgot what day it was. You also don’t want to miss a deadline because you overbooked yourself with travel.

Master the Art of Productivity

Work less, earn more – that’s the mindset behind mastering the art of productivity. It’s so easy for remote workers and freelancers to fall into the habit of constantly working every single day without a break. One way to combat this is to learn productivity tricks and skills.

One of the best ways to increase productivity is setting a routine and scheduling your week in advance. These techniques keep you super focused and goal-oriented. Turning off your notifications and eliminating distractions while working is also a super helpful productivity tip.

Step 3: Decide Where to Go

You can go anywhere in the world – so where will you go?

Unfortunately, it isn’t that simple when you’re a digital nomad. You must be strategic about your destinations and ensure they have the services and features you need to work online. You also have to consider the bureaucracy behind visas and how long you can stay in certain areas.

The beauty of being a digital nomad is that you don’t have to settle for just one kind of lifestyle! You spend a few months relaxing in a tropical paradise and the next couple of months walking on the bustling streets of a metropolis.

YOU HAVE THE FREEDOM TO CREATE THE LIFE YOU WANT!

Take some time to really think about how you picture your lifestyle. Write down a list of things you want to do during your days, the kind of weather you enjoy, and anything else that will fulfill you. This list is where you’ll start narrowing down destinations.

What to Look for in a Digital Nomad Destination

Now that you have your list of what you desire in a destination let’s make sure it’s digital nomad-friendly. There are a few things that make a destination digital nomad-friendly.

Reliable wifi

Easy transportation

Affordable cost of living (based on your budget)

Digital nomad community

Good weather

Step 4: Plan the Logistics

Becoming a digital nomad is more than just finding an online job and traveling to different countries. There are a lot of details you have to plan and be aware of. Sometimes, you won’t know you need to prepare for something until it’s too late. Part of living this lifestyle is learning through our mistakes, which can be difficult at times.

Some of these preparations can and should be done before you leave. Others you’ll do while you’re out in the world.

Create a Budget

Before you leave for your first destination, create a monthly budget based on your income. Set how much you can spend on accommodations, travel, meals, and entertainment. If you’re unsure of the prices in your new destinations, use Numbeo to get an idea.

Make sure also to be aware of the season in which you’re visiting certain places. Touristy places such as the Greek islands or Croatia raise their accommodation and travel prices during the high season. However, you can get great deals during the low seasons.

One important piece of advice is to have an emergency savings account. You’re going to face a handful of unexpected expenses with this lifestyle. Again, this is a live-and-learn experience. I also recommend always having enough money saved away (no matter what!) to buy a ticket home in case of an emergency.

Protect Your Information with a VPN

Imagine how upset and difficult it would be if someone stole your wallet while traveling abroad. Now imagine all of your personal information, passwords, and credit card information is in that wallet, but you don’t notice it’s missing until weeks later. This is exactly what happens when hackers steal your info from your computer. A VPN is a virtual private network that hides your information and location when connected to a local network. It’s perfect for digital nomads who like to work from cafes and connect to public wifi.

VPN services are extremely affordable and hide essential information and details to keep you safe. It can also help you save money and be more productive while traveling abroad!

Paying Taxes as a Digital Nomad

One major concern that comes along with being a digital nomad is paying taxes. In some cases, people question if being a digital nomad is legal or not!

For the most part, a digital nomad will pay taxes to their country of origin or where they have their business set up. However, it can get complicated when they apply for a digital nomad visa. Some countries require visa holders to pay local taxes, while others have tax exemptions.

Even when you aren’t a digital nomad, taxes are complicated. A good rule of thumb is if you stay in a country for less than 183 days out of the year, you do not owe taxes there.

Since digital nomad taxes are such unique and independent situations, it’s best to consult an accountant. One who specializes or is familiar with traveling remote workers can better advise based on your situation.

Don’t let this wait until taxes are due, though! Contact accountants before you leave so you’re already prepared. They may even have helpful tips and hidden write-offs for you.

Sign Up for Digital Nomad Insurance

You’ve heard of travel insurance, but have you heard of digital nomad insurance?

Digital nomad insurance covers more than just travel-related incidents. It can also cover routine doctor appointments, tests, and sometimes medication.

Now, you may be wondering why you should pay this extra monthly fee if you’re healthy and in great shape. You never know what is going to happen when you travel full-time. So, the best way to keep yourself and your wallet protected is with insurance.

Some of the most popular digital nomad insurances are Genki, SafetyWing, and World Nomads. They are fairly affordable and offer different levels of coverage.

Don’t wait until it’s too late to purchase your insurance policy.

Stay Connected

If you’re traveling abroad for an extended period of time, you’ll want to plan on how you’ll stay connected with friends and family back home. For most people, having an international plan on your phone is outrageously expensive. But what other options are there?

Purchase a local or e-SIM card when you arrive at your destination. It is the most affordable option to stay connected. Get a plan with a lot of data so you can use social media apps and WhatsApp or Telegram.

You can even research which is the best company to go with before leaving. It’s another great question to ask in an online community.

Before you leave, tell your friends and family the best way to stay in touch with you while you’re abroad. For me, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are the easiest for my friends and family.

Getting Around (Travel Apps & Websites)

One thing you are going to become amazing at is traveling. You’ll know the ins and outs of getting around and planning your travel routes. However, you’ll need to start somewhere first.

There are a ton of great travel apps and websites out there; you just have to know which ones to use.

Step 5: Prepare for the Journey

You’ve done your research, joined online communities, secured your online job, and figured out the logistics. Now it’s time to physically and mentally prepare for your journey!

Sell Your Things

Part of living a nomadic lifestyle is traveling with most of your belongings. Some people choose to go fully nomadic and sell everything they won’t take with them. Others choose to keep some of their belongings in storage to come back to later on.

Either way, I recommend selling things you don’t necessarily need and adopting a minimalist mindset. When you experience a digital nomad lifestyle, you’ll soon see how unimportant material things become. You’ll learn to get by with just the items you have in your suitcase or backpack. The rest becomes burdensome and meaningless.

Let’s also not forget that by selling your things; you’ll have some extra cash to spend while traveling.

Announce Your Plans (and Deal with Criticism)

You’re about to embark on one of the most incredible chapters of your life. Tell anyone and every one the leap you’re making, but prepare to deal with some criticism.

Most people will be supportive of your choice. They’ll be excited for you and tell you they can’t wait to hear all about your adventures. This is the kind of person you want to stay in touch with while you’re traveling.

Some people may not understand why you’re making this choice. They may see it as selfish and irresponsible. You’ll face criticism – sometimes from the people you love most. Don’t let this weigh on you too heavily, though.

If you start feeling discouraged, go back to that note you wrote yourself with why you want to become a digital nomad. Of course, this is easier said than done, but if you truly believe this is the right decision for you, then do it!

Create Your Support Circle

I hope by now you understand that being a digital nomad doesn’t mean you’re on vacation 24/7. Of course, you’ll have incredible moments and make unforgettable memories during your journey. But things will get difficult at times.

You can feel lonely if you’re traveling alone. You may feel like you’re missing out on things back home. It’s during these times when you need a support circle.

You’ll surely make friends during your journey who you can talk to. If they’re digital nomads, they may understand your struggles. But it’s also important to have a friend or family member back home who you can call to help you feel better.

Before you leave, ask two or three people if you can call them when you’re feeling burnt out or sad. It may feel silly to ask in this moment, but it’s important. When you need to talk to someone, you are likely to make the excuse that you don’t want to bother them. Having permission to call this person can make it easier for you.

Step 6: Take the Leap

Up until this point, you have done everything you can to prepare for your new life. Now it’s time to take the leap!

Pack your things. Get on that plane. Explore a new destination. This is your life now!

As you wait for your flight, train, or bus, you may feel overwhelmed and start questioning yourself. I promise it will get better once you’ve arrived at your destination. Nothing is worse than anticipating what to expect.

What to Expect

I’m personally so excited for you to start your journey. There are so many new experiences you’ll have that you’ll remember forever.

If you’re still feeling anxious about pursuing the lifestyle, let’s go over what you can expect.

You can expect to feel a plethora of emotions during the first few weeks. From extreme excitement to some anxiety to being overstimulated, it’s normal to feel all of this.

When in a new place or country, you may feel a bit uncomfortable and confused figuring out the culture and transportation. It’s all normal! Allow yourself time to learn and give yourself grace. Not anyone can arrive in a new country ready to make a lifestyle of it.

Be patient with yourself and enjoy it. Try new food. Learn some phrases in a new language. Interact with new people. See new and amazing sights. Make an income right from your laptop.

It can help to keep a journal of your experiences too. Let out your frustrations, share your exciting stories, and keep track of your favourite moments. You’ll definitely want to look back on it later.

Learn and Grow from the Experience

Nobody comes home the same after becoming a digital nomad. Their eyes have been opened to the world. They have new values and ambitions. They often become a better version of themselves.

Use this awesome lifestyle as a learning and growing experience. Open yourself to new things and people. You will never know where life will take you during this journey.

It’s also an excellent time to get to know yourself. Many digital nomads travel alone, which means spending a lot of time by themselves. Use this opportunity to reflect and become your own best friend. It’s an underrated but essential factor of living a successful nomadic lifestyle.

Digital Nomad Jobs You Can Do From Anywhere

1. Virtual Assistant (Beginner)

Average Salary: $24.25/hour

The days of sitting in front of your boss’s door at a desk all day, setting appointments and accepting phone calls are long gone. You may now work as an assistant remotely and perform almost all of the same activities as if you were in the office, with the exception of printing papers and making copies.

A virtual assistant’s tasks are extensive. It ultimately relies on what the individual requires assistance with in order to manage their firm. You may be putting together presentations at times, making appointments at others, and managing light social media at others.

If you want to work as a virtual assistant, I recommend looking for a job in a field that interests you. For example, if you are interested in fashion and jewelry, you may work as an assistant to a designer or ecommerce manager.

The only slightly technical knowledge you will need is for programs like CRM software, social media scheduling, and Excel. However, these are easy to learn and great skills to acquire.

Do you enjoy doing administrative tasks like data entry, scheduling meetings, managing social media, or whatever else a business owner may need help with? Then working as a virtual assistant may be the job for you!

As a virtual assistant, you’ll be completing a variety of tasks, often menial, to help a business owner focus on the most important aspects of their business. No virtual assistant position is the same, so find the one that best fits your current skill set!

Pro Tip: It’s a plus if you are familiar with Excel!

Where to find virtual assistant work:

Amazon Mechanical Turk

ClickWorker

Upwork

Fiverr

2. Data Entry (Beginner)

Average Salary: $2,733/month

Working as a data entry clerk is one of the greatest digital nomad careers for beginners. Other than knowledge with spreadsheets and attention to detail, it doesn’t take much talent. Furthermore, almost every industry requires someone to enter data at some point.

It’s rather easy to obtain a job performing this sort of work, and you rarely need any prior expertise to get started. So, whether you want to make some quick money while learning new skills for more complicated remote work or you simply love inputting data, this may be a perfect job for you.

3. Graphic Designer

Average Salary: $3,729/month

A graphic designer creates every brochure, advertisement, flyer, logo, Pinterest pin, book cover, and any image or graphic you see. These digital artists are in high demand, which is why so many digital nomads take on this career.

To modify pictures or create layered drawings, graphic designers use applications like as Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. If you have an artistic eye and love creating graphics on a computer, you should consider a career in graphic design.

It’s critical to discover your own distinct style and to identify a market niche for which you’d like to create designs. It might be anything from restaurants to clothing brands to cocktails, and so on. Use your imagination to come up with something you like designing.

A graphic designer might earn money by selling things with their designs on them in addition to working with customers. This print-on-demand business style does require more business knowledge, but can be very profitable. Plus, you never hold inventory of the products you sell.

4. Accountant

Average Salary: $4,337/month

An accountant, often known as a bookkeeper, assists people and/or businesses in keeping track of their spending and filing their taxes at the end of the year. Accountants come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so select the one that’s appropriate for you.

Most digital nomad accountants operate on a freelance basis with a variety of customers. Some consumers only utilize them during tax season, while others want consultations at any time.

To become an accountant, you must first obtain a degree and then pass the CPA test. So, while you don’t need technical knowledge in terms of computers, you do need to specialize in tax laws and programs like Excel.

5. Social Media Manager (Beginner)

Average Salary: $3,997/month

Social media has become critical for companies and enterprises. It allows them to communicate with consumers while also promoting company purpose, goods, and services. You will be responsible for creating content, engaging with followers, participating in trends, and reviewing data, all while assisting the company in increasing sales.

Being a social media manager may be a lot of fun, especially if you’re passionate about the business you’re promoting. It’s also one of those digital nomad occupations that you may undertake as a freelancer or as an employee.

If you want to work in social media, you must be familiar with prominent sites such as Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook. This includes how frequently you should post, the formula for viral content, and other topics. It’s also useful to be aware of the content vortex, from which you may generate over 50 pieces of content from a simple idea.

Do you have a knack for creating viral content on social media? If so, you may want to consider becoming a social media manager. Nowadays, if a business or brand doesn’t have social media, it’s hard for them to stand out from the rest of their competitors.

Think of creative and trending content to share, schedule posts, and interact with followers online. Sometimes it won’t even feel like working if you have a true love for social media!

It does help to have some background knowledge about best practices for popular social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, but we’re sure most of you already know them.

Where to find social media manager jobs:

Upwork

Fiverr

6. Freelance Writer

Average Salary: $3,065/month or $0.13/word

Freelance writers provide written material for customers in almost any field. This is why it’s critical to pick one or two niches and truly research how to generate interesting content for them.

You’ll also need some writing experience, preferably with an emphasis on search engine optimization (SEO), so your blogs can rank on Google. This may become more technical the more you dive into SEO, but you can choose just how deep you get into it as a writer. Being a content writer also entails learning how to persuasively market your client’s goods or service through narrative.

You might, for example, write editorials for an essential oil firm. You’ll want to educate readers on the advantages of essential oils and why your client provides the finest on the market in the material you produce.

7. Transcriptionist (Beginner)

Average Salary: $3,103/month

A transcriptionist is in charge of listening to audio recordings and transcribing what they hear. This text may then be utilized to produce an interview, video captioning, or other material such as blog articles.

Transcriptionists are often independent contractors that work for a variety of customers. Some even register with websites like Rev and use job boards to get work. Transcriptionists are usually paid by the duration of the audio they are transcribing, however some may be compensated hourly.

Noise-canceling headphones and a transcriptionist foot pedal are two tools that may make your job simpler. A pedal will assist you in switching between speakers and speeding up your job.

If you’re a fast typer and have a great ear, then you can be paid to transcribe audio files. Working as a transcriptionist is a great way to make some extra income because it allows you to work when you want and however much you want.

The length of the audio files can also range from a few minutes to over an hour. It’s a bonus if you’re bilingual too! You can make even more per hour transcribing a foreign language.

This online job requires no experience at all, but you may have to pass a test to begin working.

Where to find transcription work:

Rev

TranscribeMe

GoTranscript

Speechpad

Scribie

8. Online Course Creator

Average Salary: Variable

As a digital nomad, creating an online course is an excellent method to generate passive revenue streams. You record your course, market it, and then sit back and watch the money come in! (Of course, there is more to it than that, but this is the short version.)

There are several platforms for hosting and selling your courses, including Udemy and Thinkific. Furthermore, selling your course on such recognized platforms might help you advertise it more effectively.

9. Translator (Beginner)

Average Salary: $3,824/month

If you are proficient in more than one language, you should think about becoming a translator. Translators may deal with any type of written content, from official papers to books to brochures. They occasionally deal with audio translation as well.

Even if you don’t speak a second language yet, it’s never too late to start! It will take time to become conversational and proficient enough to begin translating, but it is absolutely something you can strive towards!

Many people who live a digital nomad lifestyle work as freelance translators. They promote themselves and look for clientele who want translations. Some even collaborate with embassies in the languages they speak to provide translation services.

If you speak more than one language fluently, then you can easily apply to be a translator. Many individuals and companies are looking for translators who can work from home.

You’ll be asked to translate a variety of documents, menus, books, articles, and more!

If working with an agency, you may be required to pass a language skill test.

Where to find translator jobs:

Gengo

Linguist

LionBridge

10. Online English Teacher (Beginner)

Average Salary: $20/hour

If you are a native English speaker, you can quickly access online platforms to teach English as a second language. Many organizations expect you to have a TEFL/TESOL certification before you can teach. Being an online English teacher also allows you to choose your own hours and pricing in some circumstances.

The best thing is that you don’t need prior teaching experience and may work from anywhere. Just be mindful of time zone changes, since the majority of your pupils will be from other nations.

You can teach students of all ages, ranging from kindergarteners to adults wishing to learn a new language. This is one of the most popular non tech digital nomad jobs out there.

For those who enjoy working with people from different cultures and like teaching them a new language, becoming an online English teacher is a great remote job. Lessons are usually around 20 minutes to an hour and performed via video chat. You may be asked to provide props such as picture printouts or puppets if teaching to children.

Many websites require their teachers to have a TEFL or TESOL certification. Earning a teaching certificate requires you to take a 120-hour course either online or in a classroom. Make sure it’s from an accredited institution.

Where to find jobs as an online English teacher:

VIPKid

PalFish

Preply

11. Customer Support Representative (Beginner)

Average Salary: $4,079/month

Customer support representatives manage customer queries and concerns about a certain product or brand. It may require talking on the phone, conversing through messenger, or even engaging in video calls.

However, if you want the flexibility to work your own hours, this is not the job for you. People in this profession are usually required to be online during specific shifts, therefore the time difference will be an issue if you work remotely.

You will have to have a knack for patience and learn how to use the backend programs required by your company to help customers, but with proper training, you’ll learn quickly.

Many companies will outsource their customer service roles to freelancers or larger agencies. These customer service roles involve talking on the phone or instant messaging with customers.

Some of these roles have flexible hours and can be done part-time while others require you to work certain hours and maybe even full-time.

Depending on the role, the employer may require you to have some experience working in customer service.

While there are agencies that you can apply to, such as the ones listed below, you can also find these roles on job boards.

Where to find customer service representative jobs:

JobFull

No Desk

12. Travel Agent

Average Salary: $3,186/month

As a digital nomad touring the world, you want to share these great destinations with others so they can enjoy them as well. The easiest method to do this is to work as a virtual travel agent.

Instead of a conventional wage, travel agents frequently earn a commission from the vacations they plan for their clients. They do get to promote some pretty fascinating places, and they can do it through social media. What could be better than gaining firsthand information while visiting the destination?

If you decide to become a virtual travel agent, do be careful of network marketing schemes. While they are very popular in this industry, but you can find reputable companies to get your travel business started.

13. Virtual Recruiter

Average Salary: $3,866/month

A recruiter is someone who helps a firm fill available positions. They find the finest applicants and persuade them to apply for the job. These recruiters often work for recruitment agencies and receive a commission if their candidate is hired.

While this was traditionally done in-person at networking events, times have evolved and virtual recruitment is now just as successful. If you like engaging with individuals professionally on LinkedIn and talking about their future, you’d be an excellent virtual recruiter.

Consider a virtual recruiter to be a sales agent who is marketing a job vacancy to someone who is a perfect fit for the position. You locate their contact information and profile and contact them. You determine whether they are interested in a new position and, if not, persuade them to apply for one.

14. Voice Actor

Average Salary: $5,605/month

Many digital nomads discover that utilizing their voice for client projects allows them to be location-independent and earn a remote income. There is a wide range of opportunities available, from narrating audiobooks to recording radio commercials, voice-overs for videos, or advertisements.

This is amazing freelancing work with a good income. The only initial outlay will be for audio recording equipment. Keep in mind that you will have to travel with this equipment if you choose to live the digital nomad lifestyle, so make sure to stay light.

15. Virtual Personal Trainer

Average Salary: $2,869/month

With online fitness classes and training programs becoming increasingly digital, becoming a remote personal trainer has never been easier. You may assist your customers through one-on-one conversations, send SMS reminders to workout, and get progress updates.

Becoming as informed and helpful as possible is the key to being an excellent virtual personal trainer. Make exercise videos and customized fitness routines for your clients. You might also wish to collaborate with a nutritionist to incorporate diet programs in your products.

To interact with your followers and get new clients, you must have a fantastic website and be active on social media. Consider how great your video will be when you travel the world and film workouts in some of the most stunning scenes.

16. Podcast Editor

Average Salary: $5,600/month

Isn’t it true that everyone nowadays has a podcast? This means they’ll need podcast editors to assist them.

A podcast editor takes their client’s content and edit and improve it for release. This can include improving the audio, reducing background noise, deleting sections, and adding sound effects.

To become a podcast editor, you don’t need much experience. You will, however, require audio editing software and some familiarity with it.

17. Proofreader and Editor (Beginner)

Average Salary: $3,356/month

Many writers, particularly those who self-publish, bloggers, and content companies engage proofreaders and editors to examine their work for grammar, punctuation, spelling errors, and contextual issues. Proofreading employment in the medical profession that rely heavily on fact-checking or reading fiction manuscripts or articles are available.

It’s an ideal employment if you enjoy reading and want to work from anywhere in the globe. This job is also great for remote workers who do freelance writing as well since they go hand-in-hand.

for mistakes, you would make a great proofreader!

From students, authors, professors, and copywriters, everyone could use a second set of eyes when it comes to proofreading. You should have a strong grasp of the English language and have an eye for detail. There may be some instances where you’re asked to fact-check information too.

If you’re an avid reader, there’s no better job than to be paid to curl up and read!

Where to find proofreading jobs:

Upwork

Fiverr

18. Search Engine Evaluator SEO (Beginner)

Average Salary: $3,822/month

You’re probably pretty familiar with how the Google search engine works. Did you know that you can get paid to use Google while improving its search results as a search engine evaluator?

You’ll be assigned topics to research, websites, pages, and videos to evaluate based on the PDF guide provided by Google. While Google doesn’t directly hire for this position, a few companies are contracted by them.

No experience is required for the position, but there is a three-part qualification test you must pass. It also helps to have a keen attention to detail.

Where to find work as a search engine evaluator:

RaterLabs

19. Content Moderator (Beginner)

You’ve seen and have probably relied on customer reviews for products and restaurants. Did you know that many companies moderate reviews and posts from customers or community members?

As a content moderator, you’ll read through reviews and make sure they don’t contain hate speech, phone numbers, addresses, or any other information that goes against the company’s guidelines.

This can also be done for large Facebook groups or other online communities. You’ll follow the guidelines provided to you and delete or block accounts and posts that go against these policies.

Where to find content moderator jobs:

Crisp Thinking

The Social Element

Ignite Social Media

LiveWorld

20. E-Commerce Manager

Average Salary: $4,775/month

Online shopping is at an all-time high right now. People are choosing to order items instead of going to the store and shopping for them. This means there are more opportunities than ever to become an e-commerce manager.

E-commerce managers run online storefronts choosing which products to sell, running marketing campaigns, and ensuring shipments are processed, and customers receive their products.

This is one of the great entrepreneurial digital nomad jobs that can make thousands of dollars each month. The best part is that you don’t have to hold inventory if you choose a dropshipping business model, and it’s all done virtually!

You would be great at this job if you enjoy analyzing trends, conducting marketing campaigns, and managing retail-related projects.

To see if being an e-commerce manager is for you, take this Udemy course, How to Build a Profitable E-Commerce Dropshipping Business.

21. Affiliate Marketer

Average Salary: $4,997/month

What if you could earn commission from selling someone else’s product while having the creative liberty to advertise it as you want? That’s exactly what an affiliate marketer does!

This role also falls under the title of “influencer,” but a true affiliate marketer involves many more factors than simply creating content and having a large following.

You can have a blog, social media channels, or run online advertising campaigns to be an affiliate marketer.

But how do they make money? When you sign up for an affiliate program with one of your favorite brands, you’ll receive a unique link. You then promote this link to your followers and earn a commission for each purchase made using your link.

For example, makeup bloggers or YouTubers promote certain products through tutorials or reviews. Their followers then want to try the product and order it through the affiliate marketer’s link.

There are endless creative opportunities to get into affiliate marketing, and you don’t always need a large following on social media, especially if you’re good with SEO and digital marketing.

22. Video Editor

Average Salary: $3,277/month

Are you creative and imaginative when it comes to videos? Then you may have what it takes to be a video editor!

Many people don’t have the time to learn video editing programs or sit down and actually edit their own videos because it can take hours. So, they look to hire a video editor to do it for them.

This is one of the best remote jobs because all you need is your computer and some headphones. No matter where you are in the world, you can edit your clients’ videos. The one downfall is that there are usually strict deadlines that you must meet.

What will some of your clients look like? Many people with a YouTube channel hire video editors to take their videos and put them together in an engaging and storytelling format. Sometimes you may have a client looking to edit an online course they created or an advertisement for their business.

The best thing you can do as a video editor is to choose a niche you’re interested in and become an expert in it. For example, if you love luxury real estate, you could edit listing videos for real estate agents selling high-end properties.

Before you go out and pitch clients, though, be sure to create an impressive online portfolio of your work to show them just what you can do.

23. Website Designer

Average Salary: $3,433/month

Do you know HTML and CSS and enjoy creating and designing beautiful layouts and frames? Then one of the best digital nomad jobs for you is a website designer!

Even with programs like Weebly and Squarespace, where people with zero design experience can create a website, web designers are still in high demand. It’s also a great freelance job where you can work with the clients you want, when you want, where you want.

Now, you don’t need to have a ton of experience to build a website. Take a few courses in HTML, CSS, and overall web design to get started. Practice making websites and then add them to your portfolio to show potential clients.

24. Programmer

Average Salary: $4,106/month

Job Type: Freelance, Employee

A majority of digital nomads started their journeys as computer programmers. This role entails creating computer programs and software by coding Python, PHP, C++, and more.

As a programmer or software developer, you can work for a company as an employee or freelance. The choice is yours!

If you don’t already have experience in programming, it will take some time to learn coding languages and practice. However, it’s an in-demand skill that pays very well, so it’s worth investing your time to learn.

25. App Developer

Average Salary: $6,042/month

You can download millions of apps right onto your phone or computer with a click of a button. But have you ever considered who actually made and developed those apps?

App developers are very similar to computer programmers, but they specialize in creating mobile or desktop applications. Whether they create mindless, entertaining games like Among Us or platforms for online banking, app development is a great job for remote workers traveling the world.

It’s also one of the highest-paying digital nomad jobs out there! As more companies create their own mobile applications, they need an app developer, which means this is a stable and comfortable remote job that will be around for quite a while.

26. Graphic Designer

Average Salary: $3,729/month

Every brochure, advertisement, flyer, logo, Pinterest pin, book cover, and other illustration or graphic you see is done by a graphic designer. These digital artists are one of the most in-demand services, which is why so many digital nomads take on this job.

Graphic design is done through programs like Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator to manipulate photos or create layered designs. If you have an artistic eye and enjoy making designs on the computer, you should look into graphic design.

It’s important to find your unique style and choose a niche for which you would like to make designs. It could be anything from beauty to real estate to beverage products and so on. Get creative with it to find something you love designing.

Other than working with clients, a graphic designer can also make an income selling products with their designs on them. For example, print-on-demand services such as Printful or Redbubble will hold inventory and print the product for you. All you have to do is promote it.

27. Photographer

Average Salary: $2,994/month

As you travel the world you’ll surely see some incredible scenery and people, which makes being a photographer the perfect job for digital nomads.

There are a few ways to make money as a remote photographer.

Sell photos to publications

Take photos for clients

Sell stock photos (AdobeStock, Getty Images, etc.)

Enter photo contests

Get paid for photo views (Clickasnap)

Sell prints and products with your photos (Printful, Format)

Since you’re already generally creative being a photographer and all, feel free to get creative with how your passion makes you money.

To get clients and promote yourself and your work, you’ll need a portfolio website. You can use software like Format to easily create this or build your own website. If you decide to make a website, we suggest using Bluehost as the hosting server and Divi theme if using WordPress.

28. Email Marketing Specialist

Average Salary: $4,051/month

One aspect of digital marketing is email marketing. Being an email marketing specialist involves creating email campaigns to bring leads through a buyer’s journey to sell a product or service.

These campaigns can simply be a newsletter people subscribe to, promoting sales and new products, and more. It also involves testing different email features such as headlines and the time of day you send it.

Sometimes the email marketer is also the copywriter and designs the email, so having these skills is also a plus. Other times it’s simply analyzing data and creating new campaigns for a brand.

29. Paid Ads Specialist

Average Salary: $3,972/month

Diving more into the digital marketing and advertising field, we have a paid ads specialist. You know the advertisements that come up on your Facebook newsfeed or between your friends’ stories on Instagram? Those were placed (and paid for) by a paid ads specialist.

This role entails creating a target audience to receive a specific advertisement on platforms such as Google, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Reddit, YouTube, and TikTok. You’ll allocate your ad spending budget to reach the brand’s goals in views, conversions, and sales.

This is perfect for someone who loves looking at numbers and testing different features to find what works. If you aren’t sure where to start with this position, take the Facebook Blueprint and Google Ad courses to see if it’s right for you.

The key to being a great virtual personal trainer is to be as informative and helpful as possible. Create videos of your workouts and personalized fitness plans for your clients. You may also want to team up with a nutritionist to include diet plans in your packages as well.

30. Shopify Developer

Average Salary: $12,500/month

As I mentioned before, e-commerce and online shopping use are on the rise. Therefore, e-commerce managers need a Shopify developer to help them manage and design their storefront.

Shopify is an incredibly useful and popular platform that e-commerce managers use. However, many of them don’t know how to take full advantage of the platform. So, they hire Shopify developers to make sure the UX design is working, personalize the design, and more.

As there aren’t many Shopify developers right now, there is high demand, which means an impressive salary to go along with it.

If you’re interested in becoming a Shopify developer check out this course, How to Become a Shopify Expert to get started.

31. Cryptocurrency Trader

Average Salary: Unknown

One of the most popular and lucrative digital nomad jobs right now is a cryptocurrency trader. There is so much money to be made in this field – it’s almost unbelievable!

Digital nomads have made hundreds of thousands of dollars investing in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies. It’s an entirely new world of technology and blockchain that you can dive into.

All I can say is do your research and try your (informed) luck in the crypto world. You can do it from anywhere and make a ton of money.

Freelance Job Sites

If you choose to become a freelancer and work with different clients while setting your own rates and hours the following websites are great places to find digital nomad jobs.

Upwork

Upwork has one of the largest job boards for freelance work of all professions. Clients will create a job posting and you can submit proposals to the ones you’re interested in.

When you have more experience and an optimized profile, you’ll often receive invitations from clients to submit proposals to their job listings. Therefore, it saves you a ton of time searching for new gigs.

There are two catches with using Upwork. The first is you need to purchase “connects” to submit proposals to job postings. While they’re only a few cents and tax-deductible, it can be frustrating for someone just starting.

The second catch is Upwork takes a percentage of your income as commission. When you first start working with a client, Upwork takes 20% of what you make until you’ve made $500 with that client. After the $500 mark, they reduce the commission to 10%.

Even with these two details, Upwork is still a great platform and my personal favorite to find clients for my freelance writing business.

Fiverr

Another freelance job site is Fiverr. It’s a marketplace where freelancers can create specialized gigs with set prices and descriptions of what kinds of packages they offer. So, instead of you, the freelancer, scrolling through job posts, clients will search for you.

It can be a bit saturated, so you will need a highly optimized freelance profile to stand out when clients search for your skill.

The catch with Fiverr, though is that it will always take a 20% commission of what you make, no matter the price of your contracted gig.

While these fees seem high, they are the price you pay for being featured on a platform used worldwide. Without them, you would have exposure to thousands of potential clients.

FlexJobs

FlexJobs will help you land a remote job through tutorials and resume assistance. They also have valuable content about interviewing for a remote position to help you land the position. They also filter and screen each job posting so you know each position is legitimate.

Working Nomads

A job posting website specifically for digital nomad jobs, Working Nomads is simple and easy to use. You’ll find different industries on the lefthand side that you can choose from. Scroll through the listings and find one that looks interesting and apply on the company’s website.

We Work Remotely

For those digital nomads who are looking for a job in programming, web design, or other technical positions, We Work Remotely has what you’re looking for. They also offer a learning package to get you ready to work remotely with webinars and one-on-one coaching and consultations.

Skip the Drive

Another job posting platform that’s easy to navigate is Skip the Drive. With plenty of job category breakdowns and a unique job application tracking feature, you can quickly and easily search for a remote job. It also has a micro-tasks section for quick, one-day gigs you can complete for some fast cash when you need it.

Remote Tech Jobs

If you’re searching for a remote job in the tech and programming field, then Remote Tech Jobs is your all-in-one solution. This job posting site is dedicated to technical jobs such as WordPress developers, blockchain, software engineering, and more. You can sort through the type of tech job you’re looking for and easily apply right on the website. Plus, you can sign up for job alerts right to your email for quick and easy remote job hunting.

Indeed

One of the most popular online job board sites Indeed is has a unique advantage over the others. This platform allows you to upload your resume so recruiters can also find you. This gives you even more opportunities to land a great remote job.

Travel Hacks for Saving Money Overall

Sign Up for a Travel Credit Card

Did you know you can earn free flights and hotel stays just by spending money on everyday items? With a travel credit card, you can!

With every dollar you spend, you can earn points to redeem for travel expenses and purchases. Plus, travel credit cards also usually come with no foreign transaction fees, which can save you on average 3% when using your card abroad, and other travel perks like insurance.

Without changing your spending habits or anything, you can earn enough points to get a free flight, free hotel stays, or a free car rental. All you have to do is put your purchases on your travel credit card, pay it off, and earn the points. It doesn’t get easier than that!

Use an International or Local SIM Card

If you’ve ever traveled abroad and bought an international plan from your home mobile provider, you probably paid an arm and a leg just to have a few gigs of spotty data while overseas.

This isn’t feasible as a digital nomad who spends months, even years, traveling abroad. To save on plans that can cost $10 a day, consider getting an international SIM card or a local SIM card.

This is the absolute cheapest option to have cell phone service while traveling. In most countries, you can go to a mobile provider and get an affordable data plan without signing any hefty contracts like in the United States.

Or you can use an international SIM card like DrimSIM. This pay-as-you-go SIM card works in 190 countries and you can opt for an eSIM, which is a virtual card connected to your phone.

Become a Pro at Eating on a Budget

When you visit a new destination you want to experience the culture, which is often done by eating the local cuisine. However, eating out at restaurants, especially those top-rated on Yelp, can get quite expensive.

It’s important to learn how to eat well while traveling on a budget. One way to do this is to take advantage of street food, which is often some of the best food you’ll eat for a fraction of the cost of a restaurant meal.

You can also try local cuisine without eating a hole in your wallet by going to local grocery stores. Usually, you’ll find prepared meals and ingredients from that region that you can taste and try to cook with at home if you have a kitchen.

When I traveled through Thailand, I preferred getting meals like pad thai from street vendors rather than going to a sit-down restaurant. It often tasted better and was a quarter of the price!

Buy Plane Tickets Six Weeks in Advance (on a Tuesday)

Another way to ensure you’re getting a great deal is to keep your flying dates flexible. Search for the cheapest month to travel to your destination and book your flight for a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.

Compare Different Routes and Transportation Methods

As a digital nomad, you probably enjoy slow travel and seeing as much of the world as possible. If you’re flexible in your travels, there’s no better way to save money on flights and transportation than comparing different routes and methods.

Another way to compare routes and prices is through third-party websites. For comparing flights I like to use the following:

SkyScanner

Google Flights

Momondo

To find the best method of transportation, I’ll use:

Omio

Rome2Rio

While this method may not always save you time, it could save you a ton of money while also helping you see places you may never have considered.

Opt for a Bus or Train

I use the following apps to find bus and train tickets for my travels:

Busbud

12go (Southeast Asia)

RailEurope (Europe)

Again, you can use Omio or Rio2Rome for finding the best route option and tickets too.

Keep Your Dates Flexible

Just like when you’re searching for a cheap flight, it’s important to keep your dates flexible when booking your accommodation.

Stay for Free as a House Sitter

What if I told you that you could stay in your destination for free? The only strings attached is that you would have to look after someone else’s house and possibly pets.

Stay in Hostels

Hostels are an excellent way to save money while traveling and meet people from all over the world.

The best place to find a hostel that has everything you want in a digital nomad accommodation is on Hostelworld. With 36,000 properties available, there’s something for everyone.

Book Long-Term Stays

If you’re searching for accommodations on Airbnb or Vrbo, you can get a lot more bang for your buck if you book long-term stays. Most hosts offer a significant discount if you stay for a month in their property.

If you find a property that you really like, you can also message the host and ask if you can work out a discount. Explain that you plan to stay there for a long period of time, so they don’t have quick guest turnover, making it easier for them to manage.

Look in Local Facebook Groups

There are hundreds of digital nomad Facebook groups in specific destinations that offer local tips and even housing options.

All you have to do is join the group and ask if there are any apartments available or where you can find an affordable one in the area. Most people are willing to help and you may find an excellent deal.

Light Packing

You don’t want to carry around multiple suitcases or backpacks with you traveling from city to city. Especially if you’re traveling through South America or Southeast Asia, getting around with a ton of luggage can be difficult.

So, if you can travel the world and live out of a suitcase the size of a carry-on, you’ll find that you can save a ton of money when you fly or store your bags for a few hours.

Check Luggage Restrictions

If you plan to fly on budget airlines, then it’s important that you check their baggage restrictions.

Also, consider the space you’ll have while riding on trains or taking buses as well. To avoid overpaying to check baggage all the time or trying to find a way to make your luggage fit, plan for these luggage restrictions ahead of time.

Get Organized

It’s absolutely incredible how much you can fit in just a small carry-on suitcase and a backpack. Some people live for months out of these two pieces of luggage.

The two items I never pack without are vacuum seal bags and packing cubes. These life-saving organizers create so much space in my luggage and help me fit everything I need.

Staying Safe

Use a VPN

A virtual personal network, or VPN, is absolutely essential for all digital nomads who connect to public wifi networks. Whether you’re working from a cafe or checking your email in the airport before boarding a flight, you must use a VPN.

A VPN hides your personal information and much more to protect you from prying eyes and hackers trying to steal your data. To prevent this dangerous situation from happening, make sure to always use a VPN when connecting to wifi in public.

Get Digital Nomad Health Insurance

I know what you’re thinking – how often do you really go to the doctor in a year when you’re living at home? Probably not often. So, why would you get digital nomad health insurance while traveling the world?

Well, it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your health.

Some popular insurance companies amongst digital nomads include:

SafetyWing

Genki

GeoBlue

Cigna

PassportCard Nomads

If you’re searching for an insurance policy, be sure to check out our article about what to consider

Get Travel Insurance

Okay, so what’s the difference between digital nomad health insurance and travel insurance? Well, above we spoke about getting routine medical treatment while traveling abroad with digital nomad health insurance. Travel insurance is protection for trip disruption and delays, lost baggage, emergency medical situations, and other travel-related situations.

Back Up Your Computer and phone

In the event that your computer is stolen, broken, or stops working completely, you don’t want to lose all of your files, photos, and video. Make a habit of backing up your computer every week onto an external hard drive to ensure you never lose important items.