4 Exciting Digital Nomad Destinations In Asia Where You Can Live On Under $1,000 Bucks A Month

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Last Updated 17 mins ago

Europe may have the ancient charm, the Caribbean the amazing weather, and Latin America the affordability, but what if we combined all 3 into one?

Asia is a no-brainer for digital nomads who love being outside their comfort zone and are seeking a higher quality of life while spending much less.

All around the continent, there are remote work hubs offering culture, sunny temperatures, and cheap prices.

Think Pattaya in Thailand, for instance, where you can rent a beachfront apartment for around $536 a month, or even Canggu, a laid-back coastal village in Bali, where ordering a meal in a local restaurant will set you back by only $2.59 on average.

In nomad circles, those have already become synonymous with affordable—but still, it’s got us wondering where our hard-earned dollars stretch the furthest.

Living in Bali costs roughly $1,939 a month, which is already a pretty good deal.

But is there anywhere else where monthly expenses cap at $1,000? That’d be too much to hope for, surely? Even if it’s Asia.

That’s where you’re wrong: with estimates provided by Nomads, the largest crowd-sourced platform for tracking nomad trends on the internet, there are 4 digital nomad destinations where you can lead a pretty comfortable life on under a thousand bucks per month:

Yogykarta, Indonesia

Everyone knows Indonesia for Jakarta and Bali, but have you heard of Yogyakarta?

Located on the jungle-dominated island of Java, it is the only city in the country still officially ruled by a monarchy and a cultural gem certain to appease the History aficionados.

It is easily distinguished by its Kraton, the Sultan’s royal residence, UNESCO-listed 18th-century palaces, Dutch colonial buildings, and a lively Jalan Malioboro, a busy avenue full of shops, restaurants, and markets catering to an international crowd.

On Nomads, respondents have indicated they love Yogyakarta for how safe (a majority reports there is a noticeable lack of crime), walkable (this is a small city of around 375,000 inhabitants), and well-equipped to host nomads it is, with plenty of cafes to work from.

The major downsides?

Traffic safety seems to be ‘bad’, so we’d suggest you be extra careful crossing roads, English-speaking levels are low, and it’s not exactly great for nightlife; on the other hand, staying in this grand Sultanate for a month will cost you only $894.

Ninh Binh, Vietnam

Lining the Red River Delta in Northern Vietnam, Ninh Binh is the perfect antithesis of a bustling Hanoi: it’s much smaller in comparison, with only 130,517 residents, locals benefit from a slower lifestyle, it’s even cheaper, and the surrounding nature is untouched.

It is clearly not somewhere you go for the vibrant social scene and youth hostel backpacker parties.

However, if you love hiking or scenic boat rides to historic temples built on emerald lakes, Ninh Binh is the place for you.

If you’re truly looking for some peace and quiet, you can even book an entire bungalow-style stay for a whole month on Airbnb for an astounding $394! In fact, you’re unlikely to go higher than $814 in total expenses, including food, utilities and transport, for the entire month.

Besides the incredible affordability, nomads on Nomads have been hailing Ninh Binh lately for its ‘good’ food safety––if you’ve ever been to Southeast Asia and came back unscathed, you’re part of a lucky minority––the availability of coworking zones, and the friendliness towards foreigners.

Vientiane, Laos

Many nomads shun Laos for not being a coastal country and thus does not having the paradisiacal beaches, and for being less developed than average, even for Southeast Asia, making adaptation harder, but here’s why you shouldn’t be so quick in bypassing its capital Vientiane:

It is an open-air museum combining European and Laotian architecture, with French-era, tree-lined boulevards and mansions coexisting alongside 16th-century Buddhist wats and monasteries, and in general, it feels very ‘chill’:

In other words, it strikes the right balance in both representing the more rural character of Laos, with a distinctly more laid-back vibe than Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and the like, and a fast-growing metropolis––it’s somewhere in between, and some will love it, others will hate it.

On Nomads, it’s been criticized for not being as exciting as its fellow capitals and having slower internet; on the other hand, it’s been showered with praise for being safe, walkable, having a good annual Air Quality Index of 33 (anything under 50 is acceptable), and being inexpensive, with nomads spending on average $868 per month here.

Huế, Vietnam

The former imperial capital of Vietnam and a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising a moated fort, ornate palaces, and ancient shrines, Huế is definitely not somewhere you’ll be in a hurry to leave after a single weekend if you love sightseeing and culture:

From the beautiful Đại Nội Citadel and the nearby Forbidden Purple City, formerly accessible only to the emperor, his family and close entourage, to the bustling streets lined with casual cafes and laptop-friendly boba tea shops, we wouldn’t blame you for wanting to extend your séjour here indefinitely.

The best part is that it is remarkably inexpensive to live in, with Nomads estimating monthly costs at $948: indeed, you can order a bowl of pho for around a dollar in most food markets, a jug of domestic beer for only $0.79, and rent an entire modern apartment for $419 a month.

Huế is also an exciting nightlife destination for a change.

Numerous bars and venues host expats week-round (check out DMZ Bar or The Cham), crime levels are low, and natives are exceptionally friendly to foreigners.

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