How to become a digital nomad and make money while you travel
Like you, we have always had a deep desire for something beyond the daily life. We wanted to escape the 9-5 and dreamed of exploring the world while working remote. We went out to chase that and for the past few years, we have had more freedom than we ever thought was possible by becoming digital nomads. This way of life allowed us to make money online while traveling around the world. In this guide, we'll walk you through making money online and what to prepare before moving abroad.
How to make money online
It all starts with finding a way to make money online. You have three options:
Find a remote job
Start freelancing
Build an online business
We have written a detailed guide on how you can choose and actually get started to become a digital nomad in our free guide. Fill in your email below and we’ll send it to you 👇
How much money should you earn? (Costs of living as a digital nomad)
Soo, how much money do you need?
We have traveled the world when earning around €1500 online per person per month since we started this journey and it has been sufficient in places like Japan, Europe, and South-East Asia. It’s important to keep an eye on your budget and do some research about the costs of living per destination. Traveling full-time doesn’t have to be expensive. We created a guide on how to travel the world on a budget.
How to prepare before moving abroad
Save up
Before you hit the road, it’s important to have some savings as a safety net. This helps cover unexpected expenses and gives you peace of mind. And trust me, there will be unexpected expenses. We once had 3 three-month period where: one of our laptops broke down, Mila’s phone got stolen, we paid €700 on animal hospital bills for a stray cat we were keeping alive, the currency of the country we were in suddenly got a LOT more expensive, and the rent of our apartment TRIPLED.
Some people wait until they have saved up so much money that they could live on the road for years without making any extra money. We don’t.
Instead, we have saved up about €1500 per person so we can cover any unexpected costs or book a flight back to our home country if anything happens.
What to arrange at home
Decide what to do with your belongings. You could sell, store, or give away items you won't need.
Cancel or pause subscriptions and services you won't use while away (gym memberships, streaming services, internet).
We were baffled by the people who were still paying their FULL rent in their home
Pick a destination
Use resources like Nomadlist to choose destinations that are popular among digital nomads. Look for places with good internet and a reasonable cost of living. However, we believe being a digital nomad is possible anywhere. Not too long ago we traveled by motorbike across some remote islands in Indonesia while working our remote 9-5 job. Although some places make it easier than others, we never missed a day of working during this intensive 6-month trip. Some of our favorite places we have worked remote from are:
Indonesia
Thailand
Malaysia
Japan
Turkey
Research the best time to visit your destination. Consider things like the weather, tourist seasons, and local events. Public holidays can make or break your travel plans. It can be harder to find places to stay, restaurants might be closed and the availability and costs of activities might change heavily during these periods. Make sure to research and plan around these dates.
Finding accommodations as a digital nomad
Finding the right place to stay can make a big difference. TrustedHousesitters, Booking.com, Agoda, Airbnb, and Facebook groups are great resources for finding accommodations that fit your needs and budget. We recommend booking at least one month per city you want to live in as it allows you to really immerse yourself in that place and monthly stays reduce your housing costs significantly. We have found the most affordable places by looking inside Facebook groups. For example, if we are going to Ubud, Bali, we would be looking up “Rent Ubud” or “Housing Ubud” on Facebook and joining any group that comes up.
What to pre-book
We like to prebook at least our accommodation for the first week, our flights, and an e-sim. Regarding transport from the airport to your accommodation, we research local taxi apps and download them on our phones in advance. After that, we prefer leaving space for spontaneity.
Digital Nomad Packing List
As digital nomads, we don’t really believe in packing light. Our suitcase is our home and we like to bring everything we need in several weather conditions including things that make us feel at home. We’re currently creating a comprehensive packing list for digital nomads, we’ll share it soon!
Digital nomad insurance
Having travel insurance is a must to cover any (medical) emergencies. Look for insurance plans that cater specifically to digital nomads and long-term travelers. We like to use Safetywing which is an affordable and reliable provider that aims to build the first digital nomad homecountry on the internet.
Internet as a digital nomad
Reliable internet is important, yet sometimes hard to find when working remote. Research the best internet options at your destination, including eSIMs, portable Wi-Fi devices, and local SIM cards. We like to buy an e-sim through Airalo to ensure we have internet access from the moment we arrive at the airport. After the first week, we like to buy local sim cards as those are often the most affordable option. If you plan on working really remote, make sure to look into Starlink or Netgear.
We’re currently creating a dedicated blog post about internet abroad, we’ll share it soon!
Digital nomad visa
Make sure you understand the visa requirements for your destination. Websites like Ivisa can help you find out what documents you need and how to apply. We also like to contact visa agents or the embassy of your home country within the country you plan to visit to ask any questions about working remote and finding the right visa options.
Digital nomad taxes
Understanding your tax obligations as a digital nomad can be complex, so we recommend consulting with a tax professional who specializes in international taxes. We have spoken to Stef from Digital Nomad Tax, an international tax consultant with a deep understanding of tax rules for digital nomads. For some digital nomads, it’s possible to set up a zero-percent tax structure which is something we recommend looking into, especially if you travel around frequently and don't stay longer than 6 months in a country. Stef can help you understand your options, set all of this up, answer any questions, and even keep up with your taxes while you travel, saving you the headache. You can book a call with him here if you’re interested.
International banking
Set up a bank account that allows you to easily manage your money while abroad. Services like Wise and online banks like Bunq are great options. We use both.
Important documents
Keep copies of all important documents, such as your passport, visa, insurance, and any work-related paperwork. We like to keep both physical and digital copies if we have access to a printer. Also, refer to our digital nomad packing list to make sure you are not forgetting anything important.
Plan your budget
Having a clear budget will help you manage your finances and reduce financial stress. We like to calculate our expected monthly income and see what our budget is for accommodation, food, transportation, activities, and any business-related costs.
Arrange your vaccinations
Make sure you get all necessary vaccinations in time. Sometimes it takes months to get multiple shots of vaccinations so you’ll be happy you did your research in advance. We have medical insurance that covers our vaccinations.
Health on the road
We travel full-time, so that means we also have to arrange our dentist and health checkups abroad. Many people are worried about the quality in some countries, but we have often been surprised by the quality of healthcare in countries around the world.
Other things to prepare
Download a map of your destination so you can find where to go even when you are offline
Download some movies, games, or other forms of entertainment before you go
Download a VPN like Surfshark
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