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What do your travel plans for 2024 look like?
If the idea is to spend a little longer in one place while working as a digital nomad, we might have the inspiration you need to find your next favorite location.
South America is quickly emerging as one of the best places for digital nomads to explore and keep things affordable. That’s why we’ve researched five of the cheapest big cities that can help you do just that.
Medellin, Colombia
Last year was a coming-of-age year for Medellin as a destination for solo travelers and digital nomads.
This picturesque city is located in Colombia’s beautiful Aburra Valley, in the far north of the Andes Mountains and is known as the City of Eternal Spring, thanks to its mild and pleasant weather all year round.
Its popularity as a digital nomad destination means costs have risen slightly in recent years, but you should be able to get by just about $1,500 per month or less by being smart.
The city has a great community of digital nomads, a memorable nightlife and a large number of shared workspaces. The city is also known for its fast and reliable internet connections.
And if you’re still on the fence, perhaps Medellin’s nomination as one of Travel Off Path’s Best Digital Nomad Destinations for 2024 in our annual awards will convince you?
Fortaleza, Brazil
This city is located on the north coast of the Brazilian state of Ceará, has a beautiful sandy beach and is known for its vibrant nightlife.
The city has a tropical climate with temperatures between 75 and 85F almost year-round.
It also benefits from an affordable metro system, excellent internet and remote workspaces, and some beautiful green spaces to help you relax, such as Parque do Coco.
One thing to remember about Brazil is that it is no longer the easiest place for Americans to visit – you must apply for a VIVIS visitor visa to stay for up to 90 days.
A digital nomad visa is available that allows you to stay for up to two years if you meet the relevant criteria, such as having proof of accommodation, proof of an onward ticket and proof of good travel insurance.
If you can handle that level of administration, you’ll be rewarded with a city that costs approx $1,500 per month to live as a digital nomad.
Lima, Peru
This one might be a bit of a curveball, but with an estimated cost of living as a digital nomad around $1,300 per month It’s easy to see why Peru’s capital is growing in popularity.
Peru is expecting a big travel year in 2024, helped by its weak currency against the US dollar, fascinating culture, great cuisine and awe-inspiring nature.
You can catch a glimpse of most of these things in Lima, along with plenty of secluded workspaces and beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean.
Buses can cost less than $1 per ride in Lima, and the city also benefits from ride-hailing apps like Uber if you need to get somewhere in a hurry.
Peru had some issues with protests and public disturbances in 2023, but things appear to have resolved now that the US State Department has rated the country at Level 2 – not the safest place on this list, but fine to travel to if you be careful and sensible.
Bogota Colombia
Another Colombian destination – it almost seems like this South American treasure is one of the best places to live as a digital nomad?
For round $1,300 per monthyou can stay in the capital of Colombia for a maximum of two years.
The country’s accessible digital nomad visa only requires about $700 per month to achieve a stay of this length – and Bogota is one of the best places to do just that.
It’s a vibrant city thriving with Colombian culture, and while it doesn’t have the best reputation for safety, it’s very cheap, has great internet, offers ideal weather and is generally LGBTQ+ friendly .
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Argentina is highly regarded as one of the top destinations for solo travelers for many reasons – not least of which is the fact that it is affordable and one of the safest countries in South America.
Latest data from Nomad list indicates that living as a digital nomad in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires should cost you approximately $1,000 per monthand the Global Peace Index rates Argentina as the second safest country in all of South America – second only to Uruguay.
The city is still emerging as a destination for digital nomads; however, it has a solid community and excellent entertainment and dining options.
It’s a very walkable city, and if you need it, public transportation is excellent – you can get around the city for less than $2 a day on the reliable buses.
Americans can stay in Argentina for up to 90 days without a visa, and if you want to stay longer, the Argentina Digital Nomad Visa is very easy to apply for and allows you to stay for 180 days.
The monthly costs in this article are estimates based on the most recent data available and are intended as a guideline. In some cases it may cost more (or most likely less). Happy nomads!
Read more:
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
