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With winter knocking on our front doors and working from outdoor settings no longer feeling as pleasant, we feel it’s time to wave Europe (and the Northern Hemisphere as a whole) goodbye, at least temporarily, and turn our gaze to the Global South.
As digital nomads, we’re always looking for the next best spot where prices aren’t prohibitive; the weather is generally nice––not rainy and cold would be a great start––and where visa rules aren’t as bureaucratic (for a short-term stay).
With these in mind, we’ve narrowed it down to these 5 up-and-coming nomad hubs where not only the sun keeps shining year-round, but you can save big time by living on under $1,000 a month:
Makassar, Indonesia
Forget Bali! If you’re keen on immersing yourself in Indonesian culture, as well as finding a nomad hub that’s yet to be overtaken by the Instagram and TikTok masses, look no further than Makassar, the major port city in Sulawesi Island.
With temperatures ranging from 77°F to 90°F year-round, a charming Dutch-built colonial center housing historic forts, temples, and world-class museums, and straddling a golden-sand Losari Beach, lined with affordable seafood restaurants, Makassar is all the rage this winter!
Oh, and have we mentioned it is one of the most affordable tropical destinations in the world? Based on estimates provided by Nomads, the leading platform for tracking digital nomad trends online, it costs as little as $916 per month to live here.
Hoi An, Vietnam
One of Vietnam’s best destinations for culture, Hoi An is rising fast in popularity with nomads thanks to its pleasant weather––it enjoys an average daily high of 80 degrees in January––UNESCO-protected status and proximity to beaches.
The yellow-washed Old Town is filled with laptop-friendly cafes and cheap, family-owned restaurants where you can eat a generous bowl of pho soup for no more than a dollar, and the stunning, undeveloped An Bang Beach is great for cooling down from the heat.
Nomads also love Hoi An for how peaceful it can be in comparison to other larger Vietnamese cities, most notably Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), and the low cost of living, with monthly expenses capping at $922.
Weligama, Sri Lanka
Welligama means ‘Sandy Village’ in Tamil, one of the national languages of Sri Lanka, and it couldn’t be a more appropriate name for this laid-back, coastal town in the island nation’s Matara District, located on a sweeping bay facing the azure Indian Ocean.
It is not somewhere you go for the cafes, a plethora of coworking spaces, and lively nightlife, as opposed to the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, but if you’re hoping to disconnect from the fast-paced modern world, even if temporarily, and reconnect with nature, this is the place to be.
Other than friendly locals, inexpensive beachfront stays, and great seafood, you could expect temperatures to rise as high as 87.8°F and your savings to decrease by about $ 656 a month: yep, it can’t get any cheaper than this.
Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
A cross-border city sitting at the tri-point shared by Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, Foz do Iguaçu is commonly considered Brazil’s ‘last frontier’, surrounded by lush forestation and, of course, serving as the gateway to the national world wonder that is the Iguazu Falls.
It is one of the most unique conurbations in Brazil, not only as a result of its location but due to the fact it is home to over 80 nationalities and diverse communities: expect to see Catholic shrines, monumental mosques, and even Buddhist temples.
On top of that, Foz (as it is known among locals) has average daily temperatures ranging from 71°F to 90°F, crime levels are lower compared to larger urban centers in Brazil, and if you’re living as a local, you’ll be spending $986 per month.
Udon Thani, Thailand
A hidden gem in the Northeast of Thailand, Udon Thani is dominated by a richly-decorated Buddhist complex, Wat Phothisomphon, dating back to the 19th century, a sprawling urban park centered around a scenic Nong Prachak Lake, and it’s littered with vibrant street markets.
The ‘workcation’ scene isn’t as developed here as it is in Bangkok or Chiang Mai, so the kind of nomad who’ll be relocating to Udon Thani is likely to be actively avoiding expat-dominated areas and in search of more authenticity.
Temperatures? 89.6°F at a maximum; cultural value? Just east of the city lies Ban Chiang, a Bronze Age archeological site; restaurant prices? 19.4% lower than in Bangkok, and Bangkok is already dirt cheap; overall monthly budget? Nomads experts seem to think $976 is a safe enough bet.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
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