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Thinking of ditching the U.S. and working remotely abroad? Well it turns out you’re not alone.
In 2025, amid growing concerns about the direction of American politics and economics, a rising number of US citizens are taking up as remote workers and looking to move overseas.
The dream of living the life of a digital nomad — you know, working from a laptop while sipping coconut in Bali — is becoming more popular than ever. Let’s Make Indonesia Great Again, eh?!
But is it really quite that simple?
Well yes and no. In this post we are gonna dig into what’s actually happening out there, and tell you how to survive, and even thrive, as a digital nomad in 2025.
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
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So What’s It Like Out There?
There are far too many bloggers and influencers out there peddling fake news about what it takes to become a Digital Nomad (DN).
Here is the real lay of the land as of 2025….
Competition For Jobs Is Fierce
It’s tough out there right now. There are not a LOT of people trying to make it as a Digital Nomad at the moment, so competition for these prized remote gigs is incredibly fierce.
Digital nomadism is no longer a fringe movement. Hundreds of thousands (maybe even millions) of people from all over the world are now chasing the same lifestyle. This means that competition is intense, whether you’re a freelance designer, software dev, or marketing consultant.
You’re not just up against other Americans anymore; you’re up against the global talent pool.
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
The Old Online Income Strategies Are Dead
Of course, a lot of Digital Nomads are either entrepreneurs or freelancers who look for either part-time or passive income-generating strategies.
However, over the last year or two, the dream of passive income has gotten a lot harder.
- SEO traffic is down, and Google is killing bloggers. Content sites are tanking.
- AI tools have replaced basic content writing and design gigs.
- Dropshipping? It was always a pipe dream for most, and has only gotten worse with rising ad costs and saturated markets.
If you’re hoping to make it as a Digital Nomad based on a 2017 YouTube strategy or a Udemy course from 2020, it’s time for a serious rethink.
Cheap Countries Aren’t Cheap Anymore
Let’s kill this myth once and for all: there are no more $500/month paradises.
Even in traditionally affordable places like Thailand, Mexico, and Vietnam, the cost of living has seriously surged due to inflation, increased demand, and local economic shifts. In some Diginomad-centric locations, rental prices have actually quadrupled since 2020!
Can it still be cheaper than San Francisco? Hell yes, of course! But you’ll probably need to budget more than you might think, especially if you want safety, healthcare, and a stable internet connection.
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
The Backlash Has Begun…
It may shock you, but Digital Nomads are not actually all that widely liked outside of (often insular) Digital Nomad circles. In fact, in popular places for digital nomads, like Lisbon, Mexico City, and Greece, locals are seriously pushing back.
While some of this may be partially motivated by envy, there are plenty of very legitimate concerns, too. Digital nomads are increasingly being viewed as economic invaders or even neo-colonisers— driving up rents, reshaping neighborhoods, dodging local taxes, and contributing very little to the local economy or culture.
If you show up and act like a tourist with a laptop, don’t necessarily expect a warm welcome. If I were you I’d be very humble in your new surrounds.
DN Visas Aren’t the Magic Bullet We Hoped For
Yes, there are more “digital nomad visas” than ever before, and yet in most cases, they are barely even worth bothering with.
- Many require proof of high monthly income, often $2,000 to $4,000+
- Others expect long-term rental agreements or private health insurance
- And most are tax-residency gray zones
Which brings us to…
You Still Owe U.S. Taxes
Some very bad news for Americans: the IRS doesn’t care where you are.
Unless you renounce your citizenship (like 6,000 Americans do each year), you’re still liable for U.S. taxes even if you live abroad full-time.
There are some exclusions and credits, but filing a return is still mandatory and often complicated. Be sure to talk to a tax advisor before you go, and remember the April 15th Deadline.
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
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How To Make It In 2025
Right now that the sobering but necessary hard messages are out of the way, let’s get down to telling you what you can do to help yourself make it as a Digital Nomad in 2025.
Research Destinations
Take the time to do some of your own research to find appropriate DN destinations for 2025. (Hot tip – Lisbon is out, Tirana is in).
Doing your own research does not simply mean Googling “Digital Nomad destinations 2025” and finding a post you want to agree with, it means taking time to check rental prices in a location (Zoopla, Airbnb), as well as looking at sites like Statistica and Expatly for up-to-date average grocery prices.
Reddit is also a powerful tool for honing down on a destination.
Sharpen the Right Skills
We said previously that the Digital Nomad job market is crowded, and the ‘traditional get-rich-quick’ online schemes no longer really work. As such, you need the right skill set to make it in this climate.
Freelance design and marketing are soooo oversaturated, for example. Instead, consider these:
- AI prompt engineering
- Data science and machine learning
- No-code development
You’ll need hard skills in order to stand out in such a buyer’s market.
Get Health Insurance
Did you know that the average age of a Digital Nomad is 37?!
And I am sure that those of you out there, like me, who are on the wrong side of 35 will know too well that gone are the days when we could simply take our health for granted.
Sure, we are not yet even at life’s half-way point, and with a good diet, good exercise, and plenty of fresh coconuts can hope to be dancing Salsa well into our twilight years. But with each passing year, the chances of things starting to go awry increase.
Photo: @willhatton__
Over the last 5 years, I have personally slipped a disk in my lower back while rowing, had polyps removed from my nose, and am currently awaiting minor surgery to remove a benign cyst. If you are over 30 and expecting to avoid the US for the next 3 to 4 years, then at some stage, you are going to need to spend some time in a foreign hospital.
Good travel health insurance is, therefore, well worth thinking about. We use SafetyWing’s Nomad Complete cover, which is custom-made for expats and Digital Nomads living abroad long term.
We love the simple monthly subscription model and the generous claim limits. Best of all, because SafetyWing was founded by Nomads for Nomads, interacting with them feels more like talking to an acquaintance in a co-working space than speaking to an insurer.
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Build A Community
Living abroad and working from a laptop can lead to a very lonely existence. The best way to counter this is to build yourself a community of similarly-minded Digital Nomads. There are a myriad of ways you can do this, such as via online forums, working from co-working spaces, or even by joining the occasional Digital Nomad Retreat.
Having a strong community means you get support and encouragement, you get to share memes, network, and brainstorm ideas.
I can almost guarantee that most of your significant breaks will come from casually chatting or hanging with your network rather than from ‘looking’ for answers.
Become a Life Coach
Nah, we’re only kidding. Please don’t do this….
Final Thoughts on Digital Nomad Realities
The digital nomad dream isn’t dead — but it’s definitely not what it used to be. The barriers to entry are getting higher, and the rewards are becoming scarcer. Still, with the Western world falling into disarray, finding a nice quiet place in the sun to maybe wait it all out is beginning to seem like the only sane strategy!
If you’re willing to face the realities, upskill, and adapt, you can still carve out a life of freedom and mobility. Just remember, we are not in 2015 anymore, and you need strategy, not just wanderlust.
Finally, if you are still undecided, then ask yourself:
Do you want the Instagram version of this life — or the real one?
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
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