Is Digital Nomad Life Worth It? An Honest Take (2024)

If you’re wondering, “is digital nomad life worth it for me?” then you’re in the right place!

The idea of being a digital nomad – working remotely while traveling the world – sounds like a dream lifestyle to many people. Us included before we took the plunge!

Waking up in a new country every month, experiencing different cultures, cuisines, and adventures while still earning an income. Who wouldn’t want that?

It’s an incredibly appealing prospect, but is it really as great as it sounds? The digital nomad lifestyle certainly has its advantages, but it also comes with some significant challenges and drawbacks that are important to consider.

So is the digital nomad life worth it? Is it worth taking the leap out of your comfort zone? It’s not for everyone, so let’s discuss in a bit more detail to see if the digital nomad life is worth it for you.

Who Should Consider Being a Digital Nomad

The digital nomad lifestyle can be really rewarding for the right type of person. Here are some signs that you might thrive living this way…

👍 You Have a Flexible Job or Income Source

Obviously, being able to work from anywhere with an internet connection is a requirement. Popular digital nomad jobs include freelance writing, web design, programming, online marketing, virtual assisting, and remote corporate jobs.

Passive income streams like affiliate marketing, e-commerce stores, rental properties, or other online businesses also allow for this lifestyle.

👍 You Embrace Adventure & Change

Suppose the thought of living out of a suitcase, frequently changing locations, and being immersed in unfamiliar cultures sounds exciting rather than daunting. In that case, you may be well-suited to nomadic living.

You need to crave adventure, variety, and exploration and be willing to go with the flow. Think about it – why do we travel? Why do we try new things? Because deep down, we have a natural desire for adventure. Some of us anyway!

👍 You’re Resourceful & Adaptive

From finding housing to navigating visa rules for different countries, problem-solving skills are key. The ability to adapt to different situations and cultural norms is also vital when your “home” is constantly changing.

Like the time we were shipped our car from South America to Mexico, and the three week wait turned into two months. With the delays extending every week, we had to adapt each time.

👍 You’re Financially Stable

Despite the potential for a lower cost of living, the general instability and unpredictable nature of nomad life means you need a financial cushion.

Having some savings or a passive income stream is highly recommended. And having both is better! If you have one of those things to start, be sure to work on getting more of them even after you launch.

We didn’t take our own advice when we started, and ended up having to pivot and rebuild our income base from scratch three years into our digital nomad journey.

👍 You’re Independent & Self-Motivated

Since you won’t have the structure or accountability of a traditional office job, you have to be a self-starter who can stay focused and productive with few external drivers.

A high level of self-discipline is required. After all, no one will be calling to find out why you didn’t show up to work if you choose not to open your laptop.

Who Should Avoid Being a Digital Nomad

While the digital nomad lifestyle has its appeals, it isn’t for everyone. It requires certain personality traits and situations to thrive as a nomad. Here are some potential signs that nomad life may not be for you…

🚫 You Value Routine & Stability

If you crave a more settled, predictable daily structure and dislike constant changes to your living situation and environment, then the nomad lifestyle could make you pretty miserable.

It requires embracing uncertainty. Including what sort of cooking pans will be available in your rental each month. This is my constant struggle, TBH.

🚫 You Have a Strict Budget

While the cost of living can potentially be lower, there are also a lot of irregular expenses like transit, visas, temporary housing, etc. On a very tight budget, it can be difficult.

Like when we spent the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, and had to book a last minute flight out when tourist overstay amnesty ended abruptly in April 2021.

Three one-way tickets cost us over $2,000 USD because we were so limited on where and when we could travel.

🚫 You Struggle With Loneliness

Being a digital nomad can can get very lonely and isolating at times without a permanent friend group or community around you. The constant goodbyes are emotionally draining for some.

We’re lucky that we travel as a family of three, so we have built in socialization opportunities. But we still crave conversations with new people, so we do focus on finding community abroad as we travel.

🚫 You Need Personal Space & Possessions

With just a small bag or two, you have to be ok with a very minimalist lifestyle. And you’ll constantly be staying in small hotel rooms or shared apartments.

With our double income, we usually book one- or two-bedroom apartments but it still requires being together more closely than if we were leaving for a job five days a week.

🚫 Your Income Isn’t Portable or Stable

Without a reliable or portable income stream that doesn’t require being location-bound, the nomad lifestyle just isn’t viable financially.

You can’t count on working within the countries you visit (in most cases it’s illegal to do it), so if you’re a plumber or a classroom teacher you’re going to need an alternate income source to supplement or replace your day job.